My Bees And Tinnitus
Everywhere the autumn decor is popping up and I love it. As a child autumn was always the happiest time of my life and each season it brings those memories back. I was tickled to return home days ago and find that a neighbor had decorated the porch outside. It’s been a busy but uneventful week and we leave for camp again Saturday.
This year the season changed with what felt like the flip of a switch. One day it was hot and here we are with the cold start to the days now. It’s still light in the early morning when my husband leaves for work but that will soon change. Though I’m on lay-off status, I still get up with him. Two days ago he managed to snap some photos on his drive to work of the dawn sky and shared them with me. I recently received an email stating I could return in November with the seasonal hires, which is better than nothing. The pay is much higher that time of year, and it’s how I began working for the company we are both employed at. It will be nice to have our morning drive again together and to see everyone I’m missing.
My weeks are absolutely boring at home. I can only clean, cook, and do laundry so much. It’s not in my nature to just sit still I like to be busy. This week I had my 6 month sonogram and checkup with my doctor and all is well in lady problem land. Years ago I had a big scare by a different doctor who found a growth in a Fallopian tube. That now retired Gynecological doctor began ringing all of the cancer bells and shipped me off to a Boston oncologist who confirmed later I had no reason to worry. Long story short I have it checked every 6 months to be sure it’s not changed. As a young woman I was diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome. This last visit I was scared but glad to hear again all is well.
The process is always two appointments back to back. I have a sonogram first and then I see the doctor in office for results. Both are done in hospital but this time I had an hour wait between visits so I spent it wandering the building taking a few discreet photos on my phone. First I ventured into the building cafeteria, it’s a large area but never full of people. The hospital itself is a community one unlike the larger city establishments. It didn’t take me long to become bored sitting there reading bad news on my phone so I then left and found a spot by a window overlooking the outdoors.
Once I got the all clear and left the hospital I made my way to the local food store to grab some fruit and veggies. I just adore when the autumn flower displays come out this time of year and of course I photographed them. I can’t wait for the day to come we buy a home and we can have our own gardens again. These last few years we have had less gardening, mostly due to the weather and location. This spring and summer season were the worst so far due to lack of rain. The whole region is now officially in a state of extreme drought. It’s bad for many reasons but we have been blessed from it with having had no roof leaks to speak of and for that I am grateful.
At age 55 I began seeing an audiologist for Tinnitus. At the time I started noticing noise in my ears that never stopped. I had read about it and I’m sure you have but to live it 24-7 isn’t fun. That year was the last I experienced peace and quiet. My tinnitus is in both ears, is very loud, and it sounds like a swarm of angry bees. Back then it was bothersome but it’s gotten much louder to date. It is so loud that I never hear someone speak or come up on me until I see them and it startles me so I physically jump from surprise.
Some who know me laugh at my reaction but it’s not funny. The same year the noise in my ears began is also the year my vision started changing at an excelled rate. Do any of you have a drawer full of cheap store bought reading glasses? I have accumulated so many at varied strengths it’s embarrassing. I now need a gigantic phone just to see what’s on the screen and that is while wearing my prescription glasses, I have many of those also. If I remove my glasses I have to be mindful because my sight is bad enough I can’t find them nor can I see my reflection in a mirror.
Regardless of the changes my age is throwing at me I take it in stride. I feel blessed I am here to experience what I have because many I used to know are not. My coping mechanism has always been humor and my husband is the same. It’s important that you pay attention to your health but equally important to not dwell on it. Outside of the work environment I only know one person my age, my husband aside. She is a woman I have known since I was 3 years old and we grew up together in the same rental building her parents owned. They lived on the first floor and we lived on the second. Every once and awhile on the phone we will joke about our senior adventures, but unlike myself, she isn’t finding any of it humorous as she’s been plagued with health challenges. The day I lose her will be life changing, we are sisters and refer to ourselves as such.
As of today I can still hear, I can still see, and I’m breathing so life is good. Since being laid off I have paid more attention to not just inside but my little feathered family outside, and they enjoy it obviously. Soon I will change out my bird feeders for the sturdier winter ones that can resist breaking in the frigid cold. I am so not looking forward to snow. After our beautiful fall foliage falls away and just before snow arrives we have what I call “stick season.” Stick season is when the trees are bare and everything outdoors looks dismal until our first snowfall. Like life each season brings change and new challenges, enjoy today while you have it. I’m hoping we are blessed with colorful mountain fall foliage while away at camp I can photograph. Unlike our last trip, my camera and I will not be falling into the lake this time!
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