Old Times; Old Friends; Old Memories

Looking at today’s date, I am reminded that it is the birthday of a high school friend.  That in itself is not unusual but what is perhaps a bit out of the ordinary is that I haven’t seen that friend or spoken to her since my high school senior year (I graduated in 1974 so it’s been awhile!).

Kathy was on the school newspaper staff and was the editor the year before I was editor.  I knew her from other classes, too.  I have a vague recollection that she was in my P.E. class more than once.  She had a friend named Pat.  The two were inseparable.  When they graduated, they returned to visit us on the school newspaper staff once or twice.  The last time I saw Kathy, she spoke of beginning a nursing program at a vocational school.  I never heard from her after that and because so many women use a spouse’s last name, it’s difficult to find her.  I’ve searched classmates.com (which by the way, is a big rip off; don’t go there!) and facebook, as well as the school’s alumni site.  No trace of her.

I often get these flashes from another time.  I used to have a very good memory.  That was before kids.  Before aging.  Before the stroke I had in 2006.  These days I seem to remember things from other times and other places but not so much the things I should remember, like what happened yesterday or last week.  If you knew me before I had my first child in 1982, chances are I will remember your birthday and think of you on that day each year.  I may even remember your phone number, even though I haven’t called it in over 35 years!

Such are the mysteries of the mind.  At least of mine.

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Just Too Old For This

Saturday was my daughter’s 24^th birthday.  I had to sit and wait for a delivery most of the day then I had to rush to the store to get a cake and a part of her birthday present before picking up a friend to drive across town to meet my daughter and her friends for dinner.  Once we made it to the restaurant we were greeted by my daughter telling us there was a 90 minute wait for a table (she hadn’t listened to me and made the reservation on the restaurant’s website).  Breathing a sigh of relief, I settled in for the wait and the dinner.  It ended up not being as long of a wait and dinner was more than worth it!

After leaving the restaurant, I headed toward home but had to drive my friend home first.  She had come along to keep me company in case I was left out of the loop.  My friend doesn’t have a car so she doesn’t get out much so it was a nice outing for her, too.  Before dropping her off I asked if she wanted to stop by the house for a few minutes so she could see where I lived.  She hadn’t ever been here even though I’ve known her for some months.  So I drove home.

We got to talking and Paula, my friend, started to tell me about the year she spent working and traveling in Europe.  Before I knew it I was yawning.  I wasn’t bored.  I was just really tired.  It had been a long week and a long day.  She kept talking.  I kept listening.   After she finished with Madrid, I went down the hall to the bathroom, I glanced at the clock and told her it was after 4 am!  It was so late that we figured she should just stay in the guest room and I’d take her home the next day.  By the time I got her settled in the guest room, it was after 5.

I woke up at 7:30 and couldn’t get back to sleep.  I stayed in bed for a while but didn’t sleep.  I finally got up and made coffee and a while later, Paula was up too.  We went to a late breakfast then I took her home.  When I got back, I was so exhausted that I walked in, sat on the couch and couldn’t move for about 45 minutes.  I just couldn’t think clearly enough to figure out if I wanted to go to the bedroom and lie down for a bit or just curl up on the couch.  Eventually, I turned on a DVD and curled up on the couch but didn’t sleep.

On Monday my daughter called me early and woke me up.  I couldn’t get back to sleep after hanging up.  So I spent Monday as a “space case”.  It’s just today, Tuesday, that I am feeling more like myself.

I need my rest.

I’m just too old for this.

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One Eye

I wear contact lenses. Even with them I am half blind. Without them, I can’t see to walk without holding on to the wall, quite literally.

The night before last, one of my contacts fell out for no apparent reason. Sometimes they fall out because they dry out or because I rub my eye or something but this time, I don’t know why it fell out. I cleaned it and tried to put it back it. I couldn’t get it in and my eye became irritated from trying so I put the contact away and figured I would try in the morning. At least with one in I can sort of function.

On Saturday, I got up early to take my car in for an oil change. I tried putting my contact in again. It wouldn’t go in. Without that contact in, I can’t see well enough to drive so I didn’t take the car in. Instead, I waited several hours before trying again, unsuccessfully.

It is now Sunday afternoon and I still can’t get the thing back in! I’ve always had trouble getting them in and out. I’ve worn contacts since I was 20 years old. I’m 52. You’d think I would be able to do it by now. But no! Now my next course of action, should I not be able to get it back in by the morning, is to take the other one out and use my +3.50 readers. At least with those, I can see well enough to drive safely. Then when I need to read or write, I will put another pair of readers over those. For now, I am reduced to making the text size super big on my computer and to closing my contact-less eye as I try to read. Looks pretty funny to see me typing and trying to read with one eye closed.

When I win the lottery, I am getting lazik surgery for my eyes.

Yeah, right.

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