12 Oakdale

Ryann and Patten came up Saturday installed the grab rails in our shower and next to the toilets. He had ordered them using my Amazon account, then switched out the screws for marine grade. I had used my measuring app to send pictures (yes, I’m proud I could do that.) I was nervous about their drilling in our glass shows tiles, but that was the easy part. Of course there weren’t studs where we needed them. Patten drilled a series of small holes from the bedroom side until he found one useable stud. Then he cut holes in the drywall so he could insert 2x4s where he needed to attach the grab bar. Always something. Patten also ordered a shower mat that I returned. Too big and heavy for us. I’ll get a smaller one this week. Lastly, he bought nonslip matting for under what he calls the murder rug, my Persian that I found at Naples beach after Hurricane Donna in 1960. It probably is why Grant fell since it was really slippery. I moved it to the guest bedroom. Closing the barn door after the h...

I have been deemed healthy by my doctor after having my first Medicare Wellness Assessment. Not quite an annual physical, because there wasn’t much laying of hands, only weight, blood pressure, and his listening to a few deep breaths. Mostly Q&A about how I feel and whether I drink too much or exercise too little. No and no. The bottom line is that my core continues to be healthy and my extremities are fraying. I’m pleased that I am so healthy, even without adding, for a person my age. I’m disappointed/annoyed/sad there don’t seem to be any remedies for my aching hands and sore shoulders. The pain is enough to make it hard to sleep sometimes, but not enough to do much more than take the occasional ibuprofen. Nothing on the horizon for more help for osteoarthritis, nor for tinnitus, my two major complaints. I agreed to a bone density test, nixed a mammogram, and settled for a noninvasive colon cancer screening. I’m concerned about osteoporosis. Living long makes that a certainty. Ca...

I may have gone a little too short. During the lock down, Grant and I cut each other’s hair, for better or worse. When we were finally able to buy professional-quality electric clippers, our styles improved somewhat.  Finally, last March, a year after I’d had my last salon hair cut, I braved a local shop and told my stylist OJ to cut it short. She cut much away, and I liked the result, but it wasn’t as short as I really wanted. Two more appointments, she still was timid, but she trimmed a little more each time.  Friday, she struck. Perhaps, just a little shorter than I envisioned, but I was the one to tell her to go as boldly as she dared. I didn’t think she had it in her.  Good man that he is, Grant said he likes it. The rest of my family hasn’t acknowledged my new look. I saw Patten and Molly at Stephanie and Clara’s summer party yesterday, and not a peep from anyone about my hair. I find this especially amusing since Stephanie is in a neon-colored hair phase. Perhaps t...