Alicia Lopez’s Musings

Never, in all my years, did I ever think I was getting old.

This changed drastically last week when I limped home after celebrating Mother’s Day with my children in Dallas.  My right leg had been bothering me for the past couple of weeks, I even went to the doctor, who prescribed medication for the pain.  It never gave me any relief, and pending my trip, I wanted to be free of any hindrance.  So I opted to buy some over the counter meds which had worked for me before, and  did again.

I started doing the exercises suggested by a physical therapist, bending, stretching, etc.  I was OK for a while, and suddenly out of the blue, my leg would buckle with the pain. This happened at the height of my buying spree with the gift certificates I received for Mother’s Day. 

Have you ever had to hold on to anything available to keep the weight off one leg?  I did just that, on a display rack, which came tumbling down.  How embarrassing, being on the floor along with all the clothes.  Everyone was very sympathetic and helpful, but my humiliation was complete when I could not stand up.  Right then and there I did my “bend and touch your toes” exercise, which must have confused everybody.  To me, it was the only thing I could do, to stretch those muscles which had crimped on my back.  After several of these, I was able to walk again, with as much dignity as I could muster.

Then came the question, am I getting old?  I never considered years, my hubby and I always thought young.  In fact, the song that best describes our relationship is called “You make me feel so young”; and we lived those words.

But people, there comes a time when you feel so miserable, not being able to do the things that came so natural .

I decided to fight this feeling, and went to see an orthopedic doctor.  He took x-rays of my hips, and declared them to be in good shape.  (I was already thinking hip replacement)  He did recommend an MRI of my back, his thinking being that the muscles there were in a mass of crimping, leaning on a nerve that runs down my leg.  They scheduled me for tomorrow, and I am ready; if his reasoning turns out true, then he can cure me with shots.

Although shots on my back are not my favorite things to get, I do want to get rid of the pain, because I want to dance at my grand daughter’s wedding.  My dancing partner is no longer here, but I will rope my sons or sons in law to dance.  What better place to make a fool of myself than a family wedding.

I wonder what the people in New York will think of me?  I hope they will see a happy, youthful grandmother, kicking her heels in happiness at seeing her “children’s children” joined in matrimony.

Hasta La Vista