Respite

Well, friends, I’ve moved on from The Home. No more morning wake ups to take a blood pressure reading that was never an issue, nor the issue, that brought me to the Transitional Care Unit. However, rules are rules so twice a day, a usually well-meaning nurse arrived with the arm band, a pulse oximeter - totally familiar after 2020 and COVID - and a forehead thermometer. And twice a day, the readings were well within the normal range. 

Normal I can do.

Mobility remains the issue. 

My one-legged pivots and hops however have progressed to the point that I was able to move to a short term respite apartment in a senior and assisted living building. Turns out this place is home to people almost a decade younger than I, which is truly an eye opener. It is meant to be accessible in an ADA sort of way.

And it sorta is. The wall-to-wall carpeting makes propelling a wheelchair quite the upper body workout challenge. All in all that’s just fine, since I need arm strength to hoist myself in and out of the wheelchair. More progress.

I was almost sad to leave The Home. The friendly aides really helped the time pass - and I always knew I could buzz for help whenever I needed. But my old friend Julie reminded me that I was raised in central Ohio where we are all about grit and determination to keep moving forward - and forward meant moving into greater independence.

So here I am - this apartment will be rented out “permanently” at the beginning of June, so my short term stay until May 20 works just fine. I have a kitchen that allows me to make my own coffee, and long enough arms to reach the faucet without having to stand on one leg, although I suppose I could do that, too.

The view of downtown Minneapolis is lovely from up here, and the wifi is way better. Time will pass and it’s only 18 days until I’m in a walking boot that will allow me to go home. But who’s counting?