I am a woman of some advanced years. I like to think it means I have experience in areas that only come with those advanced years but while that may be true, there are times when those years and that experience don’t mean a dangblad thing. I still forget things and take other things for granted.

The first thing I take for granted is my body. Yes, I know I’m getting older and yes I know I have osteoarthritis but I’m not immobile. However there are days when I stand at the top of the stairs and wish that I didn’t have to go down. And I plan my trips to the mall on days when I feel extra specially fit. This spring I was involved in a very rewarding production. We rehearsed for almost three months and then had a five week run culminating in the Fraser Valley Zone Festival for Theatre BC. I saw all of the shows in the Festival, which meant going out every night for a week. On the Sunday after the Festival, the first free Sunday in four months, we had the family over for a barbecue. I was tired but I thought I was fine. However, as the day went on I felt my body tightening. My arms protested when I lifted and then held my grandson. I had trouble turning my head to follow conversations. By the end of the night I had a splitting headache and my neck and shoulders were so tight I could hardly move. After a warm bath and a gentle massage from my husband I fell quickly asleep but I woke up in pain and feeling drained. I slept most of the day, finally rallying around three o’clock. I was able to change the sheets and finish tidying the kitchen before I had to take another break.

I would never dream of playing softball or basketball again. I know I’m not physically capable of those kinds of athletic endeavours now. But I did think I was able to handle a full run production. Maybe I can, but when you throw in a few full days of babysitting a toddler and then end it with a week of watching shows every night and comparing them to your show, well I guess that’s what tips it over the edge. Thank goodness I have the luxury of being able to waste most of an entire day refilling my energy bank. And that may stretch to a few more days; right this minute I don’t want to do more than tap away on my IPad, watch TV and drink tea.

I don’t know if other people take their health, their bodies and their physical capabilities for granted. I do know that sitting on a bicycle for a long bike ride is far more uncomfortable now than it was in the past. It isn’t as hard on my legs because I have an electric assist bike now, a clear adaptation to my declining abilities. I do know some of my friends around my age like to nap (as do I) and we are letting younger people take over tasks we have done for years. I also know that I’m not ready to give up doing everything I love. But I may start auditioning for only supporting roles, well, I might start thinking about only auditioning for supporting roles.

Thank goodness we don’t have a big yard to maintain. Thank goodness we can get away for lazy weekends, where others cook and clean for us as we enjoy doing as little as possible. Thank goodness we have drugs to take the pain away and machines to help us do our jobs. And those are things I’m not taking for granted today. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have to put the kettle on so I can have a cup of tea before I have a little nap before my husband gets home. The poor man works so we can maintain the standard of living to which I have become accustomed, and that is also something I don’t take for granted.