It wasn’t that long ago when I could lift 50 pounds. In fact, three years ago when I was setting up my office/media room, I had to lift a 50-pound television onto a stand, and I managed it. Barely. (Why do I have a television, you might ask, since I don’t subscribe to any sort of television programming and wouldn’t watch it if I did? Well, when I moved here, before I got involved with reading again — which I’d given up after Jeff died because I couldn’t handle stories where someone died or was lonely or fell in love — I would watch movies, both DVDs and VCR tapes.)
I’d obviously gotten weaker because it was a struggle to lift that television. I’m sure I’ve become a lot weaker since then, especially considering the problems with my knees, so when I found out that the box containing the outdoor furniture I ordered would be about 58 pounds, I wasn’t sure how I was going to handle it. I considered opening the box where the delivery person dumped it, but I was concerned about perhaps losing small parts outside or damaging my antique wood floors if the deliverer was kind enough to bring the box inside, or any number of things.
In the end, it was easy. I and my knees were strong enough to lift one end of the box, so I slipped a towel underneath that end of the box, then lifted other end of the box and slipped a towel underneath it too. That enabled me to slide the box to my work room where I will — eventually — assemble the table and chairs. Assuming the holes match up, that is. A couple of reviewers said the holes didn’t line up, but other reviewers said if you arrange the pieces properly, the holes do line up, which I hope is true.
It’s too late today to do the work — I need time to concentrate, and my ability to concentrate, like my ability to lift heavy things, seems to be weakening.
Even if I have to wait a few days before I can assemble the furniture, it will be fine. There’s no way I’m going to be sitting outside (even if I do have a lovely place to sit) when the temperature is well over a hundred degrees Fahrenheit, and it will be several days before we’re back into the nineties.
I’m looking forward to the project — assembling furniture is the adult version of putting a model together, and seems more like play than work. At least it seems that way to me. Or I should say: at least it seems that way to me until I get frustrated.
Frustration, unfortunately, seems to be gaining strength as the more practical attributes like being able to lift things and being able to concentrate are weakening.
Ah, the joys of getting older! (That’s irony in case you don’t recognize it.) I consider myself lucky that I can still manage to do the things I need to do without damaging myself or my surroundings. I’m hoping my luck continues to hold until I finish this particular task, whenever that might be.
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Bertram's Blog 
June 11, 2022 at 7:34 pm
I recently downsized out of the house I’d lived in for >30 years into a much smaller apartment. The dining room table was a nice marble one, but was too big, and was hard to move 30 years ago. When I sold it to a much younger guy, the two of us were barely able to load it on his truck.
The table held up well over the years though, so I bought a much smaller one for the apartment. Fortunately, I looked up the specs before taking delivery. It was just under 200lbs! Maybe age also makes us think about such things in advance.
June 11, 2022 at 7:37 pm
Age and being alone. I never used to have to worry about things like this because Jeff and I did so much together.
I hope you will be comfortable in your new place.
June 12, 2022 at 4:55 am
Keep cool during those high temperatures 🔆 and enjoy settling into your new hope, bit by bit Pat 😊, it’s a lovely feeling re-nesting and making it they way you want it 🏡
I think when younger people struggle with physical things they don’t let on, and it’s not so obvious but I know of a lot of young people (teens/20s – much younger than me lol) who won’t go anywhere unless it’s in a taxi or they get a lift and sit and eat rubbish ordered via take-away apps on their phone all day, very unhealthy, I worry for them.
June 12, 2022 at 6:28 am
That’s true about young people not letting on when they struggle with physical things partly because they are in their “prime.” They haven’t started losing abilities yet. They might not have gained them because of their lifestyles, but they don’t yet have to pay for their choices, either.
June 12, 2022 at 8:18 am
It will be a nice table & chairs WHENEVER you get it finished. I know what you say about getting older. I am that way too. I now try to go for walks in the early morning as the humidity is rising & my strength does not hod up the way it used to. The 90’s are here with the100’s not far behind. Stay cool!!
June 12, 2022 at 4:56 pm
104 here today. Yikes.