By Loretta Humble/Around the Town
Good morning from Cedar Lake Nursing Home. I woke up this morning feeling the best physically I’ve felt in a long time. My knee feels stiff, but no pain. Of course I’m still taking pain medicine, which helps with that, but which may also explain why this column doesn’t make sense if it doesn’t.
First of all I have to tell you the folks taking care of me at Cedar Lake Nursing Home are some of the best people in the world. I love these guys. They are unfailingly kind and cheerful. They watch my incision like a hawk, they carefully give me just enough drugs and not too many. They cook good food, they give good baths, they keep the building shiny clean and in excellent repair, they find my stuff when I lose it, they give me lots of activities opportunities, (which so far I haven’t availed myself of)and they relentlessly push me to make more and more progress on that knee.
The only problem I see with them is their compulsion to wake me up in the middle of the night to see how I’m doing. I’m always doing fine. Looks like they would get the picture and let it go at that.
But the Spine and Joint Hospital folks did the same thing. I guess that is a common failing of places like this.
I really do love it here. I’m very proud to be a part the history of this place. I may just stay. Seriously.
Even after my goals are met and Medicare and Blue Cross don’t see any reason to pay for me, I may just hang out, like I’m on a retreat or something. We have an extra room right now, and I don’t eat a lot. I’d try not to be much trouble. I just want to be still and think about things for a while before–and if–I get back into my previously complicated life.
In June I’ll be 76. I sure don’t feel that old. I am extremely healthy. And when this knee gets plumb well, I’ll be better than I’ve been in probably 20 years. I’m thinking if I play my cards right I can have at least another ten years in nearly as good a shape as I am now. These ten years could be the best ones of my life. I could do some good, maybe undo some of the messes I’ve help make, and even have a few adventures.
Bringing “O’Keeffe!” to Malakoff was one of the most rewarding things I’ve been involved in in a long time. Hanging out with the artists and letting our imaginations run loose was wonderful fun. And watching people who don’t usually talk to one another much get together on this project was something else great. I want to help bring more art and fun to Malakoff. That is one thing for my bucket list. I’m pretty sure I’ll add some more.
I’m seeing this rehab time as a break between all the years I’ve already lived and this bonus part, letting me rest up for what could turn out to be the best time yet.