Every day is a new day. Each morning, as the sun comes up gently warming my room I wonder what the day will bring. Our little family, Penny, husband and I, are working together to get through each day while noticing the beautiful things as well as the daily trials.
Friday I somehow strained a sciatic nerve in my right leg. I was fine most of the day, running with the dog at the park, in and out of the car while running errands. I was fine until suddenly I wasn’t.
At the drug store as I got out of the car I suddenly felt excruciating pain shoot up my leg. I stood still for a moment, hoping it would subside. It didn’t. I hobbled into the drug store, did my business and hobbled back to the car. At home I could barely get up the two front steps. Saturday I stayed in my recliner, napping and groaning.
The biggest problem we had to deal with was taking Penny out. Walking with her in the yard on uneven turf was so painful for me. And she’s been asking to go out a lot lately while not necessarily doing anything once we get outside.
I took her out four times in the morning, each an agony for me, and she didn’t do anything but wander around sniffing. My husband tried taking her out, using his walker. It was his first time to take her for a walk since he was discharged from the hospital almost two weeks ago.
She didn’t do anything, though they shuffled down to the stop sign and back. We decided if she didn’t have to go she didn’t have to go. She had two parents and neither in any shape to take care of her.
Later in the day Pen and I managed a short walk along the pond across the street. She still didn’t do anything, but I got a few pretty shots with my phone. And that made me smile.
Today I feel 80% better, and I know I’ll be able to take her out, maybe even for a real walk up the road. I hope she decides to do her jobs while we’re out there.
Getting old is not for the faint of heart. It’s hard, physically and mentally. It would be so easy to slide into the dark place we hold in the back of our minds. Focusing on getting through today and not thinking about tomorrow too much is my secret approach to today and every day going forward.
Getting through each day. That’s our plan. So far it’s working.
Change Is Hard 
May 3, 2026 at 4:40 pm
Living in the ‘now’ moment really is the best advice! Hope you are feeling better. 👍🏼
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May 3, 2026 at 4:41 pm
Ahhh. . . spring. . .
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May 3, 2026 at 6:50 pm
”Getting old is not for the faint of heart. It’s hard, physically and mentally.” You are so right. I am finding, far too often, that the things I used to do and my mind thinks I can still do, my body just laughs at me, and it’s really kind of an evil cackle. Bending over or looking up at the sky leave me feeling a big wonky, kind of dizzy, walking more than a few steps leave some of my body parts tight and painful – and those parts vary. Sometimes it’s here, sometimes it’s there. Today I went to the grocery store with Kat, and ended up sitting at a Starbucks table with an iced caramel latte while she shopped. This all makes me so very grumpy. When we got home, I ordered a walker with a seat, because I’m thinking I’m going to need it on our vacation trip this summer. Sigh.
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May 3, 2026 at 7:09 pm
I hope things get better soon. I had two weeks of sciatica recently. Couldn’t sit or lie down and if I slept for an hour or two I would take in screaming pain that took my breath away and had to walk until the muscles calmed down. Did lots of exercises from when I had this 20 years ago and did PT. It helped, but I will be just fine with never having it again. And I just love your Penny. She’s so gorgeous, and almost as lovely as my Cavalier Gracie! I’m glad you have her for the difficult days, even if she has to be walked.
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May 3, 2026 at 9:34 pm
What bad timing this bout of sciatica is for you Dawn. And, you hate to dissuade Penny from “asking” to go outside, even if it is just to sniff around and look at the landscape as Spring slowly unfolds. I hope you are doing better today … kudos to your husband for shuffling out with the walker to take Penny outside, in order to keep you from having to endure any more pain. You sure are right about getting old. I fell down hard on my left knee last September in the house, not on uneven pavement, which would be more likely. That stupid trip-and-fall over a dustpan reminds me every day how stupid I was to not pay attention (and how much I hate housework).
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May 3, 2026 at 11:04 pm
So very, very sorry! Do you have dog walkers in your area? My daughter often uses a dog walker for her dog.
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May 4, 2026 at 5:44 am
Oh Dawn, what a difficult time for you. The human body seems to love to remind us of our age at the worst of times.
I hope today goes better, and that you find some spring flowers to boost your spirits. 🌷🪻
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May 4, 2026 at 7:47 am
I’m so sorry to hear about your sciatica flare-up but am relieved it seems to be getting better. Sometimes it’s impossible to figure out what triggers it. One false move, it seems, but sometimes I can’t figure out what the move was… It’s true that getting old is not for the faint of heart but you’ve got a helpful method for carrying on. One step at a time.
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May 4, 2026 at 2:29 pm
rough and beautiful, thanks for sharing. glad you are better.
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May 4, 2026 at 3:19 pm
I’ve fought sciatica off and on for years, and I can attest to how little fun it is. Since I don’t do oral medicines well, I use a topical that my aunt told me about (and works quite well). Also, I keep walking as that makes healing go faster for me. I guess Penny would love that! However, I did hurt my knee recently, and the Monk’s found that as aggravating as I have. Your photos are lovely (especially pretty Penny!), and I’m happy to hear you’re mending (and so’s the hubs). I keep telling myself that I’ll have a long time to “rest” after I cross the Rainbow Bridge. Hang in there!
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