On Becoming a Hermit

I didn’t set out to be a hermit. The hermit’s life just sort of came upon me. A brief background: I awoke one morning, mid-December, with excruciating lower back pain. After weeks of visits to my doctor and a pain specialist, each followed by a variety of X-rays, needles-in-the-back treatments, and physical therapy, I’m still, two months later, dealing with often severe lower back pain. The only relief I get is sitting in my rocking chair for hours at a time. So that’s what I do. I’ve given up morning coffee at Starbucks. I’ve given away, or sold, my last three opera tickets as I just can’t deal with the trip downtown and all the walking and standing involved in attending the opera. I did get out yesterday to meet a friend at Starbucks, in the afternoon, after hours of sitting in my chair, and I walked to the pharmacy a few days ago, about two blocks, and that’s been it. Of necessity I’ve become a hermit.

So what do I do with all that chair sitting? Mostly, I’m embarrassed to admit, I watch TV. I watch all the news shows, which will put one right off one’s feed these days. I watch a lot of movies, thanks to Netflix streaming and DVDs and Amazon Prime streaming. I do read quite a bit, of course, but I’ve noticed that my ability to concentrate has decreased, so more TV. I suppose the hermit living in his cave didn’t have TV. Too bad. In that sense I’m in better shape than he.

I’ve taken to ordering groceries from Peapod, which delivers to my door. I don’t entertain, so visitors are rare, although welcome when they come by. At least Jake, my cat, is happy to have me around all the time.

I keep saying I should use the time better. Maybe take up needlepoint? No, I tried that once and hated it. Nor do I have the patience for it. I could write more blogs. Working on it now. There’s always culling books and CDs that I need to get rid of, but that requires being on my feet, so that’s out. Even washing the dishes is a chore involving washing about half the dishes, then sitting for a while, and then going back and finishing. So nothing involving standing. I’m back to watching TV. Really, it’s pathetic. And I used to be on the go all the time.

I need to get me some sackcloth, make me a hermit’s robe, and really get into this. Except I believe and hope that all this is temporary and soon I’ll be back to my normal routine, and I can leave the hermit’s life behind. Very soon. Okay, enough whining! Suck it up Gary…