Age Isn't For the Faint-hearted

or so my mother used to say and the older I get the more I'm aware of just how true this is. I've had the misfortune to inherit an arthritic condition which I've had to deal with for much of my life so when my friends tell me how their joints are starting to ache I sympathise because this has been my life story. Age has added extra 'goodies' in the way of my health that make life even more difficult  and that's not been fun either.

I'm lucky in having an understanding husband who goes out of his way to make life easier for me physically. He does the grocery shopping, which had become a slow and painful chore, for instance and is willing to take me anywhere I want to go now that driving, too, has become difficult. Trouble is he's begun developing aches and pains of his own - years of working in an industry which required lifting heavy items are  taking their toll - as well as few other interesting ailments.

All this mean that we spend a lot of time at various doctors' rooms. We decided many years ago that we'd always go to appointments together because it can be hard to remember everything you want to ask during a consultation and, for that matter, to remember all the doctor has to tell you when things get complex or serious. We see so many specialists and receptionists that it's got to the point that we're on first name terms with many of them (and several of the receptionists know us well enough to have a friendly chat about our respective families).

While this is lovely - we get good healthcare as well as a chance for a friendly chat - we seem to spend more time in doctors' waiting rooms than on any social activity. Making appointments is complicated because there are so many and they have to fit in around both of us and while a short consultation - 10-15 minutes or so is the average - doesn't take much time in itself there's the time it takes getting there and getting back as well. Then you have to add in extra time because they're rarely on time. Before you know it half a day disappears with each appointment.  Just as well we're retired. We wouldn't have time to go to work!