So I mistakenly looked at his face. Why? Big spider monkey eyes sunken in gray flesh. Drooping mouth that appeared to be suspended and dangling from deep frown lines. Not a happy camper. Then why is he dancing? I little jig. Shuffle, shuffle, tap tap, kick. Repeat. He's 90 years old at least. His suit was immaculate. Clean, well fitting, bright RED, WHITE & BLUE, starched and perky. Not like the others who wear the one size fits all sun faded gown and crown exposing pant legs and facial hair. This guys wife probably told him he couldn't go out looking like THAT! I can see her mending, ironing, starching and patching with a vengeance the well worn issued uniform of the Liberty Tax street corner clown. But I see his eyes. I want to cry. Why does this 90 something need to do this? What happened to make it necessary for him to spend his golden years shuffling for minimum wage? I want to turn around and give him a dollar. Then across the street, yet another bouncing icon of liberty and justice waves her banner in Spanish - must be the wife. Decked out to perfection. She is smiling with a hint of desperation, her wave too exaggerated - her liberty crown sparkles. I barely overcome my sadness with him when she conjures up deep feelings that rise in my throat. I have to look away. NOoooo. Red light. Just my luck. I wait and busy myself with the console panel and find it necessary to bend over and look into my glove box, adjust my mirrors - ANYTHING to keep from looking.
Is it just me? Isn't it cruel, or something, to ask our elderly to perform on street corners in all types of weather, sucking in auto fumes and street dust? I guess that's the beauty of a free society. We all make our own decisions and have a choice - yeah right.
Med Update: Arm doing real good. Saw the oncologist-she forgot I'm mono-boob and scheduled me for a mammogram of my right breast. I was laying down in her office and she saw the look on my face when she mentioned it. She quickly peeked under my drape and smiled - Ooops. Let's do a colonoscopy instead. Well gee thanks! That and another bone scan in 6 months. Keeping me healthy so I can dance on a street corner one day.
Med Update: Arm doing real good. Saw the oncologist-she forgot I'm mono-boob and scheduled me for a mammogram of my right breast. I was laying down in her office and she saw the look on my face when she mentioned it. She quickly peeked under my drape and smiled - Ooops. Let's do a colonoscopy instead. Well gee thanks! That and another bone scan in 6 months. Keeping me healthy so I can dance on a street corner one day.
You don't know that they don't prefer standing on a busy corner or in a burger building line at a stinky burger joint to sitting in an old folks home staring at a game show on television, being ignored day after day. I know I'd rather be on a street corner as part of living rather than in one of the homes watching lives fade away!
ReplyDeleteHey, great news about your arm. I wish you many upbeat medical reports in the future. About that colonoscopy.... don't worry about it. Easy in, easy out!
7 Moles for 7 Sisters, I had removed last week, printed names on each bandaid at the least the ones that stayed on, can't they make a bandaid that will stay on, so embarrassing to walk down the hall and have a ugly bandaid fall out from the sleeve or pants.
ReplyDeleteAt least I'll be ready for the long days on the corner twirling my sign. Glad to hear your updates are good, how many times do you have to go before they GET IT, about the right boob, so insensitive. No bandaids required for colonoscopy is there?, thats right Norm just had one recently just a lot of gasssss.
Strange recovery. No breast? How about a colonoscopy, then? Wonder what she would've recommended if you recently had one. YOu really would have been in trouble!
ReplyDeleteYeah, I try to keep an open mind. Who knows what I will be doin when I am more elderly than I already am. I understand your feeling, though. Getting on in America is not for wimps.
#2 next time ask for the band aids they use for mammograms for covering moles. Those suckers will be on for your next one. For me, I am surprised there is anything left to take a picture of after they cover all my moles, freckles and spots. I do peel them off; don't want to give my hubby a fright.
on my visit with mammogramI had gold rings,pink stars and and dots all over me.As alway I am in a hurry and forgot to take off these fine things . So I am going to bed and Bob says WELL ARE'NT WE FANCY TONIGHT and I look down behold gold rings pink stars and dots .we had a good laugh
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