kirkcudbright | year in review

The wheel turns again. But now, for the first time, I'm playing with a full deck. :)

6 weeks ago, I separated my left shoulder in aikido. Embarrassingly, it was in the middle of Bob's 3rd kyu (blue belt) test. He set up a big throw, and I was supposed to fly through the air into a big roll. Except I tripped over my hakama (big skirt-like garment), and I translated all the momentum straight down. Pretty complete tear of the AC ligament (not to be confused with ACL). Lots of PT, and I still haven't gone back to either cross-fit or aikido, though I have run a couple times. As I told

lyonesse, it offered a brief insight into her chronic pain.

Last week, we had to move F's mother from assisted living to the nursing wing (same facility, fortunately). She'd had several bad falls, and was no longer able to get around by herself, even with the walker. At this point, her mobility is limited to getting from bed to the wheelchair, with some difficulty. She doesn't see or hear so well either, and is often confused, although cheerful. She's 87, and I've known her for 33 years, and it's really hard to see her decline. F's dad is 89, and my own parents are 88 and 83; they all have some level of age-related issues, but they're all still driving and living independently.

Tangentially, every time she's had to move (condo to the "independent living" wing, to the assisted living wing, to the nursing wing), she's had to downsize by at least half. So we came home with more furniture, some of the remaining kitchen stuff, etc. At least we won't have to go through everything all at once when she dies.

There's been some other, more enjoyable, stuff, like Kylie coming home for the World Figure Skating Championships. And she'll be home tomorrow for May Day, back to college for finals, and we pick her up a couple weeks later. So that's a thing.