Tuesday, May 31, 2016

Days like these

Days like these
Sunny
Birdy
Warm
Full of cats
Stalking each other
Through the house

Days like these
This year’s clematis
Showing itself
Through the vines
Never cleared
Last year
But nevertheless
New growth
Anyway.

Sunday, May 29, 2016

ATMs



Today I will practice stairs
And balance in front
Of the kitchen counter
Mind you
These are not easy things
Especially
In the ankle braces
The AFOs
We call
ATMs
Because it is more amusing
That way
And heaven knows
We can use more amusement\
Here.

Friday, May 27, 2016

Hospital bed

It is difficult to keep track of everyone's names: the physical therapist, the occupational therapist, the nurse, the specialists added into the mix. Most days I remember who I am. I am grateful.

The hospital bed
Is next to
The dining room table.
The various therapy people
Come and go.
I come and go
From several doctors
Some who have been added
To the list
Here we are
All of us
An amazing array.

Thursday, May 26, 2016

Walker

Life in here moves with a walker

It is green and blue
Outside
And inside
I watch it
Getting greener
And bluer
The occasional bird
The occasional squirrel
The bushes need
To be trimmed
So much life
Outside
So much life
Inside
As well
Even though life
In here moves
With a walker
Still life
In here
As well.

Wednesday, May 25, 2016

Balance

Still learning balance. I suspect I will always be learning balance.

I practice balance
So I don’t crack my head
Falling backwards.
I have five more sessions
With the physical therapist,
Six more
With the OT
There is much to learn
All the way around
The walker continues
A challenge

Tuesday, May 24, 2016

New home

She says
She’s found a home
For our 25 year old turtle.
First he needs a beak and nail trim
His vitamin shots.
He will travel
With his tank
And water dish.
He will live forever
As tortoises do.
We won’t.

Monday, May 23, 2016

Big gray cat

I am home with the cats and the people and the turtle. I have used the eight designated physical and occupational therapy home health care sessions. God willing there will be more. 

The big gray cat
Is a love.
He climbs under the covers
Sleeps for hours.
I missed him
When I came to consciousness
In the hospital.
Now I watch him
Spread his back toes
Jump off the bed
For a nosh
Something he does
Between almost everything
He does.

Sunday, May 22, 2016

Recuperation

While our adventures are different, there's comfort in shared recuperation.

hile I adventured
In the hospital.
The kitten spent her time
In heat.
Next week
Is her time
For adventure.
We will recuperate
Together
It’s good to have company
in isuch things

Saturday, May 21, 2016

Right toes

My right toes are making progress, not much, but some. Coffee still smells good in the morning, but I have no desire to drink it. 

My right toes
Have begun to function
Together.
One month in the hospital
Means that coffee
No longer appeals
Not even Starbucks.
And
It is entirely possible
My life
Is reconfigured in ways
I had not planned.

Friday, May 20, 2016

Possibly three

So many doctors. It's difficult to figure which one counts the most. I focus on my right foot. Two toes moved yesterday. Today a third one seems to be getting the idea.

And look
A third toe
Registers movement.
It is vital
To register movement
Even as the doctor
Is concerned about that fall
You took
Over a week ago now
As you were learning
The walker
Yes
There is a lump
And yes
That third toe
Registers signs of life.

Thursday, May 19, 2016

Two toes

Learning once more what counts

Standard questions:
Are you in pain?
What’s the number?
Have you fallen?
Here I am
Here I am
Here I am
What’s the number?
I moved two toes
On my right foot
Today
That’s the number
That counts
Here I am
Here I am
Here I am
Two toes.

Wednesday, May 18, 2016

Do you remember?

A range of memories, this one from years ago on a vacation trip. Ah, the things we do in our twenties. Still, we met the best Chrysler Mechanic in Montana. 

Do you remember
When the night was falling
In Montana
The car headlights
Growing dimmer
And dimmer
We thought we’d never make it
Yet still
We pulled off the road
Found a place to sleep
Ir smelled of cigarettes
But the owner knew
The best Dodge Dart mechanic
In Montana.
He agreed to take a break
From his hunting trip
To fix our alternator.
Do you remember
That trip?
The lights growing dimmer
And dimmer
Yet still
We made it
Yes
We made it’
We barely made it
Off the exit  ramp
In the dark.

Tuesday, May 17, 2016

Home Health Care

Learning. Learning. Learning. Who knew steps could be so difficult?


Ed gentle PT
Takes me through front steps and more
Nurse in an hour

Saturday, May 14, 2016

Forrest Gump

Thanks, Michael, for the image. It's good to hear from one who shares the path.

So many doctors,
More specialists
Every day.
Now I am home
Doing follow-ups.
Everything first requires
My primary care doctor
Who does not have space
In her schedule until
Late May.
Figure it out
Yourselves
I say.
I am learning to walk again
Like Forrest Gump.
I don’t imagine running
Will enter the picture.
I have many medications,
They fill a plastic shoe box.
I learned in rehab
I am not alone.

Friday, May 13, 2016

Start from the beginning

They don't let you fall in the hospital so I am learning at home. Learning to use a walker is not something I anticipated at 61 but then again, all of us on the rehab floor never planned to be there either./

At some point
I will write again
How does one capture
Four weeks
In the hospital
Two which are mostly’
Misremembered?
I will start
From the beginning
The place I always
Begin.