I already had tears in my eyes when the big box truck backed into the driveway. Every time I walk into my house since the tree fell on it, the sight of the damage makes me cry. We loved this house so much from the moment we first walked in, nine years ago. The open … read more Packing it out
Author: Lisa
Sunday therapy
Finally, a day off. Slept in. After I made coffee and brunch I was free for a few hours to write while Tom was reading. Like a normal Sunday. We came up with an ambitious agenda for the afternoon and evening. We wanted to go to the playfield so that Tom could walk on the track, … read more Sunday therapy
A helping hand
The wooden stairs in the physical therapy room at the rehab hospital were on a platform, with a landing in between two sets of steps. About six steps on the steep side, and maybe ten on the set with a gentle slope. The handrail was wood, on both sides of the stairs within easy reach. Tom used these … read more A helping hand
What the tree has wrought
The tree is off the roof. Now what?
Fill in the blank
Because Tom can’t write much yet, I’m filling out his medical forms. It’s bad enough doing these stupid pieces of paper for myself; doing them for someone else is a real pain in the arse. First of all: Why the hell are these forms still on PAPER? The big advance for medical offices has been … read more Fill in the blank
Just another morning
[Thursday Aug. 11] Today, Dad would have been 96 years old. I begged him to help me get through the day. It’s been a week since the tree fell on our house, and six days since Tom got out of rehab. The days are too long, and not long enough. I usually wake up at … read more Just another morning
Fitbit cheats
With all the schlepping I am doing lately, I figured it would be nice to get at least some kind of credit for it. So I donned Tom’s cast-off first-generation Fitbit. It’s great to get that little party on your wrist when you’ve taken 10,000 steps in a day. In the past couple weeks, I’ve been … read more Fitbit cheats
At the threshold
We were running late, of course. Everything takes longer when one of you is in a wheelchair and neither of you is sleeping very well. Tom’s appointment at the barbershop was for 10 a.m. I’d called to let them know we would be late, and the receptionist said it was OK as long as we … read more At the threshold
Target achieved
It took five months. But today I achieved my target weight. I’m finally at a “normal” weight, instead of “overweight,” for my height, according to the standards of the Body Mass Index. I’ve lost 25 pounds since March 1. That’s an average of about a pound a week, which is the pace at which weight-loss … read more Target achieved
Got gear
A guy’s gotta have gear. Tom left the hospital with a wheelchair and a commode, and today he got a truck full of other gear to keep his engine running during home rehab. A hemi walker, half a walker that folds up small, and with which he can walk the length of a hallway and … read more Got gear