Holy smokes, where did the time go? Is it Wednesday already? Just hearing myself wonder where the time goes reminds me of how each day blurs together when I’m in healing mode. I’m feeling lazy because I can’t do everything I want to do. Kind of like how my mom acted years back, she wasn’t lazy, she just couldn’t do things she wanted to either.
It also reminds me of conversations with my mom about what day it was back in time when she had dementia. When I’d ask her if she knew what day it was, she’d say “No,” and I’d tell her it was Wednesday, and she’d reply, “Is it Wednesday already?”
My normal routine is thrown off since the bike crash on Sunday. Time and pain seem to stand still even when just minutes have clicked by.
As I was lying there in bed, trying not to move to cause more pain, I thought of the years when I needed an alarm clock to wake me. Now, other than the pain in my rib, it is just the light coming through the curtains, or the thud of Dessy jumping on the bed that wakes me.
Her arrival signifies the beginning of the day. She’s hungry, so the rest of our little old world must wake and get on with things.
Of course, we comply, but we make sure coffee is brewing so we can get another jolt to our day.
Early morning is nice around here – once the meowing has stopped, it’s quiet except for the birds singing in the trees. The sun rises across the fields to wake the crops and the flowers that greet it with more buds popping.
I love how the sun shines through our front window and shadows appear on the wall.
Bon Appetite to the pets who are fed in the shadows of the early morning light.
I smile remembering the year we had a foreign exchange student and I had put that sign on the wall to show we welcomed her into our home. It’s the only French word I can really say – good thing my daughter had taken French so they could communicate.
As I moved across the wall to verify that, yes, indeed, we have a lot of clocks in our kitchen, I remember that the year we had our visitor from France. It was a blurry time in life for me. Early morning lighting makes for great blurry photos, too, by the way!
A pain in my heart tugs at my rib as I sigh. No, wait, that’s the rib pain again. I remind myself that I must not take deep breaths. I remember the clock I had bought my mom the year before when her dementia was making it difficult for her to remember the day and time.
My rib pain is like dementia in a way (hear me out…this is really a great analogy…!). Ribs are hidden inside of us, no one can see them, but we all know they are there. When someone has rib pain, it isn’t constant, but when it is there, man, you and the person watching you exhibit the wince know it. And it affects your ability to do what you want at that moment in time. The pain fades when you back off from what you were trying to do. But if you sit still, remaining calm while someone asks you if you have pain, you can say, “No, not right now, all is well.”
Dementia is like that because the person who has dementia is the only one that really knows how bad it is. When you look at them, you can’t tell they have dementia. They can’t tell you that they have dementia at the moment you ask them if they do, but when they go to do something it is obvious to them (and sometimes the onlooker) that they can’t do it. They don’t know why until it hits them that they can’t, so they stop trying.
All those times I’d ask mom if she remembered something or if she could do something, I caused her pain because it wasn’t her fault she couldn’t remember, it was dementia. She did her best with what abilities she had left, and the “Is it Wednesday already” came often.
Dementia fades eventually and brings the person peace when they are finally free of it. I know the clocking it up to rib pain I’m feeling now will fade eventually, too.
Dang, I just looked at the clock on my office wall. Oh, my, it is really Wednesday, already? I need to get to work!
From my office window, I can see the morning glories climbing the clothesline.
The signs of a sunny day ahead have begun. Hope you all have a great Wednesday!
#31SRW Photography Challenge Day 18 Clock or Radio (rules here) – post also thanks to the inspiration provided by Linda Hill’s One-Liner Wednesday (plus a ton of additional lines, thanks to me!) Thought of the day – Is it Wednesday already?
PS – How many clocks do you have in your kitchen? We have way more than necessary, I even forgot to take a picture of another one on a different wall, so we have 6 in one room. You’d think I’d never be late, right?
Shelley, sorry to hear of your bike accident and the rib pain. Take care of yourself, take it easy and I hope you feel better soon. I’ve never had bruised or broken ribs, but I’ve heard from others that it’s not fun. I fell off my bike in April and believe I strained muscles in my arm from trying to break the fall. It’s taken three months to even feel like I can go back to yoga and do a downward dog. Thankfully, it didn’t keep me off the bicycle…
Mary, thank you! Yikes, sorry to hear you fell off your bike too! I did that too, I landed first on my wrist, then buckled my elbow into my ribs, and landed on the elbow into the rib cage. Nice moves, causing lots of pain. It is definitely teaching me an appreciation for physical abilities that I’ve taken for granted. Hopefully, I’ll be back on the bike before the snow flies! GRRR! I miss my yoga stretches! Thank you for your kind words of encouragement, and I hope you’re enjoying the getting back to your yoga and downward dog poses! xx
I’m going to try and acclimate myself back into yoga with a few easy classes and some stretching at home. Hopefully, by fall I’ll be back at the power yoga classes.
I’m cheering you on as you get back to normal!! xx
Thanks Shelley!
Oh Ms Shelley … a long recovery period is not in our nature. We have so much to do and having our feet nailed to the floor is frustrating. Wonderful post and photographs. The story of your Mom reminded me of my late wife. I had to laugh when you wrote of your alarm clock waking you up. Mine creeps up silently and licks my nose and won’t take no for an answer. Take care and rest. g
Aw, thank you, John! Yes, you described slow recovery frustrations so well! Did your wife have dementia, I’m so sorry, that is a long process as well. Kat is so adorable, and I haven’t met many cats that won’t take no for an answer! Thank you for the healing wishes!!
Funny, but I’ve found the number of clocks present has zero correlation to timeliness! 😂
LOL! Me too…guess we know best, don’t we? 😉
Is that little house in your backyard your office? I WANT IT! Hope you feel better soon. Healing can be so frustrating sometimes.
LOL! I can work out there with my WiFi – but I like it for a retreat area instead of work…one room in the house for work is enough for me! Thank you, I’m on the mend…slow and steady!
Yes, I was thinking as a craft room for me! Like a she-cave 🙂
She-Cave…that’s brilliant!!….!!!
We have clocks on the stove and microwave, a big clock (like a schoolroom clock) on the living room wall. All the other clocks are attached to something else (phones, computer, tablets, etc.) I like the clock with the day and date on it.
That sounds like a reasonable number of clocks, John! That clock was a big help for my mom. It is in my husband’s office now, I’m pretty sure he refers to it on occasion for a reminder of what day it is! 😉
Ouch! So sorry to hear you fell off your bike but glad to see that you’re doing OK and you were wearing your helmet. About the same time another friend of mine also had a bike accident and is also nursing sore ribs as well. Here’s hoping you’re both feeling better and back on your bikes soon.
Thank you, Todd! I hope your friend heals quickly too, trust me rib injuries are not a fun injury to sustain! 🙂
I don’t like clocks. I don’t believe in time except to mark if I have an appointment. The only clock I own, is the clock from my last job I had worked at and only for sentimental reasons. I wprked there for nearly 7 yeaes before a new comoany took over and I was let go. On my last night before the new company was official, I asked my boss if I could keep the clock and she obliged. After all, I went ro work every day for nearly 7 years and looked at that clock. I despise ticking, and this clock ticks, so it’s in my living room where I won’t hear it when I’m sleeping. I count things and a ticking clock drives me nuts because I ctch myself counting the ticks. I agree with you…the days start to blend together and at that point, who cares what rime it is, as long as your heart is still ticking! Have a great day Shelley!
Aw, thanks for sharing your thoughts, Jennavive! I have a clock from a place that I worked at too, but it never worked…so I don’t use it. It’s great not to have to watch time, especially when you have a little fun companion like Aurora to hang out with! Hope you have a great day too!
Summer has been so busy, and I miss being able to keep up better with reading blogs. So sorry to hear about your accident. I hope you heal soon and get back to feeling more like yourself again!!
Aw, thank you. You must have been reading my mind, I missed hearing from you and am guilty of the same – busy and not getting to reading other blogs much either. I’m so happy to hear from you, and I appreciate you stopping by to share your healing wishes! Happy gardening to you!
beautiful photos and great blog – and feel better (rib injuries can take a loooooong time )
Thank you, I appreciate your kind words of encouragement! Thank you for stopping by my blog! Thank you for devoting your blog to dementia! https://vermeeresearchingdementia.wordpress.com/
Hehehehe do you check all the clocks before starting something 😀
LOL – sometimes, and I pick the one that gives me the time that helps me be ON TIME! 😉