Nine Lives?  Well, Hey, I’m 76 and Still Here

Few alive today believe that cats have nine lives.  This belief goes way back in multi-cultures but some suggest seven and the Middle Eastern claims cats have six lives.  These traditions are not based on anything rooted in any factual observation “but rather in cultural and numerical symbolism!” (fluffyaffair.com).  However, nine often represents wholeness and the culmination of cycles.

Well, I know cats do not have nine lives (watched many pass from their one and only life) yet it does seem like I might have cat-like tendencies in that matter. Many times over, I have been thought to be a goner, the first being my birth.  Didn’t find out until I was 32 though that I was a twin and she caused me some great trouble throughout my whole life – had to have an emergency hysterectomy that was supposed to take less than 45 minutes.  Several phone calls to specialists from the operating room and Jim being told he should get anyone who loved me there .  Well, 5 ½ hours later plus (losing me twice we learned that my twin died inside of me and the reason for the long, touchy operation is that they had to take so many pieces of her from me, some on vital organs, but hey I’m 76 and still here. 

One mishap was in Florida.  Visited some Waveland folks in Sarasota.  Their kids and we three went riding bicycles while the parents checked out the mall.  Well, a teenager with a fancy car came around the other way and hit me (then took-off)!  I screamed and my brothers came back to get me.  Although I was a bloody mess and got my nose broken (one of 7 times) it could have been so much worse.  The kids took me in the house and laid me (ready for this?) on their brand new white couch  then went out for more riding – parents came home and I was doing better but the couch sure wasn’t.  We were never invited to visit again 😊

Now, my head seems to get in the way two or three times a year – won’t bore you with all my death possibilities but some big ones come to mind. For one when I was a Junior, I went on the last vacation I took with my folks.  We had stopped somewhere with a pool, as usual and I popped into my swimsuit and dove right in – no clue what happened but I hit my head on the side of the pool, bled everywhere and passed out.  Luckily, a young couple were basking in the sun and saw me – he got me out – bless him and I was well again in not too long.  Another head mess that was a big one, happened as my brother, his wife and I were decorating for the Waveland Alumni Banquet.  Larry had climbed up a really tall ladder to put up streamers hooked to the gym roof but left the large, steel scotch tape holder on top.  I moved the ladder and well, you can guess what happened.  Wasn’t very pretty that night after being in the hospital but I was president and the show had to go on!

There are many other happenings (including when I fell running across Washington in my crocks and broke my shoulder/arm in five places –  so badly it took me going to three specialists before one finally agreed to fix it. Another mishap was on the train in Switzerland and three male Swiss guards strip searched me and completely destroyed my luggage thinking I was a Swiss serial killer.  In Terre Haute, I later I was in a scary store robbery and had Four Corners Disease very badly (50 percent chance to make it through that – similar to covid). 

Recently, I had a heart attack (widow maker which several in our family passed from); and after a stent, rehab from that for a couple of months, I endured  open heart surgery (triple by-pass)  more therapy (the gals at C’ville hospital were absolutely amazing) and just getting better from that and I broke my left hip.  So, as you can see I’ve had my fair share of catting around but hey, I’m 76 and still here! So, nine lives?  Who only knows but would guess I’m about to run out!

For years, Karen Zach was the editor of Montgomery Memories, our monthly magazine all about Montgomery County. Her column, Around the County, appeared every Friday in The Paper of Montgomery County. Karen retired from all that a few years ago but sent us this gem to share with you. You can reach her at karen.zach@sbcglobal.net.