I've been using a cane for the last few weeks. Seems I ate something from the local Taco Hell, and within a half-hour after, began suffering from an upset somach. Which progressively got worse, and lasted about a week. A case of intestional indigestion perhaps. Or perhaps they changed the type of oil they cook with - when MacDonalds changed their cooking oil, a lot of people had various reactions to it, including a few quite severe. Moot point now, I don't eat anything from there anymore.
Whatever it was, as a result, I seem to now have a disturbance of my inner ear. And, as a result of that, now occassionally lose my balance. Haven't fallen, but close a few times.
So, cane time. I had been planning on making one or three canes when I got old and needed one, but the time to need one came way ahead of schedule, and no canes made. Needed a cane. Now.
Cruised down to one of the local drugstores. The town is growing like Hell, and among other things has 3 drugstores, 4 if you count one in the new Wal-Mart just outside of town. I knew the drugstore had canes, and I needed one. They had adjustable aluminum ones for around $22, and I about got one of those. Figured I could fiddle a bit, until I got it at the optimum length. The wood ones were only about $11, but they were a bit long. Then I got considering, and decided I could cut a wood one down to size.
So got a wood cane, "walnut" according to the tag. Yeah, right. It was way long I thought, came above my waist, and my elbow was bent. I'm 5'7" and figured I'd have to cut inches off of it, I figured short enough to have my arm about straight when I was standing with the cane. Wasn't going to cut it right off, wanted to get a handle on how much to lop off first.
And, wound up leaving the cane as is. I don't think it'd be near as comfortable using it, if it was shorter. Plus, standing, I can sorta lean on it. Surprising, because I thought it would be uncomfortable left long, now I figure it'd be uncomfortable if it was shorter.
It was invaluable for the first week or so. Now, the inner ear disturbance has pretty much gone away, but still there. I don't really need the cane any more, but it's a great confidence builder, because I could still need it. Anyway, I still use it, just in case. I drive a pickup, and put it in the cab the first week or so. That was pretty much a PITA tho, it'd slide over, or down on the floor. Now I just put it in the bed, and hook the handle in one of those holes in the topside of the bed. Works great. Get out of the cab, grab the cane. Then just stick it in the bed again, and into the cab. Much less hassle.
Like I said, I don't figure I still really need it, but I have still lost my balance a bit in the house once or twice, fortunately not outside, so still carry it. Just in case. Too bad I couldn't have waited until I was old before I needed it, but that's life. Anyway, that'll be 20-30 years in the future. Besides, with my knees as they now are, especially the right one, it's very good insurance, particularly going up and down steps.
Otherwise, basically, life is good.
JOAT Intellectual brilliance is no guarantee against being dead wrong.
- David Fasold