Absolute Necessities #1: Tongs

Glad to hear about your new best friend, Laura, the tongs - indeed, I remember kicking lots of stuff around the floor with my toes, loath to bend over and pick up... wishing I had a trained pet organutan. Kind of like a seeing-eye dog, but for those unable to bend, reach, twist, or pick stuff up. I wonder if some kitchenwares manufacturer could come out with a pink set and call it the Mastecto-Maid? - ; ) -PJH
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Laura and PJ,

 

This discussion brings back fond (and not so fond - wow, was she crabby!) memories of when my younger sister, Gina, had a life-threatening car accident.

 

At age 20, Gina was hit head on at 55 miles per hour by an elderly gentleman who'd been having blackouts and should not have been driving. She sustained multiple injuries from head to toe -- from dozens of lacerations to broken collarbones to a collapsed lung to liver laceration to an almost completely shattered right hip and ankle -- so needless to say, a sassy reachy-grabby device was called for big time. So off a dear friend went to the nearest physical disability aids store to snatch up what we then and still very affectionately refer to as "the cherry picker." Alhough I personally have never needed such a tool, I can certainly relate to Laura's special relationship with her tongs, as Gina would FREAK if that thing was more than a foot from her at all times -- and rightfully so. 

 

Everyone close to her, especially those of us in the trenches of recovery with her, were well aware of the importance of the cherry picker -- and the importance of not MISPLACING it! Hey, not blaming Gina whatsoever for the mood swings (often minute by minute) that accompanied such a horrific time for her. Although it wasn't recovery from breast cancer surgery, Gina endured incredible pain and suffering, has had numerous orthopedic surgeries since (more to come throughout her lifetime), and is, by far, the most courageous and stubbornly determined "recoveree" I know. If the cherry picker helped, AMEN to that.

 

 

 

Now, speaking of device "aids" -- I'd tell you about the large bell with a wooden handle that she also keep by her side, but THAT story brings back middle-of-the-night memories that it's probably best to keep private!

 

Great post, Laura. It truly IS all the little things in life -- tongs included.

 

Best,

Maria

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