Thursday, March 14, 2013

The Ides have marched...

On the ferry from Bremerton to Seattle earlier this month, I went over for
a truly wonderful and therapeutic Lomi-Lomi massage. Brisk trip, tho.
I simply cannot believe that March is about half done!! This Sunday will be St. Patrick's day, a reminder of loved ones who have left me (curiously both my parents left for the Other Side in mid-March) and my beloved "Pe-ott" (Patrick worked for my family for years after arriving in NH from Ireland.) thought this day was all about him. For me it certainly was.

This has been a challenging time for me on many levels; I have finally had to admit that 'at my age' has validity when it comes to trying to have a new career, taking care of someone else, and being obliged to get up on someone else's schedule. I simply cannot do it. It was only a couple of years ago I decided that I had taken my last ski trip. I didn't know that weekend that it was my last, but the following year when everyone was getting all excited about planning their next trip, I realized I was not experiencing my usual rush of enthusiasm for it. My memories are rich with the whoosh of snow flying past me as I race down Suicide Six or the skiing the black diamonds at Sun Valley, but my body does not care to refresh those memories now.

Instead I am focusing on my watercolor painting skills (photos of said paintings will be posted soon; I have completed three!), repairing my back from either stress or something else, walking along the sandy beaches nearby or woodland paths to capture an eaglet at the top of a tree, and other somewhat sedentary exercise. I swim at the local pool most mornings and do water aerobics and that seems to be having a good effect on the back/muscles.

The juvenile eagle has not bent the tree over with its weight; the tree was
already heading in that direction and makes a lovely perch. Our grey
days prevail at present, so it is hard to get a great shot.
Another trip to Colombia must be planned, but my doctor doesn't want me traveling until he feels the back is stronger and progress is slow. For those following the Twins story, they seem to be doing all the things babies do at the right time, but I haven't seen them for several months. Perhaps I will have a chance to see them before I go back.

What is joyful for me is that I am clear about my direction once again, and although any dreams I might have had about being 'in service' have been foreshortened, there are other ways I can - on a more reasonable schedule - be of assistance. And I have learned much from this experience. Including being extraordinarily grateful for good health and eyesight. My multi-decades old body still manages to do many things quite well and has put up with my varied eating habits which have not always been good for it. Together we are changing that, too. Here is an interesting link about the things that are going on, just in case, dear reader, you have been wondering why you, too, are evaluating directions or plans.

4 comments:

  1. I wish I had your clarity of direction. I have never been able to find a path to follow, I just seem to wander aimlessly from one situation to another.

    I do have some major decisions to make over the nest 6 months, my youngest is now 18 and her father has stated he will no longer pay for her, even if she is going to be a student for another 4 years. I will probably have to sell my house with my beloved garden and rent a smaller one. Difficult times indeed.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hi Sandy;

    I've finally tracked you down by re-reading the archive of your comments on my blog, Good Blood, Bad Blood. :) It seems we both are working at healing our backs! Mine, I worry, is related to the MM. It has improved due to PT and massage but I may try swimming once our move to Hood River is completed. So, I thank you for the suggestion your blog has provided.

    Also, I've taken your advice to add sub lingual B12 as a supplement to address peripheral neuropathy. Perhaps it's just a placebo effect, but relief seemed immediate once I started the B12. It does not eliminate the PN, but the numbness reduced itself, which I measured by the ease of curling my toes. LOL, it's the little things in life that matter most!

    Also, as I wandered through the posts on your blog, I was charmed by your absorption with the Vendee Globe. In 2009, after my SCT, I followed the journey of one Richard Wilson, the only American competing in the 2008 VG. I found the event so thrilling and out of the ordinary, I had to write it into my blog. The post, if you are interested, is titled Joie de Vivre. http://goodbloodbadblood.wordpress.com/2009/03/12/joie-de-vivre/

    Finally, I want you to know how much I appreciate your comments on GBBB. Writers are addicted to praise and you always give me a fix. Thanks for being one of the "pushers" on my site.

    Here's hoping our backs improve and lead us in the direction we are intended to explore...

    Your virtual friend,

    John

    ReplyDelete
  3. Hi Sandy;

    I'm enjoying your blog, now that I've found it. The comments portion is a little "buggy." I cannot tell if a previous lengthy entry made aboard or not.

    For now, I'll just say hello and encourage to read my post from 2009 on the Vendee Globe. That race enthralled me at the time when I was recovering from my SCT. The post is titled, Joie de Vivre and can be found with the search function atop my Word Press blog.

    I hope your back continues to improve.

    Your virtual friend,

    John

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. John -- I'm leaving in both your posts, and thanking you for commenting! I have been enjoying your blog for several years and it probably has inspired me more than once to carry on when I felt perhaps 'sailing solo' in the blogosphere. LOL!

      Delete