Feeling Human Again
Sat., November 1, 05:06 PM
If you read about my feelings of frustration last April, you may realize how isolated I have felt since then. There were so many constraints to waiting for someone to drive me, not to mention that this area, between the climate and the lay of the land, is not a place where one can depend on a tricycle. I have been thinking about buying another car. My daughter-in-law has a newer car, better for carrying Lila, and was looking for a buyer for her Civic, which is not terribly different from the one I sold. But how to deliver it from Boston to Connecticut? Not only do we need an additional driver, but I can’t allow Husband anywhere near that baby until he gets his coughing under control.
Last weekend Son and Ms. P. brought Lila to visit some friends a couple of towns away. Son drove the Civic and Ms. P drove the SUV. Then Son brought the Civic down to our house, brought me back to see the baby, and eventually drove his family back home.
Once again, I have a car that I can drive! Not having driven for a year, I need to get my reflexes back, but I am comfortable with this car — and I can at least go around town a little.
It’s not my car yet, thanks to the red tape of getting Husband settled. But I did a few things on my own, things I have been postponing till a better time. I redeemed soda bottles and cans. I turned in a couple of lottery tickets. (How could I ask U.D. to wait while I stood in line on a day when we knew we had to get back soon?) I brought an unusual prescription in to the pharmacist; it really was time-consuming and took two phone calls before they could put it through. I didn’t have to be impatient, because my time was my own.
I even took a trip up to Sam’s on Thursday. I think it was about six months since I had last been there; I’ve been making do with whatever I could get in the supermarket because it was easier. Well, I got what I went for, including candy for Hallowe’en; I noticed that everything is just a little more expensive than it was before, but still a better buy than it was elsewhere.
I discover that, every time I take the car out, I am sleepy earlier than I would be otherwise. Does that prove I am still a little stressful about it? I am well aware that old reflexes can kick in when you don’t expect them — that’s what I’m hoping for — but a silly one came through the other day. As I approached the car, I unlocked it with the remote; then, as I always did before, I put the key in the lock and turned it… Gotta remember not to do that!
Just think — I will even be able to go and vote by myself. Feels human.
