Shoe by Gary Brookins and Susie MacNelly for December 24, 2010

Elderly Alphabet:

A’s for arthritis, B’s the bad back, C’s the chest pains - perhaps car-d-iac?

D is for dental decay and decline, E is for eyesight, can’t read that top line! F is for fissures and fluid retention, G is for gas which I’d rather not mention.

H is high blood pressure - I’d rather it low; I is for incisions with scars you can show… J is for joints, out of socket, won’t mend, K is for knees that crack when they bend.

L is for libido, what happened to sex? M is for memory, I forget what comes next. N is neuralgia, in nerves way down low; O is for osteo, the bones that don’t grow!

P is for prescriptions, I have quite a few, just give me a pill and I’ll be good as new! Q is for queasy, is it fatal or flu? R is for reflux, one meal turns to two.

S is for sleepless nights, counting my fears, T is for Tinnitus - there’s bells in my ears! U is for urinary… big troubles with flow; V is for vertigo, that’s “dizzy,” you know.

W is for worry - NOW what’s going ‘round? X is for X ray, and what might be found; Y is another year I’m left here behind, Z is for zest that I still have - in my mind.