Elderly?

I don't know whether it is due to the chemo or age catching up, but I noticed I am getting clumsy. I kept knocking things over, like there is a problem with the judgement of space allowance between my hands and objects.

While preparing lunch earlier, I knocked down a whole new bottle of sesame oil. I had bought it from NTUC yesterday and had chosen the biggest bottle there.

I had left it on the counter top after using it, with the intention of transferring some to a smaller bottle because I find the big bottle too cumbersome. Shuttling between the stove and the sink, I had sent it crashing to the floor, shattering the bottle and spilling the oil. Fortunately, most of the broken parts of the bottle were still held by the plastic wrapping which I had not removed. Still, when I looked against the light, there were tiny pieces of glass all over.

I grabbed the toilet roll and went on my knees (I couldn't squat due to the chemo) to clean up the mess. When the oil was all wiped up, I couldn't straighten up. Next, went the detergent and tissues, and followed by the mop. By the time I finished the clean up, my lunch was a soggy mess. I was hungry, so... The nice thing about this mess is that it smelt so nice.

Every Tuesday is elderly day at NTUC supermarkets. If you are over 60, produce your ID and get discounts on your purchases.

Some Tuesdays ago, after the cashier totalled up my purchases, I heard her mentioned something about 'elderly'. I went 'huh?' She explained that the elderly get to enjoy some discounts and asked if I qualified. I asked in return, 'do I look like an elderly?' She said 'hard to tell.' Hmm..... Yeah, I have lots of white hair but I still have some good years to go before I reach 'elderly'. In the meantime, call me 'elderly' if you want, but make sure you give me the discounts without asking for my ID, that will make my day.

If they don't ask, customers complained - elderly forgot and cashier didn't ask. If they asked, customers felt insulted. Looks like damned if they don't and damned if they do. Tough life!

Yeah, my hair has grown and I have lots of white hair too, thanks to the salt from the saline that was used with the chemo. My white hair has its advantages and disadvantages.

Sometimes, I get seats offered to this prematured elderly auntie, which she gratefully accepted, not because of her age, but because of her legs. See, if I stand too long, I have problems bending my knees after that.

On the other hand, I have salesgirls trying to get me to dye my hair. No, thank you, I don't need all those stuff. I feel good about myself as it is, white hair and all.

In fact, occasionally, I met this other cancer survivor at the market, and she always compared her hair to mine. She has no visible white hair, but her hair was scanty due to the damage caused by the chemo to the heart.

Another reason why I am anti-chemo - heart muscle damage or weakened heart.