I will admit that I am feeling old for my years at the moment. The combo of Parkies and the offending lower limb issue – non Parkies related – is certainly making me feel my age and then some!
I was at the supermarket today getting a few bits and pieces. I parked in the Disability Parking spot, which is very handy I must say! Then, when I got to my car with my two bags of shopping a young man – I’m even talking like an old lady – offered to put my bags in the car and to take my trolley back. Very sweet, but I had this sudden epiphany. I am ‘a grey-haired granny with a walking stick!’ Crikey, that made me stop and think for a minute.
Now don’t get me wrong, I am always grateful for people offering to help and I am fond of my hair colour now and the stick is useful for helping support my sore knee, but I do feel a bit like the poster girl for grannyhood at the moment!
I do notice an interesting thing though. If you are just limping round a shop, a I sometimes do if I can’t be bothered grabbing my stick, people don’t seem to notice or offer assistance. Get out a stick, a crutch, a walker and people open doors, let you go through first, hold the lift for you and for the most part show more kindness. All of which is appreciated, but sometimes it does make me wonder if I am giving off a ‘frail old person vibe!’
As much as I appreciate when people offer assistance, it can be a bit confronting. Lately, I’ve been wondering what it would feel like to retire after some stressful work issues. In some ways it would be a relief and one less stressful thing in my life, but then it comes with the significant reduction in income and I’m not ready for that yet. I also want to continue if I can because it will keep my brain active and that is essential for my Parkies.
One bright moment in my life though this weekend has been having my three granddaughters for two nights to stay. Much as they are pretty much wedded to their phones – or should I say welded – there is one way to prise them away. They all enjoy baking with Nanna and this Nanna loves baking with them too. It gives me a chance to chat to each of them one on one which is lovely. One thing that they all said to me was that I am ‘the fun Nanna’ because I am not afraid to be more than a little silly at times.
I’ll take that title. I don’t mind so much looking like a grey-haired Granny as long as I can be ‘the fun Nanna’.
My journey with Parkinsons 