The Time In Between
How would you feel if you woke up one ordinary sunny morning and realized that you were now old? No, really, old. It wasn’t from a horror film or a nightmare but it was just realizing what you were seeing up close, really seeing in the mirror. It happened to me, from one night to the next and I was absolutely horrified. That couldn’t be me, could it? Really? Getting older is something I talk about with friends, in the abstract, I talk to people around the same age that I am or family members, but not seriously. Sure we all have some gentle fears for the future and the unknown but we can all relate to it. Any fears we have go away with our yoga class and deep breathing exercises. Until the day, that one different day, months later, when you are not able to breathe and my heart felt pain all the time and those thoughts become wilder and it truly is alarming. My husband, Gary, called 911 and the ambulance came eventually. Oh, how I didn’t want that, all that fanfare, stretchers and backboards and people taking my pulse and giving me oxygen with the whole street outside, I hated it but I knew there was no choice, so I closed my eyes and with my wicked sense of humor, pretended to be dead.
When the doctor finally came in to see me in the Emergency Room and told me that my heart was perfect and that I had experienced a panic attack, I couldn’t decide if I was relieved or embarrassed at the diagnosis. All they did was hook me up to some oxygen and some sort of sedative and soon I was sleeping. When the doctor ( he looked about 14 ) said I was okay to leave he gave me a prescription for anxiety medication, little orange pills for when I felt this way again, which was probable,”for people your age” the young intern said cheerfully. He said “probable” not “possible” and “for people my age.” What the hell was that supposed to mean? Even though I was groggy, I hated him just for that.
It made me think alright, I guess I couldn’t deny any longer the little things that were happening to me. Like that IÂ had no hearing at all from my left ear, that my muscles had atrophied so much that when I walked up a flight of stairs I wheezed and clung to the stair rail and that when Bootsie, our dog passed we didn’t replace her and we had been such dog lovers because dogs became too much trouble for us.
Gary started sleeping next door in the “extra bedroom” because of his snoring and sleep apnea and after a while, I got over the loneliness and I really didn’t mind having a room all to myself. IÂ just stopped caring and this was easier for both of us. Time was whizzing by, seasons came and they left but the routines remained the same, it’s not as if they were traveling the world or doing exciting things, truly they were JUST the things we did every single day.
Wasn’t I just young? Wasn’t that just yesterday? First, playing on the street corners with my friends, then high school and college. Growing up to be independent and living on my own. Getting married and having the two joys of my life, our son and daughter, then they left us too. It all went in a circle but it kept spinning over and over again.I wore jeans and sneakers in college and I still wear them except now I need orthotics in my shoes. My pants are from the “mom” section and my daughter, when she comes to visit with me, rolls her eyes up in disgust.
Time passes, seasons come and go, people die and babies are born, things are fair and yes, unfair and we have no choice but to hang on for dear life. We need to choose to either fight fiercely for the ride or just give in. Today, Gary and I are going to the animal shelter, we have talked about it; we want to adopt a dog again, hopefully not a dog that needs to run around a lot but a dog that needs love, just like us. We will continue to live and fight, get out of bed and walk that dog, together, for however long we have. We’ll name her Trixie.
Words cannot express how much I love this story. I’ve been having those moments of late, although mine are more about my impending 50th birthday, and in all honesty, the changes that weight loss (unintended) has brought to my face. I look in the mirror and don’t recognize the person looking back. Sometimes. Scary stuff.
But I love how this ends, with hope and renewal and trust.
Much Love, sweetheart!
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originally, I was NOT going to have this ending. Was going to go with the same feelings you and I were feeling (sisters?) but at the last moment, I changed it. It made me happier, and hopefully you too.
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i had trouble with 49 too but when it came to 50 it was refreshing.we are going through the same things Ash, weight loss and all. In a few years I will be approaching 60, the letters can’t even form in my mouth yet.
Warm wishes, Laurie https://hibernationnow.wordpress.com
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Getting older is not as much fun as I thought it would be, but I guess it beats the alternative. I really enjoyed this and you have a great writing style.
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so true!
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Thanks so much, it helps me deal with issues even though I write fiction and non-fiction. I’m glad you like my writing style, as people will tell you: it’s all me. Straight from the heart and honest. Thank you for writing and reading. I loved reading your comment. Best, Laurie
Warm wishes, Laurie https://hibernationnow.wordpress.com
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Well done! I got married very young and I think it gave me a sense of being older than I was. Now I have my own daughter and she’s 5 and growing up insanely fast! Time is weird though at times I feel that it just flies by and at other times I feel so much has happened that I can’t believe I am not 100!
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What a lovely situation to be in, you are both YOUNG. Enjoy each other and cherish every day. Thanks for reading and writing. Laurie
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