I wake up, blink into the grey morning light, groan and swing my feet onto the wood floor. Craning my neck to one side, I pull back my shoulders and hear a familiar, sharp, but not unpleasant snapping sound. I yawn, stretch and think very seriously about resetting the alarm. Fifteen more minutes?
I decide against it, tempted more by a shower and breakfast. Once on my feet, I wiggle my toes, flex my ankles and frown, feeling a new stiffness in my arches. Up, down, up, down on the balls of my feet, like an awkward, aged ballerina. Sir Hal joins me, dancing in and out of my legs, a furry obstacle underfoot for the short walk to the bathroom. I trip and hop, rubbing absentmindedly at a sore right knee.
The shower is too hot, but I leave it, adjusting the head so that the spray sends its fiery blasts onto my hips. I bend away from the water, fingertips reaching down to the porcelain, curling under my toes. The heat does its work as I settle into what appears to be a strange new shower yoga.
Head, shoulders, knees and toes – all of it aches to some degree. I towel off and quickly consider the reason. I could be puzzled by the aches and pains of my non-old age, or misattribute it to post-gym soreness. Instead, I simply think out loud (as one does in front the bathroom mirror, with a feline audience lounging in the sink),
“Must be the change in the weather.”
And then, as I lean forward to smooth cream under the eyes of my steam-smeared reflection, a second truth erupts and tumbles out of my mouth and into a pair of pointy black ears below,
“My god. I have become my father.â€ù
LOL Yeah unfortunately it happens that way. I hate to disillusion you but that’s only gonna worse the older you get.
LOL. I’ve been told we’re all going to become our parents someday. Quelle Horreur!
This one of….if not THE…favorite of your blogs. Love it.
(From This Fish: Thank you!! I love (LOVE) hearing that! )
I often partake in shower yoga myself. I used to be a dancer so I have plenty of stiff joints and crackling knees which seem to be getting worse in my older (non-old) 28 years. I too blame it on the weather.
Wait, we’re allowed to blame creaks and groaning joints on the weather? How come no one tells you this? I should be required that an older family member impart this information on you when you turn 25….so glad I have a new excuse now.
To be fair, the weather on the east coast DID change today…
(From This Fish: Yes! It did! And I really did feel it.)
Hilarious!
ROFL–man I HATE it when that happens!
You got me. Very funny…and so true to life. Thanks for sharing your early morning epiphany.
shower yoga – i do that too! exactly. i love to stretch like that and then the water hits my lower back and my cat sits in between the two shower curtains waiting, making sure i’m ok in there with all that scary water
I love this post! It’s so descriptive.
I notice the change in weather too, in my joints and everywhere else.
Shower yoga! I have a friend who says she sets her alarm 15 mins early… so that she can FALL ASLEEP for a little, in the shower!? Wow.
Does Sir Hal expect you to keep the bathroom sink dripping 24/7 for his drinking/fur dampening pleasure? And does he just look bored when you tell him about water conservation and his water bowl?
Delicious writing. Any book plans from you?
You have a sink cat too? And here I am thinking mine was unique.
That was a funny post! And just an FYI, the stiffness in your arches is most likely plantar fasciitis. Try massaging your arches a little before you get out of bed or rolling your foot over a tennis ball before bed. Sorry, hazard of my schooling…
sigh…I relate all too well. The first signs of fall – especially in a city that actually has a real, beautiful fall (as opposed to TX). But this year, I am befuddled myself in my over-ability to sleep and the protests of my body when I (finally) decide to wake. But in defense, I think my apartment is in cohorts with my AC. The apartment has a horrible layout that makes it immediately stuffy without circulation. The AC loves to make white noise that lulls me and keeps me asleep until I turn it off – as opposed to the alarm clock – who has no ally.
loved your post. Buy a scarf! The best ones cure all creaky neck syndromes!! Yea Fall!!!
That was a beautiful, perfect piece of writing. Thanks.
Oh my God, I thought I was the only one that did the whole shower yoga thing. I’m not so ashamed anymore! lol
I would love to get your take on something yesterday I was thinking so hard about I had to write it down. I bet you get that a lot, though…people asking for your opinion on their stuff. I’m not asking for a writing critique so much, but your take on the thoughts. Sad, I guess that I reach out to someone who’s blog I relate so much to but don’t actually know? Oy. But what wonderful things the web brings to our lives. So even if you don’t respond, I’m soooooo glad you do what you do, Fish. Thanks.
I carry my own herbal tea in a little plastic baggy, do yoga stretches in random, public places, lecture other people on the dangers of eating junky food. I have become MY MOTHER!
This post reminded me of the “I Heart New York” (last episode of season 4) episode of Sex and The City.
Glad to hear my cat isn’t the only one that uses the sink as a seat to watch the morning bathroom routine.
My cats, both of them sit in the bathroom sink. My one cat Taz Likes to get in the tub and have you throw water on her. This is a major game. You cannot sit on the toilet to have a pee, She is there in the tub waiting