Wednesday, September 21, 2011

She Did It Her Way

 My mother smoked cigarettes. She started experimenting when she was about ten years old and was still pursuing the habit when she died at 85. Like many elderly people, the older she got, the more crotchety she became. It was amusing. After her health began to fail, I, her only child, had to take her for every doctor appointment. I once took her to her ophthalmologist for an exam. She had terrible eyesight; already having dealt with cataract surgery in both eyes, and still struggling with poor vision due to age related macular degeneration. The doctor became a little short of patience with her when he asked, “Have you quit smoking?” and she replied, “No, I haven’t.”

His speech went something like this: “I’ve told you over and over again, Mrs. Toney, you may be able to slow the progression of your macular degeneration if you stop smoking, but if you continue, you’re going to be blind!” Trying to look innocent, she said, “I think they gave me some pills the last time I was in the hospital that made it worse.”

“Oh no, they didn’t!” the doctor shouted emphatically. “It’s your smoking. You don’t listen to me and now, there is nothing more I can do for you!” With that, he turned and stomped out of the room, leaving us both with gaping mouths. I felt sorry for her and wanted to stop him and tell him he shouldn’t talk to an elderly lady like that – especially my mother! But part of me knew he was right. She needed someone to bring her to her senses so she’d dismount the self-destructive merry-go-round she was on.

She cried pitifully all the way home in the car. She said, “If I told a doctor my big toe was hurting, he’d say it’s because I smoke. They blame everything on smoking!” I had to chuckle. It must have seemed so to her. Every doctor wanted her to stop, but she refused.

When we reached her house, I helped her out of the car and into the house. She flung her coat off and plopped down in her favorite chair. Pulling a tissue out, she dried her tears – and quickly lit a cigarette.

What can I say?  This woman who raised me from a baby had never done anything she didn’t want to do and she wasn’t about to start now. She was never health conscious, as people are today. She ate what she wanted. Drank what she wanted. And never bothered to exercise except for the work she did. That was plenty. I’ve seen her work like a man and get mad at my father because he didn’t do as much as she thought he should, even after he’d had a heart attack.

But working served her well until she was past eighty. It was only then her health began to fail and she had a heart attack. She fought it all the way, refusing to obey doctor’s orders. She was sure she knew best. Perhaps she did.

Just before she died, she was on the verge of a second heart attack, and needing another stent, but, according to doctors, she was too weak for the operation. She had a broken hip, a broken vertebra, COPD, which is a serious lung disease; she was deaf and legally blind. On top of all that, she contracted pneumonia, and it was over!

If ever there was a woman who lived life to suit herself, it was my mother. She did it “her way” throughout her life. And why not? She lived to be 85 years of age without giving up anything she enjoyed.

As I think of her tonight, I can’t help but wonder how many years she would have lived if she had made even the slightest effort to take care of herself?

I wish she had.
 


This story also appears in Bewildering Stories.




12 comments:

Dave said...

Nice story about your mother peg. very touching.

Anonymous said...

interesting. I knew someone just like that, but it wasn't my mother. my wife. very good.

jimbob said...

too bad she wouldn't listen peg. but she lived a long life anyway. that's good. good post. Jimbob

sam said...

good story as always peg. a little sad at the end though. sam

Anonymous said...

Yes, Peggy, and Somewhere in Heaven she IS Smiling.

Hugh

Su Bluebird said...

Your Mom - my Mom - smoked every day of their adult lives. They were happy, active, generous women who had an addiction - cigarettes. But, they lived the life they thought they should. We have to respect them. Sometimes, we tend to think that all medical advice is to be followed. And we all have dependencies - some small, others large. One that shouldn't be underestimated is our dependency on medical doctors. Medical science changes all the time. Too often, what they tell us to do in one decade often is what we're told we shouldn't do in the next. In the U.S., over-prescribing (100,000) and medical errors (195,000) kill as many people each year as COPD (120,000) and lung cancer (158,000) combined. Prevention is still the best medicine and, of course, giving up smoking is good advice.

Mary Jane said...

I love your story and it could have been mine. My mother smoked but died at the age of 71. However, most of the women in our family die at 71, whether they smoked or not. Most of the diseases were unrelated to both the family member and the disease.
I smoke, know I shouldn't, but I do.
I do have a problem with doctors who speak to, especially older, people like that. I am in a position to know that most doctors don't always follow their own advice.

Anonymous said...

A beautiful tribute to her, full of admiration and wistfulness. As I watch my parents' health head downhill, I can't help wishing for more time, more time...

Peggy~ said...

Thanks, Barbara! Yes, I know what you mean. There's never enough time!

injaynesworld said...

85 is damn impressive. And all on her terms. I would have liked her.

My mother died of cancer when she was only 54. I was 23. You're very fortunate. Very nicely written piece.

Peggy~ said...

Thanks, Jayne! It must have been difficult losing your mother at only 23. I suppose I was fortunate to have kept mine so long. And, yes, I'm sure you would have liked her. She was an unapologetic liberal, too!

Lady Goo Goo Gaga said...

85 without giving up anything she enjoyed!!! That's wonderful....