A Bright, Sunny New Chapter

Here’s to spending 49 years with the same Valentine! Even though our story’s Prologue began in Jackson, MS, when Thomas and I met in 1975 a few days after my birthday, I always think of Valentine’s Day 1976 as the beginning of our Chapter One. The first paragraph was written on Youree Drive in Shreveport, LA. Yesterday we put the last period to Chapter Forty-Nine with lunch at La Madeleine across from the Mall of Georgia, in Buford. Yes, the names on the envelopes are still the same but the zip codes of where we exchanged Valentine’s cards have certainly changed over the years. Now I’m wondering where we will be celebrating the last sentence of Chapter Fifty?

Even though I’m (mostly) adhering to my hepatologist team’s advice on “eating small meals” [they want me to eat 5-6 small meals a day…I can manage the “small meals” part, just not the “5-6/day” part]…meaning, I typically bring home 1/2 of any restaurant meal…we couldn’t resist the temptation of a takeout of the heart-shaped, chocolate ganache-covered cheesecake for two. That came home with us, too. Wink, wink.

Say Cheesecake!

Truthfully, it wasn’t tuned to our taste buds. Too bittersweet, and a tad too dry. I mean, really! If you’re going to indulge your sweet tooth, shouldn’t the indulgence actually be sweet? And perfectly pleasant on the palate? So, we both made a “small meal” out of this dessert…small, as in teeny-tiny. Ah well. It’s as I have always said: bakery items look so delicious and tempting in the bakery case but are rarely as tasty as your imagination suggests. 

Reflecting on a day devoted to cards and flowers, I’m reminded of the many expressions of love following brother Terry’s passing last month. Each and every one was appreciated. Our trip to KY to join in the Celebration of his life was sad as well as sweet, draining as well as uplifting…all the emotions, all at the same time. 

Lovely Flowers from Lunn Cousins Ann and Sherry

Sweet photo of Daddy with baby Terry, 1944

As usual, knitting helped me work through the emotional roller coaster, as I’m calmer and more centered when I pick up my sticks. I finished my first projects of 2024: a shawl (pictured), two cowls, and a pair of socks…all begun in the final days of December and completed in January. 

Cranberry Fizz Sparkle Shawl

I have 3 projects on my needles now (two year-long blanket WIPs for a couple of KALs and my sage socks for the Ravelry Solid Sock Group KAL entry in the Herbs & Spices theme…pictured), with 2 upcoming MKAL projects (in the planning and swatching stages for March 1 and March 6 cast on dates).

Sage Socks for February KAL

I am happy to report what I’m calling “progress on the PBC* journey.” I remember having neither energy nor enthusiasm for last year’s Super Bowl…I may even have slept through some of it. This year was a different story, thank goodness, because who could possibly have slept through the 4th…or 5th, for that matter…quarter?  

Eager to turn a page on the listless previous chapter, I pulled out some favorite recipes for Peppered Shrimp (from those Louisiana days of Chapter One…;-), Edith’s favorite cheeseball (Momma always had a cheeseball for any party or nibbles-get together), Sweet ‘n Spicy Meatballs (adjusted a bit to tone down both the sugar content and the heat-level of the spices), along with the crockpot pairing of Rotel tomatoes and Velveeta cheese (ok…so protein is definitely king of our castle these days). Our Super Bowl “party” might have been an intimate gathering for the Adsit Family, but I finally feel like taking small steps toward Normal. BTW, I figured out how to add a few drops of green food coloring to a bag of shredded cabbage and made a “field” for the football-cheeseball…check it out:

Super Bowl nibbles

And in gardening news, Thomas spent a couple of days planting roses recently, including 2 Disneyland floribundas from Jackson Perkins (picture below, credit to J/P) and 3 English-style shrub roses from Heritage Gardens in the last of some XXXL green pots purchased from Home Depot last year. 

Seeing as how we have planted…and had to leave behind…scores of day lilies, irises, daffodils, and roses over the years and many moves, you will likely understand that we have now adapted our gardening style and have fully embraced container-planting. Ahem. 

I guess that’s how you make multiple moves work and love last through all the years: adapt and adjust. That way, you get to write a new chapter…one that begins with “It was a bright and sunny day…” rather than “It was a dark and stormy night…”

===

For the non-knitters among the readers…

KAL= knitalong. A group of knitters who are knitting at the same time, usually (but not always) on the same pattern (if a designer is hosting the KAL) or using the same yarn (if a dyer is hosting) or the same kind of project (like a pair of socks or a gnome…I kid you gnot…;-). 

MKAL = mystery knitalong. Multiple people do the same unknown knitting pattern, usually released in installments, over a period of time.

WIP= Work In Progress. A project one is working on.

——

*PBC=the name of my New Normal. Here’s what the Mayo Clinic says:

“Primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) is an autoimmune disease in which the bile ducts are inflamed and slowly destroyed lead(ing) to permanent scarring of liver tissue, called cirrhosis. It's considered an autoimmune disease, which means (the) body's immune system is mistakenly attacking healthy cells and tissue. Researchers think a combination of genetic and environmental factors triggers the disease (but have generally ruled out alcohol as a cause). It usually develops slowly. At this time, there's no cure for primary biliary cholangitis, but medicines may slow liver damage, especially if treatment begins early.”

Bell’s Palsy: Day #2557

It has been: 

§  220,924,800 seconds...or,

§  3,682,080 minutes...or,

§  61,368 hours...or,

§  2557 days

since that Sunday in 2012* when I woke up to discover the left side of my face seemingly sliding off my skull. Very. Scary. Day. Indeed. 

Each year I try to mark the memory to remind myself that sometimes you just have to push through fear and pain and trust you will make it out. Like the last verse of that country song says:

“If you're going through Hell, keep on moving,
Face that fire, walk right through it!
You might get out before the devil even knows you're there..."

So, did I “get out” you might well ask? “For the most part,” is my standard answer. I still deal with synkinesis, a condition of ‘simultaneous movement’ that occurs after Bell’s Palsy...leading to involuntary, undesired, and simultaneous facial movements, including: 

• Dimpling in my chin & facial twitching in my left cheek
• Narrowing of my left eye when I smile or sip through a straw
• Painful facial muscle spasms especially when I am tired or stressed 
• Tightness of the neck bands and cheeks, causing facial pain and headaches.

Is there treatment or “a cure?” Well, there are 3 recommendations or ‘modalities:’

1.  Neuromuscular retraining (physical therapy) 

2. Botox injections (botulinum toxin) 

3. Synkinesis surgery 

I tried the first one about 5 years ago, but didn’t make it past the first session, which triggered such a painful spasm that it took me a few days to recover. You may recall my POV on pain and doctors: “you hurt me, and I won’t be back.” The second one has two words that terrify me: botox(in) and injection (needle!). And I typically run the other way whenever the word “surgery” is used. So, seven years in, and I still have synkinesis issues. 

But...BUT...I am thrilled to report that those issues are not nearly as bad this year as they have been. Hooray! Maybe I am finally aging out of this lingering reminder of that episode of Bell’s Palsy 7 years ago...who knows? I can continue to live with the involuntary winking and the twitching if I must.  I’m just glad that I am having far fewer instances of the painful facial spasms. That’s good news! 

Since my anniversary BP post usually elicits at least one comment along the lines of “I didn’t know you had Bell’s Palsy! I/my daughter/my mother/my cousin/my co-worker was just diagnosed with it, too!” so I try make it a teachable moment. If you want to learn more about Bell's Palsy, here is a link to an excellent up-to-date (5/13/2019) fact sheet: https://www.ninds.nih.gov/Disorders/Patient-Caregiver-Education/Fact-Sheets/Bells-Palsy-Fact-Sheet

Using my own blog posts about my experiences with BP, I aim to convey how frightened I was at my diagnosis, and also how thankful I was that I hadn’t had a stroke (which is exactly what it looks like in the beginning). I try to prepare newly-diagnosed patients with an honest appraisal of those first days and weeks, and I also try to be encouraging about recovery chances as well as open about any after-effects (like synkinesis). So, if you’ve stumbled on this post, please know there is hope...and recovery...after a bout with Bell’s. 

Just keep on moving!

==========

*If you want to take the wayback machine to 6/24/2012, follow this link to revisit my own Bell's Palsy Day 1 here, if you need to refresh your memory. You can also use the label "Bell's Palsy" link to bring up all the related posts...and pictures, if you are ready for that.

Bell’s Palsy Update: Day 2191

For those dear readers who have followed my blog over the years, you probably have read about my contracting Bell’s Palsy...and my continuing journey on the road to recovery.* The first couple of months were extremely difficult days, and I dealt with them in the best way I knew how: with words...lots and lots of words. Now, as hard as this is for me to believe, another anniversary of that terrible day in 2012 has rolled around. My stars! Can it truly be six whole years?

(*You can revisit Day 1 here, if you need to refresh your memory...I’ll wait...)

If you recall, the doctor originally said it could last 15 days...or the rest of my life. Ah well, it seems to be the latter, doesn’t it? Because, while my face no longer appears to be sliding off my skull and I was able to recover my speech patterns, I continue to live with residual effects of facial paralysis known as synkinesis. Not the worst fate, most assuredly, but still bothersome on a constant basis.

Sip a beverage through a straw? My left eye closes. Smile? My left eye closes. Smile too big...or for too long...or squint into the sun? The left side of my jaw locks into a painful spasm. It goes away with massage, but I know it will return. Just a matter of time before the next one. Sigh.

There’s something else I know. I know that I am fortunate to have recovered as much as I did. I know there are worse afflictions. I know “that which doesn’t kill one, makes one stronger.” OK, that’s three things I know.

Anyway, another year is over...and another chapter in this saga has been written. And as anniversaries go, this particular “celebration” has been a quiet one. No champagne. No party. No cute or sentimental cards. I mean, really, a truly boring commemoration if ever there was one.

But that’s good, right? Because even though I don’t want BP to play a major part in my life, neither do I wish to forget the role it has played. And to remember it is now a bit player.

So, hip hip hooray! Now, let’s move on...

One Year Ago...One Month from Now

I know I’ve brought this subject up before, but it has been on my mind lately: the older one gets, the faster time flies. Apparently there’s been research, as reported in Scientific American (https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/why-does-time-seem-to-speed-up-with-age/):

“This phenomenon, which (psychologist Claudia) Hammond has dubbed the holiday paradox, seems to present one of the best clues as to why, in retrospect, time seems to pass more quickly the older we get. From childhood to early adulthood, we have many fresh experiences and learn countless new skills. As adults, though, our lives become more routine, and we experience fewer unfamiliar moments. As a result, our early years tend to be relatively overrepresented in our autobiographical memory and, on reflection, seem to have lasted longer. Of course, this means we can also slow time down later in life. We can alter our perceptions by keeping our brain active, continually learning skills and ideas, and exploring new places.”

Oh yeah...we know I’m all about that “exploring new places” thingie!

One year ago today, Mr. T and I saw the sunrise at Mather Point on the South Rim of the Grand Canyon...not an entirely “new experience” for me, but a new experience for T...and for us together. Words alone are inadequate to describe the anticipation just before “official” sunrise...and that ooh-ahhh feeling as the sun clears the North Rim landmarks. Pictures, too, never seem to capture the incredible beauty of the moment, but they will have to do for now.

Sunrise at Grand Canyon 6/3/17

Watching the Sunrise at the Grand Canyon 6/3/17

And now...it's time to dust off the passports and get those suitcases out of the attic in anticipation for our next adventure!

Our Next Adventure!

AU & NZ money is soooo colorful...and has this see-through strip...!

One month from today, we will be getting on a jet plane, beginning that “once in a lifetime” (OIAL) trip to...drumroll please...Australia and New Zealand! This is a trip that I have dreamed about for as long as I can remember...and when better to make it happen than the year of a milestone birthday, I ask you? Yes, I will celebrate the Big 6-5 in Sydney (there’s some lovely symmetry in that homophonic, serendipitous name, don’t you agree?). But I’m getting ahead of myself...

Thirty days from now, we fly from ATL to LAX and take a break there before the (really, really) long haul...which has been the biggest obstacle to making this OIAL trip: I simply have not been able to get over the hurdle of being on a plane so (very, very) long. (Well, I must have cleared the hurdle because we have booked the tickets!) Anyway, a day and a half later (okay, so some of that is due to the 14-hour time difference...and some is due to crossing the International Dateline...but you can also give credit to the 15+ hour flight time, Lord Help Us), Qantas Airlines (finally, finally) delivers us to Melbourne, AU.

Why Melbourne, you may ask? Well, some of you may know what Brit Wits we are (addicted to British TV programming, especially the mountain of murder mysteries available)...so, it should come as no surprise that we got hooked on Aussie and Kiwi programming when they came to PBS. One of our favorites is “Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries,” which is a smashing 3-season series starring the gorgeous Essie Davis as the Honorable Phryne Fisher, who is described as “(a) female sleuth (who) sashays through the back lanes and jazz clubs of Melbourne in the late 1920s, fighting injustice with her pearl-handled pistol and her dagger-sharp wit.” I cannot wait to see the city that started calling to me the first time I watched Episode 1. Heck, we are currently rewatching all of the episodes, trying to memorize the look of the buildings in the backgrounds of the scenes. Oh.....and we are booked for a tour that will take us to the Grampians Mountains through Ballarat...the setting for another of our favorites, “The Doctor Blake Mysteries.”

After five fun days there, we are back on Qantas to “cross the ditch”...AKA the Tasman Sea...to fly to the Pacific Ocean-side of the South Island of New Zealand, landing in Christchurch. Why Christchurch, you may ask? Why not the usual stops of Auckland (where my new fave “800 Words” and the “Brokenwood Mysteries” are filmed) or Hamilton (both on the North Island) or even Queensland? Well, this choice is a sentimental favorite.

You may not remember back in 2010 and 2011 when devastating earthquakes very nearly destroyed this beautiful English-styled village that has been nurtured since its founding in the late 1800’s. I remember. I saw a documentary on the recovery and rebuilding efforts, and I knew...I just knew I wanted to go there. I want to help them celebrate resiliency! Plus, I wanted to go to the wine and wool part of the country...see a Rugby* game...and ride the train through the Southern Alps, which is the setting for many of the scenes of Middle Earth for “The Lord of the Rings.” Sure enough, the Tranzalpine leaves from Christchurch. So there we will be!

Five days later, and we are winging our way back to Oz, this time landing in Sydney. I will spend my birthday day climbing to the top of the Pylon on Harbour Bridge and then having a lovely lunch over 1000’ above the City. We already have tickets for “Aida” at the Opera House, so we can see that landmark from a distance and then up close and personal.

Did I forget to mention any gardens? No worries! We will be taking in the Starry Skies of the Southern Hemisphere (which we will NEVER see at our home latitude) at the historic observatory at the Royal Botanical Gardens in Melbourne, enjoying the Aboriginal Heritage Walk in the Royal Botanic Gardens in Sydney, and being immersed in the beauty of the Christchurch Botanic Gardens while staying in a hotel situated on the edge of the Avon River and Hagley Park.

After three weeks of our OIAL adventure, it will be time to say so long to the Southern Cross constellation and return to the land of the North Star. I do have to wonder how many pictures we will be able to take? Any guesses, guys?!?

There are a couple of wrinkles in this beautiful plan. My recent diagnosis of gout (left toe for 3 weeks, then left knee for the past 2) has been a major pain...literally and figuratively. But, at least I had that happen HERE, where my doctors are, so I have time to get treatment, rest, get started on appropriate meds, and recover. You better believe I am packin’: extra prednisone dose pack and colchicine (a med for gout, to be taken at the first sign of an episode), plus a couple of tubes of diclofinac gel (topical NSAID). Be prepared, as they say!

And yes, observant reader, it IS Winter down under. But that just means fewer tourists...and remembering to dress in layers. And I look forward to being a part of their traditional “Christmas in July” festivities. Remember, it is the height of Summer there on December 25th.

So, if you hear that I’m singing Jingle Bells on my birthday this year, you will certainly understand. Meanwhile, I'll continue to chant the following in my head:  "Aussie Aussie Aussie, Oi Oi Oi"
(...as remembered from the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta...)

===================
* Have you ever heard of/seen the NZ All Blacks Rugby squad's famous pre-game haka? OMG...chills!! I learned of this at a recent UGA OLLI class called "New Zealand...The Land of the Long White Cloud," which I took in prep for this trip. Check out this YouTube video.
NZ All Blacks Rugby haka

Marking Time

Finally. A bright, sunny day. The weather in HPNC has been so dreary of late that I was beginning to feel a tad depressed. And you know me...I'm NEVER depressed. Too much to do...too many places to go...too many people to see...too many books to read...too many sweaters to knit...too many roses to smell...too many veggies to harvest...too much new stuff to learn. No time to yield to depressing thoughts. Mind you, if I'd had any desire to give way to The Black Dog (as a great-uncle used to call it), the past few weeks might have offered an opportunity. But, just like Annie sang "The sun'll come out...tomorrow...!" And it has...today!

A bit of a recap is probably in order:

I told you about my wrist surgery (DeQuervain's release) in my last post, so I guess an update is overdue. Recovery progressed right on schedule, and here I am 8 weeks later, feeling fine and glad I had it done. Once the stitches were out, healing truly seemed to speed up...and now I rarely remember that I even had surgery a couple of months ago. The scar-tissued skin covering the 1"-long incision is still a bit tender ("perfectly normal and to be expected, as those nerves were severed and must regenerate" quoth the surgeon), so my Mickey Mouse watch continues to be absent from duty and I continue to roll up the sleeve on my left arm a bit to keep anything from touching that spot. I try to remember not to drape my purse or a shopping bag over that wrist. The real test? Knitting again. Tried a little bit after my Dr. gave the go-ahead at my appointment last week; will add a little more time each week until I'm back in the groove. Best news? Dr. W says that once this repair is done and I'm completely recovered, I should NEVER have this problem again. (At least not in the same hand...;-)

In my last couple of posts, I mentioned that Mr. T was getting ready for knee replacement surgery. He checked in on October 7, had a partial knee replacement, stayed overnight at Baptist Hospital in Winston-Salem, was up and walking down the hall with a walker, and came home the next afternoon. Wowzers! And he hasn't looked back. Here's a picture taken just after he got in his room from recovery...along with a "picture" of his new knee. Remarkable!

Long-time readers of our Christmas newsletter (also called The Adsit Adventure) may recall that he had a total knee replacement (TKR) of his right knee in 2005, when we lived in Missouri. So he was somewhat prepared for this one. Only...not exactly. Things have certainly changed in 10 years! For one thing, his relationship with this surgeon was completely different...and much more rewarding this time around. Dr. P called Mr. T at home, after hours, not once but twice in the same evening...just to make sure T understood the procedure and was comfortable with what was going to happen. And "what was going to happen" was completely different, as the surgery was "done" by a robot! Read more about the Mako surgery here: http://www.makosurgical.com/makoplasty/knee. (There's even a link to a YouTube video. Oh, and his scar? Much longer than illustrated. Every bit as long as the one for the TKR.)

Because T had his surgery in a teaching hospital (NC Baptist is associated with Wake Forest University's Bowman Grey School of Medicine) and he was given a nerve block as the main method of anesthesia, he had agreed to participate in research being done on adding additional pain-blocking meds. It was a blind study, so we had no way of knowing what amount, if any, of which "extra med" he received. Well, we didn't know until nearly 40+ hours after the surgery when the feeling FINALLY began to return to his shin/calf. Pretty much a certainty he received the mondo dose of the max concoction. 

Sounds great, right? One tiny problem: T had to be checked for "pain response" by sticking him with a sharp object (think: safety pin!) every two hours. So, every couple of hours throughout the night, like clockwork, "Justin" (the unlucky assistant who drew the short straw) would appear at T's bedside to stick him with a sharp point and ask "can you feel that?" Yep...long night for all involved. By 4:00 a.m. I was ready to suggest that T just tell J that he could feel it, so we could all get a few precious hours of sleep before breakfast. (Who am I kidding? I had to get up anyway to dash home and feed the dogs, as I'd done the evening before. I had just enough time for a quick shower, a cup of instant, and another mad dash to get back in T's room when the Dr. came on his early morning rounds. Made it with a whole couple of minutes to spare!)

We were home less than 24 hours before heading back to W-S for T's first physical therapy session. These folks waste no time, do they? And, that about sums up our last few weeks: "Heading to W-S for physical therapy session." They must be working because T ditched the walker after 2 days. He does use a walking stick for his two-mile walks in/around our neighborhood, but more for stability than anything. He can climb the one flight of stairs to his office, although he's doing that much less often than I'd feared. He continues to progress on schedule as confirmed when he was seen by the physician assistant a couple of times, getting his staples removed on 11/9. Since he still needs meds to manage the pain, especially after PT, he can't drive yet, so that keeps him on the DL for now. Fingers crossed for the OK to return to work (and driving!) at his next PA appointment 11/19. We shall see...

When we had a few warm, sunny days at the tail end of October, I decided to get back in the garden...it had been too long! I was thrilled with the late harvest I found!

...flowers, too!

Since I love to get a third season out of our soil, I decided to plant some lettuce, spinach, turnip greens, and collards in the raised beds. First, of course, I had to clean the jungle-like growth from a couple of the boxes...the result of having been unable to garden for such a good part of mid-to-late summer, going into fall. It all seemed to go well, until...

The following morning I realized I must have aggravated my left foot and caused a flare of the sesamoiditis. Great, just great. Nothing to do but wait it out. So, for the next 10 days I rested, elevated, and iced my aching foot...and indulged in the pain meds the Dr. had prescribed when I had the stress fracture in the sesamoid bone earlier this year...which he had warned often leads to chronic sesamoiditis.  (Read more about sesamoid stress fracture becoming chronic here: http://www.foothealthfacts.org/footankleinfo/Sesamoid_Injuries.htm)

Only, I couldn't "indulge myself" on T's PT days, now could I...one of us had to drive, for pity's sake. 

Weren't we a pair? Both of us, kicked back in our matching red recliners, T with an ice pack on his left knee...me with an ice pack on my left foot. And neither of us with a wineglass in hand because of pain medication! I even ordered us walking canes from the medical equipment store...but I drew the line at matching canes! (Mine has butterflies on it...;-)

And that about sums up the last couple of months for us: surgery, recovery, and rehab. Rinse and repeat!

We have tried to use our time together wisely, viewing this as a window into retirement, albeit a much less active one than we envision. Let me just say that many cups of coffee have been consumed! I checked several books on retirement out of the library and even succeeded in getting T to open one: "How to Retire Happy, Wild, and Free," by Ernie J. Zelinski. 

We've had numerous "what if..." discussions about: possible dates "to pull the retirement trigger" (we have narrowed it down to 4 possible dates that occur from late 2016 through late 2017); healthcare coverage after we no longer have employer-provided options (since "caring for our health" is a current theme!); and reviewing the 401k balance, allocation, and investments (since the recent market volatility has had everyone on edge). We went to the HP Senior Center to preview a Tai Chi class and had the same initial reaction: liked Tai Chi...felt out-of-pocket at the Sr Ctr. "That's where Nana went!" (Never mind that we are now both in our 60's and certainly qualify to attend. Ahem.)

While we know this pre-retirement respite is just a taste of the real thing, we do agree on something: we are looking forward to the opportunity to enjoy "the real thing!" The question now is, I wonder if we can return to our previous programming without feeling a ounce of regret that we will have to "unretire" for possibly as long as two more years? 

Or will we begin to feel like we are marking time? Again, we shall see...

Detour to the Surgery Center

OK, I didn't get that catch-up bike post done, did I? No, I took a little detour on Wednesday to the High Point Surgery Center for cataract surgery on my left eye. Not unexpected...just not expected to happen NOW! No matter...as my eyesight was deteriorating daily it seemed, I was ready to have this over and done!

You may recall that I had my right eye "done" in October 2012, at the High Point Surgery Center, and ultimately very successfully, too. So I had high hopes that things would go every bit as well. 

We checked in before we were due at 7:30, using my passport as my picture ID. I told you about the Pound Puppies eating my Driver's License, didn't I? 

Yes, well, they insisted I bring something that actually had my picture intact, and the only thing I could think of was my passport. Just think, somewhere on Wednesday morning someone used her passport to fly to Paris. I used mine to gain admittance to eye surgery. Ah well, comme ci comme ça!

Anyway, things seemed to go smoothly from the moment I walked in the door. And when the nurse got my IV inserted with minimal discomfort ON THE FIRST TRY, I thought "ooh baby, this is gonna be a piece of cake." 

Ah well, indeed. My luck may have run out then...or at least taken a detour.

I had a bad reaction to the nerve block anesthesia, causing a severe headache, nausea, etc. Since I still had an IV in Recovery, they were able to give me Percocet...and then morphine. And finally something for the nausea...which I didn't keep down long. Let's just say Wednesday was not what I would describe as a fun day. 

Then yesterday when the dr removed the shield and bandages, I discovered the vision in my left eye was cloudy. He is happy with the way the lens implant looks under the scope, so we wait and see whether the cloudiness will clear up on its own. Three kinds of eye drops 4 times a day ought to help with that! No strenuous activities, limit bending and leaning over to limit any pressure on that eye, no driving (bummer), keep bright lights to a minimum...blah, blah, blah. I see him again in a week, by which time it will have cleared up...or not. We shall see...no pun intended...;-)

Meanwhile, I have these really UGLY dark shades to wear that are probably the best incentive I can imagine for getting better quickly. Ugh! Here they are...as you can see. I titled this photo "going to my happy place...mentally if not (yet) physically." 

I have great nurses in Mr. T and Missy M, who are here for me...and who are serving as dog-wranglers for the Fab Five in residence. I don't have to worry about anything other than getting well. So, I'm going to "take the weekend off," do what the dr ordered, and be a patient patient. 

Well, two out of three ain't bad, right?

A Restart in Two Parts

Found it! If you are looking for a lost virus, look no more...'cause I think I found what you lost. Or what someone "lost." Have been doing battle with some kind of upper respiration invader for a few days now. Was the fever the worst part? Nah. Definitely the sore throat and hoarseness...meant I can't talk as much as I usually do. Ahem.

Took more than my usual one rest day from my bike ride*...and the other activities in my life...to encourage a speedy return to good health. Not all the way back yet, but I'm tired of being sick. And bored with "recovery." So, it's back in the saddle (seat) again...hitting the RESTART button. Mindful of my body's need to take it a little easier than usual, I did divide today's ride into two parts...but, hang on...I'm jumping ahead of myself.

Where were we? Oh yeah, I had ridden 305.4 miles total by the end of January, took a Rest Day on the 1st, and then added 10.2 miles on 2/2, to get me all the way to the outskirts of Oak Ridge, TN. Let's pick up the travelogue there.

2/3/14: Completed 10.1 miles in 47 minutes, riding through Oliver Springs, crossing into Morgan County near Coalfield. Here's a nifty note from the Tennessee Vacation website:  

Back Valley Public Library: The Smallest Library in the USA located in Coalfield...

"This 1956 building measures just six feet by five feet, and served as the town’s library for many years. Founder Dot Byrd used the $200 courtesy check she received as a guest on the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson to start a bank account for the construction of the library, opened in 1994. Today, it sits in the shadow of a newer facility. Stop in to learn the entire story of the famous little library here."

Coalfield is just what the name sounds like it is...in the middle of coal-mining country. What? You didn't realize Tennessee had coal to mine? Yes indeed-y. And I'm riding through an area that was once a coal battleground.

Ever hear of the Coal Creek War? That's the phrase used to describe the armed conflict that took place in the early 1890's right here, when coal mine owners in the Coal Creek Watershed, looking for a source of low-cost labor, decided to use state-leased convicts to replace "free" miners. Although the miners ended up in nearby Brushy Mountain State Penitentiary, it was the beginning of the end of the convict leasing era by Tennessee. It was also the beginning of what came to be known as "The Appalachian Coal Mining Protest Music," one of the earliest examples of which was "Coal Creek March." Without that, there may never have been a "Sixteen Tons" for Tennessee Ernie Ford to cover!

And today? There are still strip mines in this area, and much ado about mountain top mining, where explosives are used to blast the "tops" off mountains to get at the coal "inside." But, what I find most encouraging is that the Coal Creek area is known for another brand of energy: windmills! There are "18 windmills standing 260 feet tall along two miles of ridgeline atop Buffalo Mountain. As the 135-foot-long blades spin, they provide 29 megawatts of green energy and power for 3,780 homes." Here's a picture I found on Google:

Wait a minute! Did you say State Penitentiary?! Yes, yes I did. When I was growing up, Brushy Mountain...or "Big Brushy," as it was sometimes called...located in nearby Petros, was one of three Tennessee state prisons, this one serving the Eastern part of the state. There was Tennessee State Pen. in Nashville (Middle Tennessee), and of course, the West Tennessee State Pen., which we in Lauderdale County just called "Fort Pillow." Daddy (like Papaw before him) carried the mail to the prison; used to get his hair cut by the prisoners and love to eat a steak raised on the penal farm that he could buy for $1; and once "captured" an escaped prisoner in Henning. [The man was hiding in a 55-gallon drum that was used as a trash can by the Johnsons' Gulf station. Daddy had stopped for a fill-up and a snack and was throwing a candy wrapper away when he heard the "can" say: "Please mister, don't shoot me!" (What with, I wonder...a Hershey bar?)]

Brushy Mountain was (it is no longer in service) considered "escape-proof," due to its isolation in such a wild, untamed part of the Cumberland Mountains. I wonder if you remember who was sentenced there...and who did, in fact, manage to escape...for a couple of days, at least? And the answer is: James Earl Ray, the man who confessed to killing Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., in Memphis in 1968.

2/4/14: Did 9.2 miles in 42 minutes, making a right turn on Hwy 27/29 near Wartburg, county seat of Morgan County.  Here's some info from the Tennessee Vacation website:

Wartburg

Founded in 1845 by 15 families of German-Swiss settlers, the town is named for the Wartburg Castle in Germany. Many area residents still hold the dream of replicating that famous castle here on a hilltop overlooking the city.

This ride took me past some of the most beautiful areas in the state, IMHO. The nearby Frozen Head State Park would be worth a stop...if I were there in person. Check it out here: http://tnstateparks.com/parks/contact/frozen-head

Frozen Head State Park

These 24,000 acres contain some of the richest wildflower areas in the state, as well as one of the highest peaks in the state at 3,324 feet. In the winter, Frozen Head is often covered with snow or ice, even though the sun may be shining. Stroll or hike over 50 miles of foot trails with waterfalls and rock shelters, bring a picnic, or plan for camping. Events throughout the year include Wildflower Walks in April; the Echo in the Mountain Bluegrass Festival in May and Heritage Days in August celebrating traditional Appalachian music and crafts. This is an access point for the Cumberland Trail State Scenic Trail, a 300-mile linear State Park.

2/5-2/8/14: prolonged Rest Days, trying to recover from this URI. Better now, thank you.

2/9/14: Today's ride of 11.2 miles (done in two sessions) moved me west of Wartburg, into the middle of Morgan County. I was happy to be back on my bike...and to be making some progress again.

If all goes well tomorrow, I'll gain an hour as I cross over into the Central Time Zone. Looking forward to it!

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* Bike Ride Footnote: To bring you up-to-date, in case you are just joining me...

My plan to get/keep in shape for gardening this year is to ride my stationary bike. Because I always need a reason to do something...or at least to continue doing something, I have decided on a program based on a distance of 2600 miles...which is the distance from our house to Disneyland in Anaheim, CA, as Google-mapped using the (beta) Bike function. I started 1/3/2014...and am continuing the saga today. 

BTW, I am tagging all the posts about my ride "Where in the USA is Patricia" on my blog, and #WhereintheUSAisPatricia on Twitter. While I won't be blogging about my ride on a daily basis, you can check my Twitter Feed over there in the right column for daily updates on my ride and location. Happy pedaling! >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

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Christmas Lite

Somehow, I find myself just five days from Christmas Day...and I'm way behind on my blogging. That's the bad news. The good news? I'm pretty much on schedule with just about everything else on my list.

So how's that possible, you ask? Well, part of it is...my list went on a major diet this year. Items dropped off it like pounds do on the Atkins plan. Because of other priorities, I realized we would have to trim more than a Christmas tree or two.

Oh, we managed to get two trees up and decorated: the one in the dining room, which mainly has sheep-themed ornaments (uploaded a pic on last post); and the "main tree" in the great room. Here is a photo of that one:

A few of the Christmas bears are on top of the quilt-covered bookcase behind the main tree. And, we got 10 of the 50+ nutcrackers up and the mantle decorated. See what you think.

The Advent calendar that I made when Missy M was a little girl made it down from the attic, as did the handmade stockings(shown above). The Christmas china that Daddy gave us made an appearance...well, some of it did...and the Waterford "Twelve Days of Christmas" wine glasses will be put to good use.

All of this is possible because Missy M dragged boxes from the attic when she was here for Thanksgving. She even brought down boxes with some of the outdoor lights, but that's where we had to draw the line.

Beyond a wreath on the front door and a couple of poinsettias in pots on the porch (weather permitting), we are foregoing any outside decorating. No lighted reindeer. No inflatable Santa rising out of his chimney. No "landing lights" outlining the planting areas and sidewalk. No wreaths on the windows. Sorta feels like The Grinch was here. Bah humbug.

And yet...

We may be scaled back this year, but we haven't let the Spirit evaporate. We are welcoming Missy M and the grand-pups on Saturday, and that alone will make the Spirit(s) soar. Then Bro J and SIL J will join us for Lunn Family Christmas on Sunday. Put the seasonal music on...joy still lives at our house! 

We have plenty to be joyful about. Mr. T saw his ortho surgeon today and got the OK to return to work on Monday. Since the full recovery period is 4-6 months, he will still have to go to physical therapy for a couple more months. But progress is progress...and it feels good!

So, as the Holidays surround us, we will celebrate with happy hearts. And toast to our good fortune: with so few decorations up, we will be un-decorated in record time! 

Ah...the beauty of Christmas Lite!

A Time for Healing

Glad that week is behind us. Thankfully, the healing has begun.

Recovery from Mr. T's shoulder surgery is going well. He feels much better as he heads into the second week, although the localized pain around the surgery site is pretty intense at times. Most thankful for his pain pills, now that he no longer has the benefit of the On-Q pain block thingee. For some reason, he has the most pain from a spot on his back/shoulder blade that doesn't appear to have been involved in the operation. No stitches, no redness, no lump, bump, or bruise. Odd. Well, maybe we can learn more about it at his upcoming follow-up visit on Friday. We shall see.

"The kiss of sun for pardon,
The song of the birds for mirth,
One is nearer God’s heart in a garden
Than anywhere else on earth."
          -- Dorothy Frances Gurney

Those lines from Gurney's poem are on a metal plaque that Momma purchased for her garden in Smithville...then I had in every garden since 1990...until Missy M "inherited" it during the move from MO to NC. At our house, as you are no doubt aware, the garden is a source of much solace and healing. And, with our current situation, we are relying on what we know to help make us better. Since Mr. T's usual vigorous participation in yardening activities is limited (ever tried hoeing with one hand, your non-dominant hand at that...the dominant arm being trapped in a sling?), our weekend Fall clean-up was briefer than usual. Still, he probably did WAY more than he was supposed to...any surprises there? Paid for it the next morning, of course...but he's back out there today, playing with Abbie. (Post is up on our garden blog, Gardening with the Giants. Click here to go there.)

John F. Kennedy - 11/2013

Of course, flowers always make boo-boo's heal faster, don't you agree? Here (left) is a picture of one of the most beautiful blooms that we've had this year from the John F. Kennedy rosebush. It went into Mr. T's "Get Well" bouquet.

'Gethsemane Moonlight’ mums

Actually, we have two JFK bushes in the back yard, along with a couple of Sheer Bliss roses and one Miss All American Beauty, and they are ALL putting on buds like crazy...most of which will be nipped when this latest 'artic front' blows through tonight ("they" are saying possible snow mixed with the rain!) . Everything else is pretty much spent, with the exception of the perfect-for-Fall persimmon-colored Pat Austin roses in the Rose Garden and the Chrysanthemum X ‘Gethsemane Moonlight’...clumps of which are now scattered throughout the property, thanks to my unexpected success with turning late Spring prunings (when you clip off the early growth in order to encourage lush flowering later on) into rooted cuttings. Here's a shot of the clumps growing at the mailbox (right).

So, that's how the physical healing is progressing. The emotional healing from the loss of our dear Elmo is happening...albeit at a slower pace. We have moved beyond hourly showers to just a few daily sprinkles. And we are more aggressive in moving into the phase of "remember when Elmo..."  The grief is still there, still close to the surface...but telling his story makes it much easier to contend with.

Until...

From our walk...

The day I took that picture of the mums at the mailbox (above) was a lovely Fall day: bright, crisp, with a bit of a cool breeze. The sky was the most brilliant blue...it took absolutely my breath away. Had to take a picture of it! (left)

I had taken Abbie for her walk (those are going very well, I might add) and stopped at the mailbox for the picture and the mail. There was the usual pile of circulars, ads, etc.; a bill or two; a "get well" card for Mr. T from Cousin H & S (cute card...thanks!); and a large, padded envelope. I tossed the first bunch in the green toter as I passed it in the driveway...garbage in, recycle out. When I got inside, something else caught my attention, so I dropped the surviving mail on the counter and headed off to take care of the something else. An hour or so later, when I came back into the kitchen to start supper, I noticed the mail and started opening the envelopes.

The padded one was heavier than I'd originally thought. I zipped the strip along the short edge and pulled a beautiful card from the interior. It was from the Emergency Animal Clinic in Greensboro, signed by the whole staff, sending their sympathy on Elmo's loss. The tears started flowing.

Then, from the depths of the envelope, I pulled a smooth, cream-colored disc...with his paw print captured in clay, baked into an ornament. Literally, took my breath away. I had to sit down...and then I had to jump up and find the box of tissues. The flood gates were open. I'm tearing up just writing about the experience. Showing the thoughtful gift to Mr. T, I had a partner in crying. We continued until we were both exhausted. Start supper? Forget about it. PBJs were about all I could manage.

The next morning, I knew I needed to let someone at the Clinic know how much we appreciated this beautiful gesture, but I couldn't bring myself to make the call. I just didn't think I could make it through a whole conversation without becoming weepy and incoherent.

Until...

I woke up this morning, much earlier than I'd intended since I'd stayed up last night watching Monday Night Football (not sure why...since I could care less about either Miami or Tampa Bay). And, something told me that I could make that call...now. Since the Emergency part of the Clinic closes at 8:00 a.m., I hustled into the kitchen and found the number. I spoke with the sweetest-sounding young lady...who took the time to listen and be gentle and kind in her responses...as she was aware that the emotion was still raw for me.

Breath in...breath out.

So, there you have it. Evidence that healing is indeed happening here at Casa 3917. And that's a good thing.