April 12: The flip side of the whine

Just to keep you from thinking life is all about pain and horridness.....a few positives.

My wonderful yogi-guru, Gael, is doing a five week 'blitz' course right now, tonight will be the third night. I'm enjoying being pushed a little more. There are only two other people participating, but they are both intelligent and wonderful, so an entirely enjoyable experience. Obviously, I'm protective over my chest and won't do certain positions. But Gael has been telling me that if you continue to work other areas that you can eventually do the positions you couldn't before, and she was proven right last week. I'd been working at home on a move that puts weight on my shoulders and chest, gradually increasing the time that I can hold the position. So, last week, when she had us do a sequence that simply wasn't possible for me last year, I was happily stunned to move easily through it. This, of course, gives me more confidence and reinforcement to continue other positions.

Monday night I needed to pick stuff up from the pharmacy, a little less than a half mile walk. First I just thought to walk the long way there, then thought 'a little more', then got to that point and said 'well, just a little more', and while it was evident at the furthest point that I'd extended too much, the good news is that over two miles of walking and my foot didn't hurt! I collapsed exhausted on the couch, but again, highly encouraged at my progress.

Also very grateful for my insurance plan covering the $125 for the month's supply of Coumadin.

I was supposed to work today and tomorrow, but decided to take a couple vacation days. So, shortly after signing off here, I'm off Bead Fest to wander happily through table after table of beads and supplies, and decided to treat myself to a few jewelry making classes. It ain't classical Greece or the glories of Turkey, but it is something I enjoy and have really been looking forward to. The classes, of course, are sitting down--another bonus.

So, whilst the whining does still happen it doesn't last for very long. Is this what I thought I'd be excited about at this point in my life? No. Did life work out to be my dream? No. But coming from where I was five years ago, it is a huge improvement. Of course at this point five years ago I was moving and facing the third surgery with grim prospect for any meaningful life afterwards, so the bar is, admittedly, rather low. (!)  But my recovery has been beyond their wildest expectations, even with chronic issues.  Guess they didn't take my dogmatic approach to obstacles into account....

On that note: this July 12 will be the five year anniversary of the last surgery. It even falls on a Thursday, the same day as 2007. I'm still trying to figure out how to celebrate the date.

Thanks to anyone who is still checking in,   Laurie