The Old Coot engineers a solution.
By Merlin Lessler
I’m not an engineer. At least not with a four year
degree. I’m missing some credit hours. But, I am an “engineer,” with a small “e.”
A lot of people are. Engineering is mostly
a mindset, the ability to puzzle things out. A technical degree provides a deeper
knowledge to work with; you need it to design a bridge or an electronic circuit.
But for a lot of other tricky issues in life, you just need the engineering
mind-set.
That’s a lot of blah, blah to get me to the point – My
greatest engineering accomplishment! It took place four years ago when I had a
severe reaction to the cholesterol medicine I’d been on for years. I started to
lose strength in my arms and legs, and didn’t really notice until the day I had
trouble getting up a single stair. It’s all behind me now, the cause determined
and eliminated; my strength is back to normal. (An 82-year old normal)
When I was in that weakened state, I had to use the full
spectrum of my engineering ability to deal with it. Especially if I fell or slipped
to the ground. I became that “Help, I’ve fallen and I can’t get up!” person. I
slipped down several times, when I was out on my own getting into the car. Once
it was the garbage man who picked me up. Another time, it was a nice couple in a
grocery store parking lot. The last time, it was a guy in a pick-up truck. I
changed my technique; I started backing into the car seat, instead of stepping up
and in. Duh! Took me long enough to figure that one out. Some engineer!
My real concern was getting off the floor at home. Even
when my wife was with me we sometimes had to get a friend to help. We went to a
physical therapy center to see if there was a technique we could use. We spent
an hour going through a laundry list of commonly used techniques. Nothing
worked. I was too weak. I was determined to come up with a solution. I spent one
whole night in a recliner chair, straining my brain to find a solution.
Thinking, dozing, dreaming. That’s when I made my greatest engineering feat. I
had a plan.
Now, to try it out. I asked my wife to get a small cooler
from the garage. She looked at me like I was nuts. I get that a lot. The cooler
was narrow, 6 inches high when it was placed on its side. I got down on the
floor; I still had enough arm strength to crawl over to it. I slid it next to a
lounge chair in the living room and was strong enough to sit up on the floor and
up on it. From there, I pushed up another six inches and sat on the chair. It was
too low for me to gain my feet, but the chair next to it, on four inch risers,
was not. I slid across the first chair and up onto the second. From there I got
to my feet. I was so proud of myself. I’d regained my freedom. No more, “Help,
I’ve fallen and can’t get up!” I could be left home alone; my wife got her
freedom too. It was my greatest engineering feat ever!
