I have osteoarthritis in my knees, primarily.

Sometimes a shoulder acts up.

Decades of Polynesian dancing contributed to the noisy knees and

despite exercise

I can no longer bound up the stairs

or down them

quickly.

I take them one at a time, much like you see toddlers doing.

I step up with the right foot, and follow with the left.

Step. Up. One. Step. At. A. Time.

My girlfriends and I compare notes when we see each other.

Y’know, going up the stairs, if I clutch the railing really tight and actually pull myself up it’s almost like I’m going up normally.

The rest of us nodding. Yep. Yes. Me too.

And standing up from a seated position elicits a host of moans, groans, and itty-bitty-steppity-steps for a moment as muscles stretch and footholds are gained.

So if you hear something creaking behind you, rest assured it’s probably me.