Older Than Dirt By Rusty

Well, my granddaughter thinks I’m older than dirt, but while I have to grow old, I sure don't have to grow up.

Don’t get me wrong, this is not a pity party for one - just grumblings about how when life throws you lemons and I happen to make really yummy marguerites!

Three years ago I was diagnosed with degenerative discs, that is to say - no discs at all at the bottom of my spine. I was active and fit right up until then. The only thing I didn't do was tennis, golf and running. now its yummy cortizone shots directly into the spine, my cane affectionately called 'Cinderelli' and my walker, called 'Sean' (as in Connery - I needed something strong and handsome to hold me - so indulge me a little).

My life has been totally turned around. I can't play with the grandkids the way I used to, which is really the worst possible thing for me. I can't walk any great distance without the help of 'Sean', so I do the best with what I have. I try really hard not to get depressed, my hubby passed away in 1989, I used to sail, show dogs, among other things, which I obviously don't do now. So I use the grandkids as my 'higher power' - if I feel myself getting down I just look at those cheruby faces and my face lights up.

sometimes its hard going places with the walker - like people who continually honk their horns as you try to cross a 6 lane road with the 'walk' light - I end up slowing down and giving them 'the glare', ticks the drivers off, but I walk away with the biggest grin. If a car pulls into the middle of the walk path as I cross said road - now I make sure my cane actually hits the front of their vehicle. Hey it’s not my fault I’m old and my cane sometimes slips and misses the road.....you can see where I’m going with this.

While I don't 'aim' for noisy rugrats in the mall, I sure do think about it - but their obnoxious parents are fair game - life is actually quite good.

A little incident a while ago involving the police - so I blogged it for my friends. It goes something like this: decided to go up to what I call 'the big mall' to finish off some shopping for my vacation to joisey. I have to cross two 6 lane main roads to get there - it’s only about 15 minutes for me if I didn't have to wait for freaking stoplights.

So - I left at 9:30 with my walker and get to my first stoplight pressed the 'walk' button so when the light turned green the walk signal comes on. With me so far? ok - light turns green and I proceed across the road and I’m almost at the 3rd lane at the centre of the intersection when this woman who was also waiting for a green to turn the corner put her foot on the gas and practically hits me as she makes her turn - I screamed at her and called her an 'ungranny-like' name and went across the last 3 lanes. Its not like I’m a teeny tiny human being - I’m a big woman pushing a walker!!

Ok so I say to myself - calm down - it’s not worth it and off I go towards the 2nd major intersection. I have the 'walk' light in my favour and off I go. Once I’m across the main road I then have to go over an 'island' and then across a turning lane where traffic must yield to pedestrians. yeah you guessed it - I’m just setting off and this stupid guy zooms past me and has the nerve to wave 'thank you' -I let out another zinger.....and I just said to myself - that's two!!!

Now I walked and walked in the mall and noticed I’d been walking 2 full hours without even sitting to go to the toidey and am quite proud of myself. I decided to come back another way and so I did - when I turned the corner towards another small intersection - there's a silver car parked directly in front of the ramp off the sidewalk - and I’m ready for it - I said to myself - I hope he doesn't move before I get there ....and it didn't.

You have to understand I’m now in a mood to run over anything in my way so this was my next victim. I got within 10 feet and yelled - your blocking the ramp. the door opened and the female cop says I’m sorry I shouldn't be in your way - she's in an unmarked cruiser....then she backs away and goes into a proper parking spot - I found myself walking with an exaggerated limp so she wouldn't think about arresting me for yelling and scampered away as quick as a disabled person can scamper.
I’m going for a granny nap now but just wanted to share my day - except for the police woman - sadly this is almost a normal type of occurrence for pedestrians! I have the notches on my cane and walker to prove it too!!

Well I just thought I’d give you an insight into the life of a partially disabled person - it doesn't have to be all doom and gloom. And the good news is I have room for lots of notches yet on 'Cinderelli' and 'Sean'.

By Rusty

Back In The Day By Tony

Back in the day, toys were for rich kids we made our own games on cobbled streets that at night were lit by gas lamps. In fact our house was a two up to down with gas mantles for light, you had to be real careful when lighting them they were not cheap two for a penny at Mrs Clarks shop on the corner.

She would put Arkwright to shame, but the shop had everything he had and more. Once my granddad had a heavy cold, the cure a Penarth of whisky from Mrs M. Coming home from school on a Monday evening my grans bread made the mouth water, baked from the cellar kitchen range, you could smell the bread from the top of the street. Years later the Hovis commercials reminded me of my gran and granddad they raised me.

In summer we were aloud to play out till nine, we played hiddy{hide and seek}kick out can, tors{marbles}what seemed like 50 a side football matches played on the wreck at the top of our street.

I'm 60 now and can not remember in my adult life having friends like I had back in the day, I often wonder what became of them all, some died as kids George S, fell of a roof, Michael W killed in a hit and run, never did catch who did it. Mary C, TB. One gassed him self at 14. Some moved away as parents did better for themselves. I know times change; we used to leave doors open at night, we had a lady who knocked us up with a log stick.

I hated that sound on cold winter mornings from under the sheet with my granddads long army coat on top for added warmth, the sound meant two hours to getting up for me, but more importantly the coat would be on my granddad and not me. Summer mornings my gran would wash the flags and scour the steps, Friday was pay day, clean piny and head scarf on my gran, granddads wages, off to uncle Benny to retrieve the crystal fruit bowl we had to pawn if my granddad had lost a days pay for what ever reason.

The streets are all gone now torn down in the sixties for multi-storey cells in the sky, I wish the spirit of those days were still with us, but that’s not to be, those days are long gone, but the memories off back in the day will remain with me for the rest of my life.

By Tony