Monday, September 14, 2009

Glimpse Into The Future?

The words "physical therapy" used to make me cringe. Thanks to various ailments over the years, I can honestly say I've spent as much time in physical therapy sessions as I have in the grocery store, the park, Disneyland and Barnes and Nobles combined.

In the early days it was depressing-- The "typical" P.T. office was mostly filled with ailing seniors recovering from broken hips and the likes. I was always the youngest person in the facility and it felt like a glimpse into my future.

One such facility looked like a torture chamber and sounded like a heavy metal nightclub. The staff was young, the clientele old, and the music was head-banging. The two didn't mix and I always made the staff kill the music for silence, or Frank Sinatra, which ever they preferred. The seniors always thanked me as the therapist ground their knuckles into the painful spots in my neck and back.

But my current P.T. joint is the greatest. It's a huge facility with multiple treatment areas to suit your every need. And because the place is so big, you can also visit a wide range of other doctors in the same place, at the same time. For example-- an allergist, acupuncturist, chiropractor, massage therapist (my fave), Pilates, x-rays, cosmetic dermatologist and even a Russian speaking podiatrist.

Recently, when I limped my way into Pilates for my twice weekly stretching for fibromyalgia, I was surprised to see every babushka-wearing Bubbie in the greater Los Angeles area lined up in the waiting room-- Not a sight I usually see. Apparently it was toe nail cutting day and the podiatrist had several Russian speaking staff members chatting up the Bubbies and helping with their insurance paperwork.

One Bubbie, in particular, caught my eye. At about four feet tall and three feet wide, this 90+ year old was all "gussied up" in a leopard print skirt, a red and blue plaid jacket, blue Nike's, a bright orange babushka and a pocketbook the size of New Jersey. Odd as it sounds, the "look" worked on her. But something was missing....

When this Bubbie was called for her appointment, she fished through her pocketbook and pullout out a perfectly pressed handkerchief with something wrapped inside it. Ahh yes, her false teeth, which she popped in her mouth, smiled brightly, then strutted off to get her nail clipped.

Although I hope I have my own teeth when I'm her age, I wondered if I'd glimpsed into my future again. Note to self: Avoid purchasing leopard skirts and orange babushkas.

What do you see in your future?
Welcome to The Fifty Factor - Joanna

36 comments:

  1. I think I would hang out there all day for entertainment and massages. Have a wonderful Monday!

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  2. I've done my share of PT and you made me laugh about something I don't enjoy doing or thinking about!

    Here's what I know for sure about my future 90-year-old self - my tattoos will be so distorted by sagging, wrinkled skin, that when they finally have to autopsy me, there will be a betting pool - winner of the pot is the one with the best answer to the question, "What the hell was that?"

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  3. I've done my share of PT too, but your place sounds like more fun than mine! You made me laugh this morning. :)

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  4. I cringe when I look in the mirror now, please don't make me think about what I'll look like when I'm 90!

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  5. I'm almost halfway to 90! When did that happen? I too am going to make a note to myself not to purchase leopard skirts and orange babushkas. And I will also keep my teeth in!

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  6. the day's not complete until you pop in your teeth!

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  7. If I stay in the town I live (which is a haven for coffin dodgers) I can see carpet bags, comfortable shoes and anoracks in my future. You can see why I'll be leaving this town ASAP! lol

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  8. People watching always causes me to make mental notes (these days I actually write them down) about things I don't want to do, or wear or say as I get older.

    I'm filling the notebooks pretty fast these days!

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  9. Hilarious! At least she has got her very own style.. I like that!

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  10. My future holds a spiky gray hair-do. Just a little bit of crazy.

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  11. LOL, this cracked me up! Thanks :)

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  12. This post was like people watching from afar. The PT places I have seen were nothing like the one you describe. Since I am only thirty years away from the infamous Bubbie's age range, I am already too old to remember what I thought I would see in my future. Let me find my notebook with my thoughts on my future, where did I put that notebook, darn.

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  13. ha. i love seeing people be who they are, dressed how they want as opposed to the mainstream. she probably polished the chompers up and was keeping them clean to flash at the doctor. lol. the future...my boys growing up and growing older and deeper in love.

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  14. congrats on the POTD award over at David's...you rock!

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  15. Keep your teeth, lose the leopard. If you lose your teeth, I'll lend you mine. You use them Monday, Wednesday, Friday. I'll get them Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday. Sunday they get to rest.

    Please make sure you wash them each time you give them back for me to use.

    Now, I'm telling you...that's love, Sister!

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  16. @Holly: Now that's true friendship my dear. Sharing false teeth with me! Ha!!!! I'll be sure to clean them AND put them in a perfectly pressed hankie when I return them. Love ya! xo

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  17. Or at least (if possible) honey, keep the chompers in! Too funny. I practice yoga, one will never know the workout it really is unless your do it. OUCH!!! I am so glad you can laugh as you push though your pain. I know it's not easy and my prayers are with you. Have a great day!!!

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  18. That outfit reminds me of the one my s-i-l wore to our wedding. :(

    I hope I'm still able to trim my own nails when I get older. I can't stand having other people touch my feet.

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  19. God Bless her. I hope at 90 I have my faculties, forget the teeth. I hope I want to wear leopard because inside each of us, there is still a young woman that is very surprised when she looks in the mirror.

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  20. Probably close to the same as the little old lady. Thanks a lot ---ugh

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  21. Oh dear, I hope my future doesn't include physical therapy--or dentures!!!

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  22. that must have been a sight to see with the ladies and their babuska's; having a bit (a lot) of Polish in me, I remember my mom and her sisters wearing them

    enjoyed reading this entry and the chuckles it gave me

    enjoy the few days of cooler weather we are forecasted to have

    betty

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  23. Unlike you I sometimes contemplate the idea of purposefully breaking a bone in me so that I can take my days of the routine to just unwind and relax.

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  24. you making me laugh today with this, is the biggest and best laugh I'm going to have today...nothing will be able to beat it !

    I had physical therapy from jan-june this year for a shoulder and neck issue....I now believe that my p.t. is as close to god as I might ever get.....

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  25. I am married to a PT - his patients call him the physioterrorist - bet you have met a few of those.

    I speak for myself and most of your fans we are thrilled that you are avoiding leopard skirts adn orange babushskas!!!

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  26. I hope I won't be wearing a babushka!

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  27. I am not saying that my molars are in real bad shape, but I could use 1/4 inch rope as dental floss!

    I don't like to think too far into the future!

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  28. All you should see is smiles because you are so funny! I loved this.

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  29. It's always good to have a role model, whether it's what we do or don't want to become. It makes me think of the Jenny Joseph poem "When I Am An Old Woman I Shall Wear Purple With A Red Hat That Doesn't Go......" I had always thought I would be more outlandish as I got older, but so far I don't see it happening except in my brain.

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  30. I've been to PT twice in my life for 6-8 weeks each for sports related injuries. Most of the other clients were old, extremely overweight, or just way out of shape. I see them and look into my future, and tell myself that if it's within my control, I will never be like that.

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  31. I swear by PT, and always tell anyone who will listen. I'll never go to another chiropractor. PT is a gentle way of getting everything aligned, I love it.
    I've been having trouble getting to your page. I'm following you, but it doesn't show up on my follow page. When I try clicking on your follow photo, I get nothing. So I've been stalking you through comments that you leave, it's the only way I can find you. I'm starting to resent blogspot a little bit, I wish they would get their act together. Love you Joanna, just thought you'd like to know. xo

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  32. That's hilarious. You couldn't have described her better with a photograph. Great post. :) I hope the physio helped.

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  33. When I stop over to visit my 90+ neighbor the first time I saw a peek into my future I came home in a daze. After catching my breath I thought dang if I live to be a 90, I wouldn't care either who saw my future! smile.... xoxo

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  34. I want a blue rinse in my hair like my grandma, a walking stick with a mother of pearl handle and the right to call everyone 'Sonny.' That'll be fun!

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  35. I don't know, I think the look might work on you.

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