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I turned 64 this today.  I have enjoyed the many well wishes that make me feel loved.  I did get a special one from my brother who simply said “Happy Birthday, Old Girl”.

My first reaction was that no matter how old I am, he will always be older.  I know, I know, a knee jerk reaction to the days when we fought like typical brother and sister.  Sometimes, you just revert back to those younger days.

Nevertheless, I choose to think of myself as still “kickin’ it”.  After all, look at all the medical mayhem I have survived.  Only by the grace of God am I still alive to annoy my brother.

But as I responded to him I realized I might indeed be getting a bit old.  Let me explain.

This week I decided to re-make an Easter centerpiece for my kitchen table. I had about twenty minutes before I had to head out for two appointments and heaven forbid I just sit and have a cup of coffee.  I was using some plastic Easter eggs that had a skewer at their base to be used to place the egg in a Styrofoam base.  Some of the skewers had broken off and so I thought I could remove the broken skewers and replace them with new ones.  Since some of the broken skewers would not come out; I decided to simply put a new hole using an awl.  You know, a long, pointed spike; a tool for making holes in wood or for piercing holes in leather.  The first egg went effortlessly, but I couldn’t get the awl to put a hole in the second one.  As I applied more force, the awl slipped and stuck me between the second and third fingers.  Ouch!  Thankfully, there was only a little blood and I got it cleaned up, and decided I’d finish the centerpiece later.

Later never happened, folks.  You see by the time I got done with my first appointment, my second and third fingers and the palm of my hand had swollen to the point that I could not bend my fingers without pain.

Between appointments I took an anti-inflammatory, ran into a medical supply place and got fitted for an immobilizer.  The splint put my second and third fingers in the “digital insult” position.  But once fitted I removed it.  The owner of the medical supply store asked me why I would purchase it if I wasn’t going to wear it.  I told him I wasn’t going to put it on until after my second appointment which was the nail salon.  He looked at me like I was nuts.  I am, but that’s besides the point. I explained how I had survived breast cancer, open heart surgery, two hip replacements, two hip dislocations and a hysterectomy so this was merely a bump on the road to eternity.  He understood my perspective.  I figured while my hand might be hurt and swollen at least my nails would look lovely.

So maybe my brother is right to wish this “old girl” a happy birthday.  But I’m not giving up without a fight.  And I have lots of fight still in me.  It just takes a little longer and hurts a bit more.  On the plus side, the hurt reminds me that I am still alive.

Alive and kickin’ it!

Have you ever done something that hurt you?  How did you carry on?  What age is old?  What are you doing to age gracefully?

Thank you very much for reading my post.  If you have found it encouraging please consider liking, commenting or sharing it.  Feel free to comment here or even re-blog – may these words take flight!

I have additional insights I’d love to share with you found in the pages of my debut book: Surviving Medical Mayhem – Laughing When It Hurts.  To order a copy or learn more go to my website at www.lorettaschoen.com

Blessings for Health & Wellness.