The Lopsided Truth

I am in the process of redoing my bedroom. Thankfully, I am working with my friend and interior designer, Daria. The other day she was over with Mark from the window treatments company to measure for my drapes. Mark produced this laser tool that allowed him to draw a horizontal line above both windows on the same wall, so the drapes would start at the same point even though the ceiling slopes over one window. I joking turned to Daria, and said, “I am used to this, I am lopsided too.”

And this is actually not a joke. Over 16 years ago, I threw my back out. After time on muscle relaxers, I started physical therapy. The physical therapist told me to get a rolling backpack (I was in my last semester of art school) and measured all my limbs. My hips don’t sit even, so previous injuries to my knees had been attributed to this. However, measuring showed that my legs were two different lengths So, I was also told to get orthotics. Measuring my arms also showed different lengths. No wonder on some tops the arm on one side fits nice and is long on the other.

The room I grew up in also sloped. My sister and I would roll up the rug and slide down in our socks like we were skating. That was until the room was carpeted wall to wall when I was a teen. I guess it is befitting that I, a lopsided person, would have lopsided bedrooms.

And here is the kicker…Since I have profound hearing loss in my left ear (diagnosed when I was a toddler) my balance is off. Evalena, a yoga teacher that taught a class I went to for many years, always said, “As Mali has demonstrated when you fall out of pose you get right back in.” I wish my parents had understood this when teaching me to ride a bike. After a time we all gave up and today I have an adult trike that once the flat tires are replaced I can get back to riding.

Now if only my daughter would be more patient with me when I can’t hear what she is saying or when reaching up for an item causes me to wince because my back hurts.