Chapter 96 - Understanding
I forgot to mention her recent behaviour on her scooter while away on our recent van trip. At that sweet little town known for its cherries I walked from the van park down to the main street, maybe close on a kilometre, to determine how suitable the pathways were for her scooter (we took the scooter disassembled in the rear of the 4WD). I thought quite adequate. I returned to the park and convinced her that an excursion on her scooter would be no problem at all. It was not to be so. First off, we had to cross the main road to the concrete footpath on the other side. Then halfway into the trip was a narrow pedestrian overpass across the railway line and on the far side a downhill slope to another street. She needed to steer clear of a bench seat & a garbage can on the other side. She neither slowed down nor avoided the obstacles. She has difficulty doing both simultaneously. Tripped the circuit breaker on the scooter. After turning into the main street she saw too many pedestrians. Over her protests I bullied her to scooter some three blocks to the end of the shopping centre to a store where I looked for a jacket I have been told I need. It wasn't found there. So after buying some meat pies in another shop, without further dawdling we returned to the van park.
Her only other scooter experience was in the town with the licorice factory. Again I checked the pathways to the town centre. The town fathers have seen fit to lay a brand new concrete footpath a good kilometre long all the way from the van park. Every few hundred metres there is a bench seat to the side for weary travellers. The footpath is quite wide; at least three, maybe four could walk abreast. If I remember correctly, there is only one street crossing in the entire length. I convinced her this scooter experience would be better. And it was, except she was convinced the path sloped to the side. I couldn't see it, but admitted there may be a slight gradient, enough to shed rain water to one side. Before reaching the town centre she wished to return. I persisted until we arrived at the town centre where she remained on the scooter while I crossed the jumble of railway lines to the other side where the majority of shops still trading are placed (for this is another town recovering from poorer times), then we returned to the van.
This morning we made it to church. Only minor assistance was needed to dress. This cold weather is quite a bother for her when she needs to wear several layers of clothes, especially coats. Coats and jumpers tend to "stick" to one another which she cannot overcome no matter how hard she tries. I found her sitting on the side of the bed attempting to pull on a cardigan which was bunched around her shoulders, one arm inserted, other hand groping for a sleeve. My attempts to help result in "everything twisted". Then we had to put on an overcoat. She remained seated throughout the entire church service but was able to rise & walk down for communion where we stand rather than kneel as most others do. Back in the pew her tremors became quite strong and 5 minutes later she was unable to stand without assistance when the time came to leave. At home after some soup for lunch she fell asleep in her chair. Shortly before 1pm she came to the door of my dungeon to say she needed to go to bed. I helped her to bed, asking whether I should wake her later. "No" she said, "I'll wake myself later."
Last evening I made a chicken curry somewhat hotter than usual because I used an entire bottle of mild curry paste instead of 4 tablespoons of the stuff as recommended on the side of the bottle. She commented that the curry was warmer than usual. In the past we have wondered whether spicy foods effect her PD symptoms, perhaps resulting in her behavior at the end of church today then followed by extreme sleepiness after lunch. We decided to abstain from curry for several days then have a curry meal and observe any after effects. I made enough curry for another 2 meals.
This weekend we were invited to day visit family intent on cold weather camping at an old silver mining town some 3 hours from here. About 1 hour on bitumen followed by 1 hour of good dirt road then 1 hour of rough dirt road. Mountain country, probably a few creek crossings, nothing too much for the 4WD. I would have enjoyed the trip and the opportunity to photograph the town buildings. Instead I decided she must make the decision to take the trip. After reading information on a website and contemplating the probable architectural qualities of toilet facilities, she decided to stay home. She says I am a bully for forcing her to do things. I will continue to do so, yet I must temper our activities to suit her nervous disposition. I have added an additional grab handle in the 4WD to help her hang on while she believes I am performing acrobatics on the roads. Also a couple of extra handles in the van to help her rise and enter.
Time to peek at her in the bedroom.
Her only other scooter experience was in the town with the licorice factory. Again I checked the pathways to the town centre. The town fathers have seen fit to lay a brand new concrete footpath a good kilometre long all the way from the van park. Every few hundred metres there is a bench seat to the side for weary travellers. The footpath is quite wide; at least three, maybe four could walk abreast. If I remember correctly, there is only one street crossing in the entire length. I convinced her this scooter experience would be better. And it was, except she was convinced the path sloped to the side. I couldn't see it, but admitted there may be a slight gradient, enough to shed rain water to one side. Before reaching the town centre she wished to return. I persisted until we arrived at the town centre where she remained on the scooter while I crossed the jumble of railway lines to the other side where the majority of shops still trading are placed (for this is another town recovering from poorer times), then we returned to the van.
This morning we made it to church. Only minor assistance was needed to dress. This cold weather is quite a bother for her when she needs to wear several layers of clothes, especially coats. Coats and jumpers tend to "stick" to one another which she cannot overcome no matter how hard she tries. I found her sitting on the side of the bed attempting to pull on a cardigan which was bunched around her shoulders, one arm inserted, other hand groping for a sleeve. My attempts to help result in "everything twisted". Then we had to put on an overcoat. She remained seated throughout the entire church service but was able to rise & walk down for communion where we stand rather than kneel as most others do. Back in the pew her tremors became quite strong and 5 minutes later she was unable to stand without assistance when the time came to leave. At home after some soup for lunch she fell asleep in her chair. Shortly before 1pm she came to the door of my dungeon to say she needed to go to bed. I helped her to bed, asking whether I should wake her later. "No" she said, "I'll wake myself later."
Last evening I made a chicken curry somewhat hotter than usual because I used an entire bottle of mild curry paste instead of 4 tablespoons of the stuff as recommended on the side of the bottle. She commented that the curry was warmer than usual. In the past we have wondered whether spicy foods effect her PD symptoms, perhaps resulting in her behavior at the end of church today then followed by extreme sleepiness after lunch. We decided to abstain from curry for several days then have a curry meal and observe any after effects. I made enough curry for another 2 meals.
This weekend we were invited to day visit family intent on cold weather camping at an old silver mining town some 3 hours from here. About 1 hour on bitumen followed by 1 hour of good dirt road then 1 hour of rough dirt road. Mountain country, probably a few creek crossings, nothing too much for the 4WD. I would have enjoyed the trip and the opportunity to photograph the town buildings. Instead I decided she must make the decision to take the trip. After reading information on a website and contemplating the probable architectural qualities of toilet facilities, she decided to stay home. She says I am a bully for forcing her to do things. I will continue to do so, yet I must temper our activities to suit her nervous disposition. I have added an additional grab handle in the 4WD to help her hang on while she believes I am performing acrobatics on the roads. Also a couple of extra handles in the van to help her rise and enter.
Time to peek at her in the bedroom.
posted by Kilpike | 1:19 pm
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