BRAIN AND BODY

 

          Based on the latter half of March, I’ve come to the conclusion that no matter how young I think I am my body begs to differ. This coming week, I’m going to cut back on the exercise to see if that makes a difference. I’ll still do the three enhanced fitness classes, but think I’ll limit my river exercise class to just one day.

          When it comes to social commitments, I have my driftwood sculpture class on Tuesday and a ladies’ lunch on Wednesday.

          Of course, the week could blow up because it is Snohomish School District’s spring break. I’ve talked to Thor about having Xander, and maybe Arayli, come spend some time and participate in adventures. I’m waiting to hear back about Xander’s soccer practice and when he/they will be available. Still, it will be fun to spend some time with them. I don’t seem to have spent as much time with these grandchildren as I did with Haley, but the pandemic kind of made a mess of things.

          You’ll be happy to know, dear reader, that I participated in a brain research program sponsored by the National Institutes of Health and administered through Kaiser Permanente. I took my BFF with me instead of one of my boys just in case the results indicated I needed some kind of supervision. Anyway, the researcher asked me about my life, exercise, shopping, finances, driving, health, medications, pretty much all aspects of what it takes to get through each and every day. After each question, she would check with my BFF to see if she agreed with my statements…she did.

          The final portion of the interview was a cognitive test. Out of a potential 30 points, I received 29. The only thing I missed was in the repetition of a sentence back to the researcher…I heard the word cats instead of cat, so I lost a point.  I also think I should have lost a point when it came to drawing the square box…in my opinion, I failed miserably.

          So, I need no further follow up when it comes to my brain. My body is another story. I have really high cholesterol and finally agreed to begin taking a statin…Crestor. In the past when I tried statins, my muscles were not happy at all. I’m trying to determine of the muscle and joint pain I’m experiencing now is due to Crestor or if it’s just that I’m exercising way more.

          To wake up in the morning and feel as though every single joint, big or small, my lower back, neck, pretty much my entire body is without an ache or pain would be absolute heaven. And, yes, once I’ve had coffee and done my home exercises, pretty much everything is pain-free, but it’s hard work to get there. And, at night, once I’m in bed, my feet and hands hurt, probably due to neuropathy. That seems worse if I’ve had a lot of salt and/or sugar. I try to stay away from those two condiments, but you know, sometimes, you just have to have something salty or sweet.

          So, with less than thirteen years to go until I’m ninety, I think I’m still doing extremely well. I’m walking upright and briskly as opposed to shuffling. I can still bend over and pick stuff up. In fact, I am able to do everything necessary to live my good life. So, why whine about a few aches and pains…need to just have that coffee, do the exercises and get on with my day.