Michael and I would have to be the most unpunctual couple on the planet. Tearing along Marshall Road en-route to Whiteman Park for our first doggy date, I was mightily relieved to receive a call from Michael that he was running late...and he only lived in the neighbouring suburb! We both try really hard to be punctual and sometimes we succeed, usually with all the preparation of a major military manoeuvre, along with much gnashing of teeth and temper tantrums from both of us.
Fortunately, our family and friends are aware of our tendency to be late (or very late) and often give us additional leeway or they downright lie about the expected time we are due to be somewhere. The fact that we do not like being woken by an alarm always adds to our stress, because a designated hour for rising means we have a schedule for the day. Think of us affectionately tomorrow as we have to leave home by a quarter to eleven (in the morning!) in order to attend a couple of appointments along with the completion of the shopping. Ye Gods.
Before Middle Age entered my life, I was often quickly and efficiently decisive. In some ways, I had to be. Our Autistic Superstar Alex was involved in an intensive home programme for two and a half years, with individual therapy sessions, play, pre-primary, physio and OT and day care for additional socialisation. Routine and organisation ruled. I don't regret our efforts for one minute. Alex has grown up into a positive, loving, friendly, considerate and eager young man and I am incredibly proud of him. Maybe that's why I enjoy the luxury of consideration now as I am confident in Alex's abilities to participate in an ordinary life.
Hence, I have taken all of January to truly cogitate over the past year and arrive at some interesting and surprising conclusions.
2022 will be remembered as a year Michael and I spent more time that we would have like in medical facilities. We are the full bottle on hip and knee replacements, painkillers good, bad and ugly, the erratic nature of care in and out of hospitals and the relief of compassionate and effective treatment. We have discovered post operative delirium, the results of trial and error with medications, the nervous anticipation of approaching hospital stays and really appreciated our home upon our return.
However, these stints were all the means to an end. After hobbling our way across Queensland last July and August, we were determined to be firing on all cylinders come our next winter expedition. We plan to depart for our beloved Murchison, Gascoyne, Goldfields and the Pilbara come the beginning of June, visiting old favourite and a few unfamiliar destinations.
A most unexpected event, the installation of our bathroom railings, has led to a whole new confidence. They have been exceedingly useful during rehab but they also provide us with day-to-day reassurance. I have had an URTI this week (an upper respiratory tract infection - not COVID thankfully) and have felt a bit ordinary at times. To stand in the shower with the warm water cascading over me with my eyes closed has been just wonderful at clearing congestion and I only had to rest my hand on the railing to feel completely safe. Stuff the idea that bathroom railings are for the aged and inform - we revel in their presence!
Similarly, the shock of Michael being eligible for an ACAT Assessment early in 2022 has led to ninety minutes of domestic assistance once a fortnight for a minimal fee. To have our bed changed, the bathroom and loo cleaned and the floors vacuumed and mopped is almost heaven - and I that don't have to lift a finger every second Wednesday - and is right up there with clean knickers straight out of the dryer. Once more, we are so bloody grateful for these services.
A year of relationships with family and friends has had its joys and setbacks. We had been delighted with our divine grandchild, Miss Imogen Ivy and of course her fabulous Mummy and Daddy. We look forward to the arrival of Immy's sister Pumpkin (her current name) sometime in March. Cal, Bron and Imogen provide us with the magic of our own extended family and we savour every moment we spend with them.
Alex, aforementioned as the Autistic Superstar, is embracing life with all his natural enthusiasm. Named Employee of the Year as a Cafe Attendant at Paraquad, he has an extremely full and social life that certainly leaves Michael and I looking like a pair of fuddy-duddies. He continues to have health challenges - early brain bleeding was confirmed, keratoconis required treatment; he is waiting for treatment for a hernia and a sleep study, but the biggest confirmation was that Alex has never had an intellectual disability. To discover that his intelligence is normal shouldn't feel like a big deal but it does, both to me and to him. Thanks to Neurosciences, we now know that his frontal lobe damage and Autism is responsible for his need to process thoroughly the world around him. Throw in his fabulous Support Worker/Advocate/Life Facilitator Pascal and we see Alex more frequently as they drive up to Beverley once a month or so.
Lastly, but not leastly, the East End Gallery continues to astonish and excite us. We opened the Gallery on Australia Day for the coming year. I immediately set work to rejuvenate the main Gallery and Giftshop over the weekend. Along with the heat and a multitude of marvellous guests, we all coped with my self inflicted chaos and the result, although I was absolutely shattered, is possibly the best look for our art space ever. Come and view for yourselves.
My husband Michael is my best friend, my soulmate, my partner in crime and my fellow adventurer. We genuinely enjoy each other's company, laugh every day and share a wide-eyed fascination and appreciation with our home, our animals, travelling and the art we both love.
Roll on 2023!
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