The Late in Life Writer: What Next? Part 2

As I pointed out in the last Blog post, my yard has been haunting me for a year now. My marker for the length of time is when both shoulders had torn rotator cuffs. Not fun! I had always been the "bring it ( whatever "it" might be) on" personality. Once I add a task to my "To Do" list, I'm committed.

Into Physical Therapy(P/T) I ran. Let's see what improvements I could accomplish there. My range of motion was incrementally improving, but the pain continued. The Orthopedic Doc recommended steroid shots (both sides). It took a few days, and I was feeling and sleeping better. Success! I was doing the P/T exercises at home on any day I didn't go there. I challenged myself and the therapists to keep teaching me ways to increase the range of motion and decrease pain! Well, the pain part still ebbed and flowed, as I tried to do more.

Then, one morning while doing my exercises... cue the screeching music! Down on the yoga mat, I did what I was doing every day when something tore! I'm talking serious pain! I could not move my right arm until I could catch my breath and lift it into my lap after sitting up. Even though I knew what happened was in my right shoulder, the pain ran up my neck and continued up the side of my face. I knew I needed to get to the ER. So, I dressed myself, more or less, before going downstairs and telling John to drive me. NOW! OK, new diagnosis: Torn muscle and tendon in addition to the rotator cuff. OK. I agreed to arthroscopic surgery, which took place on Oct. 14th, 2024.

I fired questions at the doctor about recovery time, P/T post-op, etc. Why?

Because John and I had a trip planned (April 2025) and I didn't want to cancel. We realized that at our ages, we wanted to travel! Call it a "bucket list" of things 70+ year-olds never want to regret. Ok, wait... back up... we had started to plan for some things, inside and outside the house, to be taken care of, but not to be done by us.

Something had to give! We had already gotten an estimate for new kitchen cabinets. OK, that could be postponed. We had not committed to anything. The "outside" portion had remained a dream without any exploration (read: estimates).

Present time: June. Our trip in April was wonderful! More on that in another blog. As Spring progressed, the condition of the gardens, front and back yard, deteriorated. It pains me to see the broad view of weeds and bare spots with patches of crabgrass, overgrown shrubs, etc. I started my quest for estimates on yard work. To put it simply, this would require more than one. We need a 30-foot tree in the front yard taken down before any storm decides for us. The one riddled with woodpecker holes!

After a landscaper "no show," and an estimate that did not include the tree removal, I knew it was time to scour the area for recent makeovers in yards. Lo and behold, a neighbor down the block was in the midst of the very thing I was looking to do. (All the houses here are 25 years old and need things done.) John happened to see the landscaper on one of his morning walks and got his business card!

Talk about professional! I called, he showed up the next day (as scheduled) and the planning started. He will begin work next week. I can't begin to tell you how much I am looking forward to this. I will post the "reveal," as they do on TV! Life is good, and I am grateful.

Wait a minute! Now (!) we receive an email from the kitchen cabinet people, after telling them we can't proceed with the renovation we started exploring back in November. They are offering the same price for kitchen cabinets with new countertops. So, we went to see them again. Here's where the "What next?" comes back in play.

Our kitchen remodel will start at the end of July with the delivery of the cabinets to the warehouse. Sometimes I wonder when I lost my mind?!? The ENTIRE KITCHEN MUST BE EMPTIED by the beginning of August, for demolition to begin. I already looked up the "Habitat for Humanity Re-Store" and plan to donate anything salvageable.

I know how we will be spending our summer. I hope my shoulders last!

P.S. To be on the safe side, I scheduled an Orthopedic appointment for bilateral steroid shots again!