Garage For Thee, But Not For Me

I suppose it's kind of my own fault that Farmer H is on a drive-me-crazy spree. I have been catering to him since his back surgery, making sure he does not over-lift. When I get home with the groceries, IF he has not done his disappearing act, I tell him to wait on the side porch. No need for him to go up and down the steps loaded with groceries. I carry the bags from T-Hoe's rear to the chair on the side porch. Then Farmer H carries them into the kitchen. If there's a heavy bag, like with cans, or onions and potatoes, I tell him to leave it, and I'll bring it in.

This has been working fairly well. But now Farmer H's tale of how much he can lift varies. It used to be no more than 10 pounds. Then after his follow-up appointment with the surgeon, Farmer H said it was 15 pounds. A few days later, when I caught him carrying something other than groceries, for his SUS2 (Storage Unit Store 2), he tried to tell me his limit was 20 pounds.

Anyhoo... it's still a help to me if I call ahead, and Farmer H comes out of the house when he hears the dogs raising a ruckus. I carry the bags halfway, and he takes them inside.

This week, Farmer H was out in the yard mowing. He got off the mower and walked over to the people-door of the garage while I was walking around to T-Hoe's rear. From there, Farmer H yelled something at me. I don't remember exactly what, but it took him three tries. Because, you know, I had my head in T-Hoe's rear, trying to gather up grocery bags. 

Here's the thing. Farmer H was RIGHT THERE. He was already on my level, standing at the front of the garage. So he could have easily come to the back of T-Hoe, and carried half the bags to the side porch, set them on the chair, then climbed the steps to take them in. Oh, yeah! Now I remember what he was yelling. Farmer H was asking if the door was unlocked! NO. Because I didn't know if he was still at home when I left.

Anyhoo... rather than walking back to take some bags, Farmer H went up the steps to unlock the kitchen door! Then came back to wait for me to hand him grocery bags!

Let the record show that I hurt my arm/shoulder during this activity! Rather than waiting for me to set the bags on the chair, Farmer H was standing there reaching for them. So I had to LIFT my arm with 5-6 bags draped on it. The minute he took the last bag, I could feel something wrong with my arm. The deltoid muscle, which lets you flap your elbows like a chicken. And the muscles in front of it, which I don't recall at the moment. So now for two days, I've been in terrible pain. 

Do you realize how many things you use those muscles for??? Eating, drinking, combing hair, shampooing, putting shirts on and off, putting glasses on and off, driving, hoisting yourself into T-Hoe, reaching for your purse on the passenger seat, scratching scratchers (!), covering yourself with The Pony's fleece throw, turning on the sink water, washing dishes, getting food in and out of FRIG II, reaching into the oven, scratching, throwing clothes from washer to dryer, getting ice out of FRIG II's freezer bin, moving the mouse for HIPPIE, holding fingers over the keyboard for typing. 

I have been in agony. Aspirin, acetaminophen, Hempvana, Arthritis Strength Hempvana... nothing really seems to take the pain away. It doesn't help that it's the same arm that is bruised from trying to hold Scarlett's leash on Tuesday night. It sure takes a long time to heal when you're old!

Meanwhile, Farmer H continues to drive me crazy. Like when he put away some groceries...