Life With One Arm

It’s been an interesting week with lots of challenges; big and small. I have heard from so many dear readers who have learned to cope with a similar situation. For example, who knew that so many women, living in first-world countries, have discovered so many unique ways to do up bras with one arm?

Since tripping on Queen St a week ago and watching my left arm turn green and yellow, I have realized that my wardrobe is entirely insufficient for life is a single-arm person. I have only one dress that buttons up the front. My pants all have zippers. My socks are too tight for one-hand pulling. As for putting on earrings – forgedabboudit. Make-up goes to the bottom of the list too, and my hair gets only half-brushed. In this state I really can’t leave the house because who wants to see a wrinkly old lady in a wrinkly old nighty wandering the streets barefoot?

The kitchen is like a war zone – every knife out to stab me, every mug set to tip over and spill hot coffee, every package of rice overflowing from the measuring cup onto the floor where I step. Anything requiring 2 arms, like pulling a tray of wings out of the oven or retrieving heavy bowls from a top shelf, is out of the question. For added inconvenience, the dishwasher, loaded to the brim with dirty dishes, joined in the battle and shut down completely on Friday.

In the meantime, I have Peter. Peter is quite familiar with tossing salads, cooking eggs, making pasta dishes, and cleaning up. He is good on the BBQ too, and he knows where to find the cooked chickens at COSTCO. He has no issue with using paper plates. He even has restaurant coupons stockpiled! I am so grateful.

We also had Venus the dog staying with us until 2 days ago. She was pretty stressed when her Nana was missing in action for 11 hours on the day I fell. She rushed to greet me at the door, did a few sniffs, and began frantically licking my face and knee where there were some scrapes. She seemed to sense that I was in pain. Our walks became slower and she did not pull on the leash, even when she did her morning dump. My job was a little more complicated; step on the leash, climb into the ditch, grab the turds with the bag in my good hand, climb out of the ditch and continue.

Here is the latest news; yesterday I had my appointment with the fracture clinic for an update. I am moving along …slowly, and my sling will be part of my life for a few more weeks. I found another dress that I can put on by myself. Venus has gone home and I miss her. Peter is still hanging around, thank heavens. But the best is that today the dishwasher repairman cometh!

Sue

Outside in my nightie covered by my raincoat, while Venus sits on guard