Today has been a bit of a lazy day. It is hot – for Christchurch – as our first taste of Summer begins to be felt. Yesterday, I was out reasonably early and went and played bowls with two of my club members in an interclub game. It was my first experience and was really enjoyable. The length of a game is measured in ends and we did 18 ends which is quite a lot.
I am still getting back into having more mobility and after about two years of minimal activity, it is still something I need to work on. After I came back from bowls, I was very tired and told my husband I was going to have a “Nanna nap” before dinner. In order to recharge my batteries, it was essential that I listen to my body. Today has been a quieter day, with a bit of time in the garden and out to buy fruit and veges at our favourite vege shop. With it being warmer than we have been used to in recent times and with the aftereffects of my busy day yesterday, the rest of today has been very laid back. Another Nanna Nap and soon I will go to Subway to get our dinner.
My husband is currently watching Bathurst which is a car race that he likes to watch every year. He has been watching it off and on for most of the day and I have done my best not to distract him so he can enjoy this annual event.
So, I decided I would go out and water the garden. A job he has mostly done for a while now while standing for too long has been challenging for me. Recently though, I have started to improve and move more freely and so I have slowly started to get back into doing things around the home. The first thing I was pleased to reclaim has been having the ability to get in the kitchen and make some nice meals. However, there has been a bit of a shift in our household because my husband for a long time has had to do everything including cooking. This was so important and appreciated when I couldn’t contribute. But there has been a very positive outcome from this, in that rather than handing back the cooking duties to me – I predominantly did the cooking prior to my operations – we now share much of the cooking together. I am loving sharing the kitchen together, maybe listening to music or just chatting. I have the satisfaction of making a nice meal, but the companionship of my husband while I do so. The best of both worlds.
As I have said, I was watering the garden just before I came in to write this. It occurred to me that for me watering the garden with a hose in my hand rather than using the watering system is therapeutic to me. While I water that garden, I notice the growth of my plants, my new grapevine just starting to grow and imagining it covered in juicy green grapes. I look at the hydrangeas and try to remember what colours they were. I water my greenhouse and look forward to picking beautiful home-grown tomatoes and cucumber and spinach. It is looking into the future in a positive way and as I said to my husband, “I love growing things to eat!” So, while watering the garden I have a peaceful time of nurturing my garden and in turn it nurtures my soul.
The simple pleasures in life are the things that I cherish. Having a coffee out with my husband is something we both enjoy. We also like going out to dinner, but enjoy a coffee much more frequently. Last week we went into our local gardens in the city, packed a picnic and just roamed around enjoying the gardens and new life popping up everywhere. Just spending time in a beautiful setting and enjoying each other’s company.
I am starting to get out and about much more now and have things on most days. My husband and I both know that I am happiest when I have positive things to do with my days. It is also healthy for us both to pursue our own interests and not to be solely reliant on each other for company and socialisation. For me that means playing cards on a Monday, aqua jogging and swimming three times a week and bowls up to three times a week. It gives me social contact, and it is good for my overall health. We both agree that for us as a couple, it would not be healthy for us if we were each other’s one and only social connection. We both value our independence and will continue to support independence for each other for as long as we can.
We continue to enjoy the simple pleasures of being together but also having time on our own independently enjoying our individual pastimes.
For us it is simple.
We enjoy being together.
But equally we enjoy time apart to pursue our own interests.
It is just a matter of balance and at the moment, it is feeling pretty good.
My journey with Parkinsons 