Never Say Never Again

It's time to attend to practicalities.  It seems pessimistic, but I have to face up to reality.  I've been given my "odds".  

I already have a valid Will.

Now I decide to put in place Powers of Attorney and Enduring Guardianship, in case anything happens to me while I'm having the operation.  These will enable Bill to act on my behalf if I am unable to handle my own affairs.  

It's a good idea for everyone have these documents, and without such a catalyst we would probably never get around to it.  Both of us should have these documents, and they can remain in place for whenever they may be needed in the future.  I ask a local solicitor to prepare the documents in draft and I give these to my husband to look at.  

One of the documents provides an opportunity to give "special directions" as to how the power is to be exercised.  The example given is "I would like to live near my sister".  Playfully, I say "Can I specify that you won't instal a girlfriend here, while I am still around?"  He laughs, and says "OK, and to what extent do you want to be kept alive?"  This is too close to the bone.  We'd decided not to have a Medical Power of Attorney - that's the one that that allows the Attorney to decide when to switch off life support.  

Suddenly I feel wobbly.

And then I read an article in the newspaper about Warfarin, the blood-thinning medication which I'll have to take for life, if my heart valve needs to be replaced with a metal one.  The medication is required to prevent clotting; blood tends to stick to the metal.  This article mentions that people who take Warfarin cannot eat leafy vegetables such as spinach.

Or drink alcohol.

Really?  Never?

That would not be OK, although of course, it would have to be.  I suppose it would be better than the alternative.   Both my children say that they do not need alcohol to have a good time.  Nor do I, really.  But I like it.  And I regard it as a privilege of adulthood which I would not like to have taken away from me.

How would I feel if I could never again enjoy a lovely glass of wine while watching a cabaret show at La Boheme?  If I could never try their gorgeous cocktails again?

Of course, I should not believe everything I read in the papers.  Later I hear a different version - that if you're taking Warfarin you can drink alcohol, but you have to drink the same amount every day.

So alcohol-free days could be a thing of the past?

I'm sure it's more complicated than that.

I don't like complicated - I like freedom of choice.

That night I drink quite a lot.  After all, I might never be allowed to drink again.