La versión en español está después de la versión en inglés.
All went well at the hospital Thursday morning. I was there for a few hours and had an EKG, blood analysis, chest X-ray, and doctor evaluation. Apparently I’m in perfect shape — to have an operation on my defective foot. I arranged with a service to have a special shoe delivered to my doctor before the surgery. I’ll also pick up crutches from a place around the corner for immediately after the surgery. I’m told I won’t need them the next day. After this, I’m planning a moratorium on medical visits. This has gotten boring.
I had initially written a diatribe on the word “old.” Here are the Cliff Notes*. One of my pet peeves is listening to people my age and younger (or even older) talking about being old. I’ll tell you when I’m old and it’s not now. [*Note: Cliff Notes are American study guides for students which reproduce the actual work in short, pamphlet form. Many feel they enable students to avoid doing the actual work. I agree. I loved them!]
Since I left the house a bit early for my appointment, I stopped along the way for different views of the sunrise. The first stop was about half-way there at the stupa, the Buddhist temple, in Benalmádena. Unfortunately, the gates weren’t yet open so I couldn’t get up to the better view position. Besides that, the angle of the coast changes and the sunrise is not as visible as it is from home. Once I arrived at the hospital, less than 10 minutes further, I walked up the hill to catch the sunrise from there. The coastline had curved back.
The views from high up are magnificent, but I’m glad I can just walk across the street and be on the beach. Besides that, we can walk anywhere for whatever we need. No car needed for most things. No descending or climbing hills unless we want to.
Todo estaba bien en el hospital el jueves por la mañana. Estuve allí unas horas y me hicieron un electrocardiograma, un análisis de sangre, una radiografía de tórax y una evaluación médica. Al parecer estoy en perfectas condiciones: me van a operar el pie defectuoso. Hice arreglos con un servicio para que le entregaran un zapato especial a mi médico antes de la cirugía. También recogeré muletas de un lugar a la vuelta de la esquina para inmediatamente después de la cirugía. Me dijeron que no los necesitaré al día siguiente. Después de esto, estoy planeando una moratoria sobre las visitas médicas. Esto se ha vuelto aburrido.
Inicialmente había escrito una diatriba sobre la palabra “viejo”. Aquí están las Cliff Notes*. Una de mis cosas que me molestan es escuchar a personas de mi edad y más jóvenes (o incluso mayores) hablar sobre ser mayores. Te lo diré cuando sea mayor y no es ahora. [*Nota: Cliff Notes son guías de estudio estadounidenses para estudiantes que reproducen el trabajo real en forma de folleto breve. Muchos sienten que permiten a los estudiantes evitar hacer el trabajo real. Estoy de acuerdo. ¡Me encantaron!]
Como salí de casa un poco temprano para mi cita, me detuve en el camino para disfrutar de diferentes vistas del amanecer. La primera parada fue a mitad de camino en la estupa, el templo budista, en Benalmádena. Desafortunadamente, las puertas aún no estaban abiertas, por lo que no pude llegar a una mejor posición de vista. Además, el ángulo de la costa cambia y el amanecer no es tan visible como desde casa. Una vez que llegué al hospital, menos de 10 minutos más adelante, subí la colina para ver el amanecer desde allí. La costa se había curvado hacia atrás.
Las vistas desde lo alto son magníficas, pero me alegro de poder cruzar la calle y estar en la playa. Además de eso, podemos caminar a cualquier lugar para lo que necesitemos. No se necesita coche para la mayoría de las cosas. Nada de bajar o subir colinas a menos que queramos.
• Dudo dice: “¡Déjame salir!” Moose espera resultados. Por supuesto, no tuvieron que esperar mucho. Hago lo que me dicen. Unos minutos más tarde estábamos en el pasillo.
• Mirando hacia Fuengirola desde cerca de la estupa. O son nubes bajos o Marruecos en la distancia.
• Desde fuera del hospital.
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Boud here. Low clouds or Morocco!! Good luck on the footwork. What a beautiful place you live in. How did you decide to be there?
Boud:
Long story told throughout the blog. We first lived in Sevilla and loved it but after a year and a half, for a variety of reasons, we decided to move down to the coast in or near Málaga. Fuengirola was the last town on the train line (and we didn’t have a car at the time). It turned out to be a good choice. And we didn’t know how lucky we were when we found this apartment.
May your defective foot become its old fective self soon. I hate when people say ‘you’re only as old as you feel’. I’m turning 68 in a couple of weeks, but I feel 125. I have an 87-year-old aunt who’s spryer than me. Oh, well, it is what it is.
Deedles:
I also hate when people say, “It’s all in your attitude.” I’m sorry you feel 125 but I’m glad you think like 12.
At least your hospital room has a nice view.
Kirk:
And there’s a very comfy reclining chair on the terrace. I won’t suffer.
I agree with Boud. What a beautiful place to live! Those sunrises are beyond glorious. And yes- to be able to just walk across the road to the beach is a dream. Sitting on a balcony and watching the water as it dances under the light is meditation. It is eternity and constant change all at once.
I am so glad to hear that you are in perfect health so that they can fix your foot. What a relief it will be when this is all over.
Ms. Moon
Ms. Moon:
I sometimes forget how amazing this location is. I love being inside or on the terrace and listening to the surf.
I’m voting Morocco but I’m not sure! You did get some amazing sunrise views. I complain of being old from time to time but it’s mostly meant jokingly. Glad you passed all the tests with flying colors!
Steve:
Here I’m told I’m not old (well, except as a joke… I think), I’m mayor (as in my majority). I like that much better. I don’t know when I’ll be viejo.
I am told, getting old is better than the alternative. Such great views, and glad you don’t have to climb the mountain everyday.
David:
I would guess it’s USUALLY better than the alternative. I love taking walks into the foothills but I’m grateful it’s not a daily requirement.
There are days I DO feel old, but in my mind I’m forever young. My body has not cooperated properly with the passing of the years.
I never grow tired of your photos. Do you take them all with your phone?
Kelly:
I used to use a Cannon of one variety or another. When I got the iPhone 13 plus, I decided to see if I could go without carrying my camera around all the time. I’ve rarely missed it. So, yes, these are all taken with my phone now.
That sunrise photo with the stupa to the side is breath-taking!
Debra:
Thanks. I was pleased with that after being disappointed the position and the sunrise view wasn’t better.
“Old” is a state of mind…at least in my mind. Happy you are ready for the foot operation. And in no time at all it will be but a memory. Sending healing positive energy your way, Mitch.
Jim:
Thanks. I’m looking forward to getting it over with!
Dudo with his red mouse on him! LMAO!!!!
As Bet Davis said “Old age is no place for sissies..”
I let you know when I get there.
Mistress Borghese:
Dudo never used to tolerate these kinds of things. He even let me place the mouse on his head, but I didn’t have the camera nearby at the time. That was priceless. I think it was Gertrude Stein who said: “We are always the same age — inside.”
To his dying day at 85 my father always said he was not old, other people were, like those people he would point out in the void, who did he mean? Probably people in their 90’s or more and feeble.
Laurent:
My grandfather didn’t think he was an old man until he was 93 (the year he died). Before that he always talked about someone he knew who was a very old, old man. He would turn out to be 2 years older than my grandfather.
And here I thought Dudo and Moose were just waving goodbye to you as you headed off to the hospital! Good luck with your foot surgery — I won’t say “break a leg”, LOL!
Tundra Bunny:
Break a leg! I love it. I hope I don’t.
The clouds are wonderful with sunset but the two sweethearts are just the best. !
Anon:
Sometimes, the two sweethearts are so nice to each other.
Some beautiful photos there, Mitchell! In that final photo from the hospital, if I am not much mistaken, “centre stage” down near the coast the three pyramid-shaped blocks are those of the Benal Beach apartments (just at the foot of Paloma Park below the stipa) where we and “our gang” all stayed last week…
Hope your wonky foot’s better now! Jx
Jon:
I THINK the Benal Beach Apartments are further northeast beyond that view, but I don’t know for sure. What a nice place to stay! And thanks for bringing the nice weather. Wonky foot surgery is Tuesday afternoon.
May I suggest removing the foot and getting a peg-leg? Pirates are all the rage nowadays.
Urspo:
Oh, don’t take me down that path again. I’ve imagined going in for the minor surgery and coming out with only one foot.
just beautiful pictures of your sunrise… Hope you heal quickly after your surgery Mr. Hopalong,
Anon:
I’ve certainly got a hitch in my giddy-up.