In Sickness And In Health ...

"I've never been ill dear, just damaged" - (Mary Eldon; 1919 and still going strong ...).

This has been the regular comment from my Mother since she fell a couple of years ago and broke a couple of bones. Of course at her age she can be forgiven the odd lapse of memory - in that she suffered from diptheria in her early 20s and was hospitalised for three months. But hey, I'm not arguing with her! She has been remarkably illness free.

And it seemed to follow in the genes, happily. I started work in about January 1963, and until last month I had taken seven days off work. I know exactly where, when and why. But a month ago, I took a real side-swipe - and for no apparent reason.

 I developed a high fever, lost my appetite, became very tired and really wondered what was happening to me. And for those of you who know me, not actually being active would have driven me nuts ... but there's the odd thing. I didn't even feel like working!! And definitely had no interest in writing Blogs - hence my absence for a month.

I am not a good patient! I am irritable, angry even, at my own stupid frailty ... but thank goodness for the part of the marriage vows that say "in sickness and in health", never a truer word! No one else in their right mind would have put up with me, and no one else would have had the medical history at their finger tips when I couldn't recall dates accurately.

But there we are; fever has subsided, appetite is returning, I am still tired and that will take a little while yet to re-build my energy and I sound as if I have laryngitis - but I am on the mend.

And happily not too much has been happening in the world in my "absence". There seems to have been an election in the USA, and like it or not the USA is too important to ignore. As an outsider, non American (although not, as some readers of this Blog seem to think, anti-American) it seemed to me the choice was dubious either way, and it looks as if the Republican party will have to re-model itself to stand a chance of being elected in the future; but President Obama also needs to do something this term that will benefit the economy.

Then we have the other "election", the final results of which should be announced probably as I finish writing this Blog. The leadership in China, stable for the next ten years subject only to failing health of the top leaders, but facing bigger and more complex challenges than before. Confident, none the less, in what needs to be done - but in a more transparent world, where social unrest, for me anyway, is a bigger concern than economic worries - and more problematic than even relationships (or lack of them) in the region over such issues as disputed islands.

And still others - Hong Kong and it's ability to spend more time looking backwards than forwards, the banking industry, the Eurozone - lots going on ... and all I need is the energy.

Off for a quick nap now!!

Comments

[Jeremy]

Get well soon

Looks like you have a great chance to see 100 if the nonagenarian Lee Kuan Yew's thinking on ageing is correct. A mere spring chicken

http://sghardtruth.com/tag/lee-kuan-yews-advice-on-ageing/

[Louise palmer]

very glad that you are on the mend..and even more glad to hear that Mary is still remarkably well...