Most mornings, between 4.30 am and 5.30 am, I wake up, thanking God for that small mercy, I’m not particularly religious, but as at any time of life, I am grateful for each day on top of the ground, because, as my late father used to say, “You’re looking at that pine lid for an awful long time.” Then, using my toes to feel my way into my slippers, I shuffle my way off to the bathroom, awakening my still slumbering body as I go. Habitually a night-time, pre-sleep, shower kinda guy, reaching my handbasin, I now must make my first decision of the day. Do I splash cold water on my face for a shock, rude awakening, or stand there with my finger under the running tap waiting for the warm/hot water to start running? The executive decision made, I must admit that with the advancing years, I have become more likely to opt for hot water, figuring maybe I don’t need the harsher ‘shock treatment’ anymore. I plug the basin and let the water run. As it does, I lean briefly on the hand basin, gazing without intent at the bathroom mirror in front of me, squinting, because I’m not yet wearing my glasses, to see if I still look like Kevin Costner, the movie star I have always sought to convince myself I look like, but I’m just not seeing it today.
So, I launch into my routine of a vigorous face scrub, concentrating on ‘waking up’ my eyes, clean my ears with cotton buds knowing full well that’s against sound medical research and advice, brush my teeth, gargle, spit, spray or roll on some deodorant and look again at myself while reaching for my hairbrush to comb my diminishing grey hair straight back with only three or four strokes. I’m not terribly fussy, and I am a bit lazy, and I figure that ‘tidy-ish,’ in terms of morning ablutions, is enough. Only then do I put my glasses on, take a last look at my face in the mirror, and am rudely reminded of my mate Steve’s opinion that I’m “a lot more Gary Lineker than Kevin Costner!” Now, no disrespect to you Gary, but Costner you aint! Thus, not humbled, but more like reality checked, I toddle off out of the bathroom. But every day is pretty much the same as my attention is, in vanity I guess, drawn to myself in the full length mirror to my left, and I just must pause, suck in my tummy, stand a little taller, give myself a once-over, and content I am looking my best, now stride confidently back into the bedroom, for the moment, Adonis. Such thoughts are usually wasted however, as my wife usually mutters “five more minutes,” and buries her head under the pillow.
For those few brief seconds, I don’t envy those with immense power, wealth, athleticism or good looks - well, maybe athleticism, as one arthritic knee and one titanium knee rob me of a modicum of dignity – knowing we are all the same, all as vulnerable as each other, for that brief time. My attire complete, I can now, somewhat jauntily, face the world.
I make breakfast for my wife before savouring my morning coffee, Alicafe, I love it! And before long I’m ready to face the day, and whatever life throws at me. So, coated and booted, I venture outdoors, where it’s often raining, and a lot colder than in Oman right now, around 2 degree Celsius, unplug my electric car, and silently ‘tootle’ down the road to the motorway and on my 30 minute commute to the University Technical College where, hopefully, I can positively influence young lives, prioritising their need for communication skills and resilience, because their world will challenge them far beyond their expectations.
As such, my ordinary days both challenge and reward me, making getting up tomorrow easier.
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