September 12, 2019
As I write this article, I realize I’m about to get in trouble. My editor, also known as my wife, is going to rake me over the coals. “How much is too much” is a question often answered in retrospect.
Let me give you an example. My wife is upstairs with my 2-year-old granddaughter who is pitching a fit. My daughter is in her office a few doors down from my wife, working. I’m in the kitchen looking out at my pool which needs vacuuming. I’m actually feeling pretty good. My motor skills are as close to normal as they get.
After a careful risk assessment, I decide to do a little work vacuuming the pool. All is well until it isn’t. I’m working in a relatively tight area in the low end, surrounded by chairs and rafts when my motor skills fail me. I go into an “off” cycle and freeze. Off periods last a variable amount of time and can freak me out.
I’ve learned all kind of triggers to break out of an off episode. They all fail. Usually, I just wait them out. Today, my diuretic kicks in and I have to pee! Wetting myself on top of being busted for being stupid is out of the question. I force myself and move at the risk of falling into the pool. Success! I cleared all the obstacles, broke out of the “off” period and made it to the bathroom.
How much is too much? I’m learning. The problem that I have is that there is a fine line between too much and too little. If I restrain from doing things like vacuuming the pool, then I end up sitting in a lift chair all day, playing video games.
I’ll vacuum later when Renee can be outside with me. I’ve learned my lesson for today.
