© 2020 Bill Murphy
We all have ‘milestones’ which mark our passage through life. That’s why we have birthdays an anniversaries. Then there are other memorable events, such as learning to ride a bike, our first kiss, the birth of a child. These become what we think of as ‘turning points’ in life. I had another only a few minutes earlier today.
I was mowing our lawn, on our John Deere riding mower. Yes, it has a safety switch that powers it down completely when the driver leaves the seat.
I’ll be eighty in February. No, I don’t feel ‘old,’ although I can’t say that I’m as spry as I was at 21. The current Covid shutdown has actually not affected my life-style nearly as much as it has others. I’ve always been a home-body.
In recient months, I’ve noticed a sometimes uncertain sence of balance. It might happen when I’m sitting and then stand, or similar sudden movements. It’s never been anything strong enough to actually cause me worry.
But a few minutes ago, while mowing the side yard, I spotted a large piece of scrap paper ahead. I stopped, turned off the mower, and climbed off the seat, and stepped down. For a split second, up, down and sideways simply converged. I had a milestone moment! I took my first ‘old man’ tumbled. Fortunately, it was in a grassy area with no rocks, etc. No scraps, no bruises, no broken bones. Just a watershed moment… Bill’s First Old Age Tumble. Help, I’ve fallen. But I got up all by myself!
Whew! I’m glad I’ve gotten that behind me!
Pen In Hand 