I had a day this week that reminded me of my mortality. The temperature was around 102, the humidity was a little high, and I found the heat was more than oppressive.
I was laying out a long ditch to drain a project. It wasn't hard work, but required a lot of walking. As I worked, I walked slowly, didn't hurry and was methodical in preventing any extra steps.
After I reached about 600 feet from my truck, I realized I needed some water, and the need to stop for a few minutes to sit in the air conditioning.
The distance was farther than I anticipated, and I realized the energy was gone. I'd been hot enough before to know heat exhaustion was setting in, and I needed to do something quickly.
Another employee was checking grade for an excavator one hundred feet away. They were waiting for the off-road dump truck to return for a load of dirt, so the machine was idle.
I motioned for him to go for my truck and bring it closer. He walked away, while I slowly walked to the machine and crouched under the counterweight for some shade.
As I waited for a few minutes, I thought of my brother, and wondered what through his mind during his last moments before heat finally killed him. I knew his angst. I knew his feeling of helplessness, and I knew he went from conscious thought to unconsciousness in seconds. Mostly, I wondered if he was aware of what was happening. There are only short moments between feeling able and the intense exhaustion, where walking becomes a challenge, and the dizziness appears.
Keeping my truck close, and retreating to the ac for a few minutes, when needed, I finished my task. The heat cramps started about thirty minutes later. Supplements helped keep the back cramps from doubling me over, but one in my thigh caused soreness for a few days.
Age brought a feebleness, and vulnerability I wasn't expecting. I don't like it, but I'll accept; and adapt. Where I could once work for long days, weeks at a time, in the intense heat, without any concerns, I now must be very careful, and learn my new limitations.
Sucks, huh? I like to pretend my body is not 62, but I know it is.
ReplyDeleteI'm not far behind you in age. The changes don't bother me nearly as much as how slow I recover, when I compare it to the past.
DeleteAccepting the limitations of aging is really hard to do, especially for those living an active lifestyle. Took a series of health problems to make me realize I am no longer bullet proof! Glad you found your truth before anything worse happened. We may have to accept it, but we sure don't have to like it.
ReplyDeleteIt's a hard truth, but necessary. I count my blessings, since I'm still blessed with clarity of thought, and can adapt my thinking.
DeleteI guess I didn't really acknowledge the seriousness of the situation.
ReplyDeleteI am glad you escaped the consequences of the heat.
If I had passed out, there were plenty around to call for help.
DeleteWhat is most sobering is the realization my brother was helpless, and isolated. When the heat overcame, he had no resources for help.
Glad you escaped. Sorry about your brother. Stay safe and hydrated.
ReplyDeleteWater is always available, but it's the lost minerals that present a problem. Without a supplement, the heat cramps are not only painful, they're incapacitating. It's a sobering thought to realize driving is damn near impossible, when heat cramps are in process.
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