Ah, the joys of getting out of bed each morning. It’s a whole ritual on its own with each part integral in setting up for how my day will begin. Luckily it now starts after the sun has risen. Since my girls are in college, I don’t have to get them off to school, so I can afford that luxury of waiting until after daylight. I do recommend room darkening shades as it can help prevent waking up at the crack of dawn.
Image by Freepik
As I slowly become awake, I start compiling my to-do list. It is something that I most likely started at some point during the night since these days sleeping through the night is a rarity. The list is broad with things as mundane as remembering to buy toilet paper to as lofty as getting that cobweb I saw in the top corner of my two-story foyer as I headed to bed the night before.
I have to take out my earplugs too. They recently made an appearance to silence my husband’s snoring which seems to be increasing with his age. I hate earplugs. I find them very uncomfortable and to be honest, it only dampens the sound of his snoring. But I am desperate these days for a solid night’s sleep.
A new addition to my routine is to move my head very slightly back and forth. I call this my Vertigo check, just another fun thing I deal with occasionally since I’ve hit a certain age.
Now comes the unpacking if you will. First comes the padding and no not my own built-in padding but the various pillows I have surrounding me. I have pillows for my legs, a few for my head, another for being on my side and one I use as a wall between us as added measure for muffling the snoring.
Of course, I also have to put my boobs back in my pajamas. It seems no matter what I wear, my boobs seem to find their way to freedom.
As I roll over to get to the edge of the bed, I carefully perform the maneuvers my physical therapist taught me. I don’t want to hurt the back. I lift the blankets, which could be 4 of them or just a sheet, depending on the hot flash severity that night. There may even be a towel if my night sweats are bad.
Now the fun begins. I carefully, as instructed by my physical therapist, push myself to a sitting position at the edge of my bed. Here begins the game of what joint can make the most sounds this morning. I start moving and rotating my joints. I listen to the familiar cracking of my ankles, the crunching of my neck, and the clicks of the shoulders. I stand up. Oh yup, the back pain is still there.
I head to the bathroom and use the toilet. I always wonder why I need to use it right when I get up. It’s not like I wasn’t in there in the middle of the night at least once. Anyway, once done in the bathroom, I get dressed. Since I am not heading out of the house until later, I put on my fancy morning attire, which consists of ratty sweatpants, a stretched-out sports bra and a stained t-shirt. Yes, I like to dress to impress, my dog that is.
Once done, I can start my day with my carefully procured list I made in bed just 10 minutes ago. I descend down the stairs. Ouch, I seem to have knee pain now. That’s a new one. I wonder if I need to get a knee brace or what doctor do I see for this. I hobble into the kitchen. Wait, what was on my list again?
Thoughts, comments or concerns?