That is the only expression I can think of at this moment. I have declined and fallen. It is usually associated with the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire a six volume book written by Edward Gibbons. I am not the Roman Empire, I was born in Saskatchewan.
What caused the Empire to decline? Corruption, the division of the empire, and invasion by Germanic tribes were the three main causes of the fall of Rome. But there were other factors: including the effectiveness and numbers of the army, the health and numbers of the Roman population, the strength of the economy, the competence of the emperors, the internal struggles for power, the religious changes of the period, and the efficiency of the civil administration. Climatic changes and both endemic and epidemic disease drove many of these immediate factors. I am not corrupt, not divided and have not been invaded by Germanic tribes, yet anyway. .
What caused my decline and fall? Writing this blog coupled with being old was the diagnosis. I have horrible neck pain which I did not get by necking. The pain got worse and worse and worse. It was off to the hospital – the money pump where I had my cataract surgery and an extensive checkup.
I was escorted to the hospital in a fancy BMW, driven by a handsome man. No mere ambulance for me – I was special. First as a a preliminary matter. I have decided to stop using nicknames when referring to the people in my life. With their permission. This conversation took place at the hospital.
Me: This nickname thing is getting in the way. For one thing, you have more than one. Not only do I have to remember a person’s name but also their nicknames. As my world expands it is getting wearisome. Another problem has arisen. – when reading earlier blogs, especially with men – I forget who they are. So sit leads to confusion. Guys not in my life anymore, rather like a passing fad. So is It okay if I refer to you in the blog with your given name. You can say yes or no.
He: Sure you can.
Me: Thank you.
Earlier Shamir and I were texting
He: I will pick u up around 10;30 is that okay. I am going to the office to do some work.
Me: Perfect Do what you need to do my dear. This is not an emergency although we are going to the ER. Hahaha
He: Hahaha Okay I am leaving in five minutes. I will be using a red BMW Dad’s dar/
Me: Fancy!!!!
He: Old car. Dad said I should use his car to take you to the hospital.
Me: I like old. I’m old myself.
He: Hahaha
He arrived and I felt most regal. We got there and the admitting nurse asked me why I was there and asked some questions.
She: Your son can sit there.
Me: That is not my son, There is no way a place face blue eyed wonder could give birth to someone like that.
So this is a common occurrence. People assume the young men I am with are my sons. This my usual response.
Me: He must look like his father. But I do not know who is father is. Cannot remember, there have been so many men in my life.
This usually brings gales of laughter. But I suddenly and surprisingly made this realization – I that I know who Shamir’s father is. That made it even funnier somehow and I could noalso t wait to tell Daddyo, BOB. Have not gotten his permission to use his real name as yet. Also , to be very honest, at this moment I cannot remember what his name is. Hahahaha
So we waited and waited. Many, many staff saw me.
Them: Nice to see you again! How are you? have you been?
Me: Not that good. Otherwise I would not be here.
Shamir was so surprised that everyone seemed to remember me.
Me: Yeah. But you have to remember I do not exactly look Malaysian or Chinese.
He: True but you are the only patient that laughs so loud in a hospital – of all places.
The hospital was almost deserted. Shamir said it was considered bad luck for people to go to a hospital at Chinese New Years.
Me: Thank goodness for that superstition. We should get seen faster. Hahaha
I was very impressed with the doctor. He took a very good history and when inquiring about my habits discovered the cause of my neck pain. I write from bed, my lap top on my lap. I write and research for hours at a time. The treatment? a collar, pain medication. An appointment for a MRI and follow up visit.
It took forever to get the overpriced medication and to pay for the visit. I had a hissy fit.
Me: There is no reason this is taking so long. You show no consideration or respect for your patients whatsoever.
Shamir loved telling everyone what happened next.
He: She was so frustrated and impatient, telling people off. All of sudden her eye surgeon’s nurse appears, with three other women – telling them how nice she introducing her to her friends. She asked Alexis if she remembered her. Alexis threw her arms around her saying of course she remembered her.
All I can say in my defense is that I am not always nice and patience is not one of my virtues. We drove back to the Kashmir so I could get something to eat before taking the pain medication.
At this moment I am writing from the lobby of Lyf, wearing my collar. New habits must be initiated. A staff member whose nickname will be BMR greeted me, we had long conversation and he took a picture of me at my writing desk.
MBMR stands for Muslim Beautiful Mind Recognizer. He calls me Granny.
He: Granny I took a photo of a couple of pages of your book. You are misunderstood by people. You have a beautiful mind. You need to marry a man with a beautiful mind so that he will appreciate you.
Me: Thank you so much for saying that I have a beautiful mind. You might be right but it does not seem to be happening. I am more likely to find him in Jannah not in this world.
Went to my room, a Cop Cuts template popped upon my phone. It seemed almost prophetic. Took one of the photos of me and writing desk, posted it on Instagram. It begins You Shine From Within. The caption read; Writing the blog from the Lyf lobby with the collar described by MD. I received the greatest response
She: You glow and shine wherever you go my dear. That’s a given.
Me: Absolutely love what you said to me. Amazing! And you do too.
The link to the Instagram post: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DFXaUnQTF51/?igsh=MXJmczNwN3VuZjB6bw==
Later I realized the Truth of it all. The light and glow comes from Allah (SWT) Realized that at Asr prayer, reading the Quran which spoke of the glow of the believers faces in the chapter entitled Triumph. Alhamdulillah
It was off to the Kashmir Restaurant again, sitting outside with Mohan (Daddyo, BOB), his sister and her husband visiting from Switzerland. I brought my transdermal patch, needing it to be placed on my neck under the collar. Asked my hero Mohan for assistance.
Me: I need help with the patch – cannot get the collar off and on myself.
He: I have just the person for you.
Two nurses, known by Mohan were eating at an inside table. Stopping at the outside table they ably assisted me. Somebody took a photo. Seeing is believing – you will believe. Hahaha.
Mohan’s sister and I fell into conversation.
Me: You and your husband seem to be enjoy a most happy and compatible marriage. You had an arranged marriage.
She: Yes we did. I met him and the next day we were married. All seven Anandani daughters had arranged marriages. But not the sons.
Me: Yes I know. Gradually I had learned that Mohan was married three times. Same as me. Maybe somebody should have arranged his marriage. But then we would not have Shamir. Hahaha
My goodness, Do I ever have an interesting life.
Texted Shamir on this Chinese New Year morning
Me:Strange day. Woke up to a message from Jitu – he is Beijing Got dressed went downstairs to discover the restaurant is closed. Neck barely hurts, so good news.
He: That is good news. Yes most restaurants are closed on Chinese New Year’s.
Me: This country is driving me nuts. I do not have far to go. Hahahah I could even walk. Hahaha
Photo of my treatment team applying patch, a photo of me at my writing desk. Me and another young man who is NOT my. Then a gang of people outside the Kashmir Restaurant. I must have taken the photo because I am not pictured. Mohan on the far left, Shamir on the far right (or is it the other way around?)
