Routine Medication
Spontaneous, creative, bold, decisive-
my youthful
and prided captions.
Hair combed in careful abandon
ascot adjusted to cavalier,
and a forward gaze;
I painted myself dashing.
Impulsive? of course.
Creative? of course.
Risk taking? of course.
The in- command strut,
quick and purposeful,
easily became natural.
Red beard, Viking- like,
a challenge accepted
with youthful confidence.
Ambitious? you bet,
fame and fortune sought.
Then like a Colorado thunderstorm,
quick to rise from nothing
to become the scene stealer,
over night the red beard
became grey and
the red ascot no longer a match.
The in-command strut,
not suited for solemn stage walking,
became the deliberate shuffle of dignity.
A downward gaze to censor feet
that had forgotten to
take care on each step.
I had reached the comfort zone
of repeated behavior
needing no prompting.
Same breakfast each day,
full of berries and fiber,
had a moving and predictable comfort.
Off to the gym
to lift, shove and move
now done unthinkingly.
The road is not a challenge
and each day a routine
followed like an unquestioned religion.
From here on
the only concern is the faint possibility
that I forget my routine medication.
Doug Minnis February 21, 2001
Addendum 1/14
Warmly wide awake
in this bed with no pain
why move ?
TV news telling of terrible cold
makes for additional warmth
until diuretics demand .
Home care givers coming soon
makes for an agenda
for beginning one more day.
Careful in and out of the shower
hold every surface
grab every bar.
Back drying task and dressing
once so routine
now a help demand.
Today gamely sit at the table
and breakfast as if
my dear old mother was serving.
Try reading the paper
without a post breakfast nap
to help pass the day.
The best of the day
a friend willing to listen to my
oft repeated tales.
Discreet gardner, cook and cleaner
never reminding of my past
youthful skills.
Shopping day celebrated every week
for many decades is now a challenge
more to pride than empty cupboard.
Shopping cart left just for me
determines my parking space
and provides my walker.
Selection by ease of preparation,
too late for nutrition health boost
just make it easy to open.
Yes, to need help out
instead of the long used cliché of
“maybe next year.”
Carry one bag in the house,
rest and return for more
try not to forget the rest of the bags.
Mail of ads, requests for donations
and hearing aids provide rest
enough for lunch fixing.
Cookies, milk and nuts
and off to napland with dreams
of being at work with long- dead colleagues.
Left- over pizza with the forbidden red wine,
a tangerine and the evening news
cap a very busy day.
Is it bed time?
it is getting dark
and I am very tired.
DLM
1/8/14