An attack of rheumatism in my knee came about after I crawled around on damp soil in my daughter Jan's garden.

She suggested an ice pack. After a few days the pain from what felt like a small broken bone in my knee each time I moved my leg had gone.

Sitting in the car for the two-day journey home the pain returned. I resorted to ice packs.

At home the pain and swelling subsided.

Indentations in the carpet made by furniture legs bugged me. I knelt down to fluff the carpet. As I started to get up my knee gave way. Wow! It felt as though I'd been whacked with a crowbar.

I resorted once again to the icepack and elevated my leg for short periods. In a few days I was able to finish fluffing the dents.

Shortly after this my husband said to me, "You're gimping again. Is it your knee?"

"Not this time. I have gout in my big toe. It hurts and feels as though a bone is broken."

The contortions I went through to walk and navigate stairs on my heel with my toe pointing to the heavens were comical. If it hadn't hurt so much I'd have had hysterics.

"You get gout and that other thing because you eat too many sugar wafers." My husband told me.

Was he kidding?

I'll admit I have a problem getting passed the cookie section. It's as though a magnet draws me to the strawberry, vanilla and chocolate sugar wafers, and I can't resist buying a supply of what is absolutely my favorite cookie.

If I'd use common sense, which I don't, before I have the groceries put away I open a pack and eat far too many with a cup of tea. They-are-so-good.

I snack on them after breakfast, after lunch, after dinner and any time between until an open pack is gone.

He suggested I rest with my foot elevated.

"I can't do that" I said, "I don't have time to sit around pampering my aches and pains. I have places to go and things to do."

"Such as?"

"The grocery store." I replied.

"For more sugar wafers?" He knows me well.

I sighed. "On one hand I suppose I should wiz by the cookie section. Yet on the other hand, don't you think our golden years need an occasional splash of color, like pink, white and brown?"

His dour expression gave me the answer.