When you are middle age plus, old habits die hard. Some habits don't need to die. I can still wash my teeth at the same time, in the same way each day and only need to get used to different types of toothpaste. Personal hygiene habits are useful when you are this age because if you weren't in the habit of doing these necessary chores, no telling what slobs we would all become.

But other kinds of habits have to be broken because of circumstances. Did you notice that we have to put a different year on the dates when we write our checks recently?

The habit of putting 2005 is hard to break.

I can remember back when I was in grade school having trouble changing the year's number on my homework papers. So I can't blame it all on passing the middle age mark.

I resist any change to the way my computer operates. I am in the habit of doing things a certain way and sail right through any processes I use to write my e-mail notes or send my work in to the newspaper. My hands are even programmed to follow certain procedures in each of my usual tasks.

For example, when I finish writing this column I use the mouse to save the column and then to print it. If I am interrupted by some distraction, I find I have already moved the cursor to the proper spot even though I was involved in some other matter for the moment. Those habits are wonderful to have. But if I have to use another computer, or something gets changed on mine, I flounder while trying to adapt.

This week I have had to learn new habits because of my accident last week.

When I see something on the floor that doesn't belong there, I can't swoop down and pick it up as I normally would. I have to bend my knees and go down with my back straight to reach the floor. It often seems easier to just leave whatever it is on the floor until it gets to the point where there is no place left to walk.

But the biggest change is getting used to the different car we had to get.

This nice new (to us) vehicle has a console between the front seats. When I shift from reverse to drive after backing out from the parking place, I need to reach down to my right instead of grabbing for the gearshifts on the right of the steering wheel. That is no big problem except my brain and arm muscles have a different habit.

In the early morning darkness I took our great-granddaughter to the bus. I did fine in putting the gear in reverse to back away from the garage.

When I was ready to turn, I deftly turned the windshield wipers on high speed. I realized my error and used the proper tools to get into drive, but all the way to the road we had the music of the windshield wipers working away as I struggled to get them turned off. I thought I had them stopped then they would start again. Just as I reached the road, I got everything under control.

I was leaving the motor running for the warmth of the car heater, so when we saw the bus coming down the road, we had trouble finding how to unlock the doors so that Marilyn could get out.

I had read the manual several days ago, but this was my first trial in the dark and my old habits were no help to me at all.

The best habit I have cultivated over the years is the habit of laughing at myself. That came in handy this morning. But it hurts my ribs when I laugh!