A 63rd birthday surprise
Ann Minshull
Open Door - August 2008 page 14
It was about ten days before my birthday when I received a phone call from my eldest son. "What do you want for your birthday Mum?"
"A Wii" said I. My husband choked on his dinner and spluttered "Do you know how much they cost?"
"You can join together with the others (there are five all together) and it can be my Birthday, Mother's Day and Christmas presents if you like!" My son said to leave it with him and he would see what he could do.
I had seen a news report on the television where a residential home had bought one for their residents and it showed them having a wonderful time - such a pleasure seeing them enjoying themselves instead of just sitting vegetating. So I thought why couldn't I have one to get a little more active and give me something to do other than just sit watching television for hours on end? I have had primary progressive MS since 2002 and my left side (arm and leg) has turned Russian - it doesn't understand English commands any more!
On the morning of my birthday I was told to be available between 8am and 1pm as there was to be a delivery. (They even asked me to dog-sit to make sure I remained in the house!). The doorbell went at 10:15 and the parcel arrived.
Our 15-month-old granddaughter arrived with her Mum soon after and so with her help the box was extracted from the wrapping. Just after they had left my daughter and the two other grandchildren, both in their early 20s, arrived and soon the Wii was installed and fully operational ready for the fun; tennis, baseball, ten-pin bowling, golf and boxing right there in my living-room ready to get to terms with.
Never a brilliant tennis player, I did enjoy having a run-about on the tennis court with friends, even if the 'giggle muscle' was the one getting most exercise as we fell about laughing at the freak good shots and the misses that sent us all running in the wrong direction. When we had finished the game we had had so much fun that the score and who won was the last thing on our mind as we headed for a cup of tea. Now I have a bevy of tireless players willing to put up with my erratic efforts, and with my unstable legs braced against the sofa so that if I overbalance I will not do myself any injury, I can enjoy a workout on the tennis-court again.
Baseball and golf are a real challenge, getting the timing and direction of the ball right seems impossible at times, but then I could never get that right in real life - so no change there then. Ten-pin bowling, wow, what a joy! No heavy balls to try to pick up and the pleasure of seeing those pins scuttled in all directions, then put back up without any effort is such fun.
I am unable to play the boxing game, as you need to use a 'nunchuk' and use both hands. It must be good though as when the children come over and have a go they end up exhausted and with sweat running down their faces.
I can't wait for the next telephone call asking me what I want for a present - I want a Wii-fit please!
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