I reached out. Had two phone conversations, multiple text
connections, messagings, a date for a walk, invitations to zoom, and face visit.
Good day. Probably not four social hours but definitely a doable prescription.
Later, text from Sarah about a dog followed by a phone call and a visit with
Juliet who now resides with us. Today I will visit with Ben and Megan. We are
going to the last farmers’ market to get lunch at Rebecca’s stand. I’m busy solving the social connection
prescription.
Day 249
The labs were good. I’m doing fine with nutrition and
exercise. Stage one renal disease but
not to worry.. Maybe in a few years. The big prescription was to plan four
hours a day of socialization. I went to Facebook and asked for help and was astounded
by the support. Lots of people will help with planning for walks, visits, and
talks. I may have helped people see their need too. We have to do everything
within covid restrictions that keep our mental health strong.
Cold and clear with the moon looking amazing at 5 AM. It’s
huge and filling for Halloween’s blue moon. This afternoon is my appointment
with Dr. P. Lots of test results to go over and plan for the future of my
health. That’s what I want, guidance and support. I walked down to check on my
CD player. It’s not fixed yet but it will be soon. I miss music. With the dark
coming, I need the beat to get me moving. Ready, aim, fire!
Finally connected with anti-biotics and now on the road to
recovery. Time with Michele was pleasant and easy. We talked a lot about her
writing and ways she can sort and process
experiences. She, like all of us, has
had an eventful and interesting life. Starting the day with a trip to the
grocery store and then the last farmers’ market of the season. We can still go
to the farm stand in Fort Dick all year. Beautiful cool and clear fall morning.
Let’s go.
Well, another uncomfortable day without help with the UTI.
Hollie is checking with the doctor about the test on Friday. Aside from that,
my agenda is to dust and straighten up my house. That takes about 15 minutes.
Michele wants to come over and talk. She has some news she wants to process
with me. I’m glad to do that for my friend. We all have times when we need to
talk to someone who is not involved in the issue. I have reliable ears.
Monday Monday. No agenda except trying to feel well enough
to participate in my routine. Maybe even get a walk. I like to enjoy the clear cold
air and feel the activity. Too much inside lately due to not feeling up to
jumping and singing. I dusted and put things away and that will be my goal
again. Simply enjoying what is available and maybe sorting books for give away
or keep. Not many have been used in years. Make room for Hollie’s books.
Not well. Restless night and tired start for Sunday. I’m
still learning how to use my heater. Haven’t needed it until this week and it’s
a new system to me. The room has such high ceilings that I have to use the fan to circulate the heat. Today
my plan is to duplicate yesterday by curling up with a pillow and blanket and pretend
to watch TV as I nap. It’s sthe best I can do until I connect with medication. And
so it goes.
No socializing. I had a sudden illness that is a UTI. And
another call from Sutter lab and I messed up one test and have to go back
again. Darn it all, is this ever going to be finished. I know that all the
tests are for my benefit to establish my health at this time. I admit that this
office knows more about me than any other medical staff has in years. Today we
start dumping old garden stuff in the new compost bin.
At Sutter at 8AM, out at 8:20 with samples left for
examination and now coffee. The doctor ordered a bunch of tests and that is the
last of them. Now I will clean house for Rosalie and Michele’s visit this
afternoon. I am looking forward to our conversation. We are from isolation pods
so we wear masks and sit apart. The words are warm and intimate and that is
what we need. Later a trip to the chiropractor again. My low back is still
pinging.
Two and a half hours of
medical tests and I’m totally exhausted. And cold. And hungry. So a
quick post that reminds me that I asked for a new doctor who would actually
know who I am and give me guidance and support. All these tests and a couple more
lab visits and he will know all about me. Next week we will confer about all
the results. The mini-cognitive was interesting on the computer. I did okay but
not fast. The EKG was routine.
More strong wind but the good news is the sun is shining.
Laundry, at the good old stand-by, proves that I’m operational and planning. First
a trip to the store to get peppermint chocolate for our stash and then the farmers’
market for our produce. I’m enjoying the
green beans and cauliflower. Good day for gathering up dead leaves for the new
compost bin that Chuck is creating. The CD player is being rescued, I hope it
works. I want more music and less TV.
Up and out before 7 AM for a shopping trip to Brookings plus
a much needed haircut. My pantry is well stocked and my hair is manageable. It’s
a beautiful morning and lots of day left for other activities. We will go to
the chiropractor at 3 PM. My twinge is not fixed and stepping up hurts. I will
get a walk and hope for a visit with someone interesting. Three days in a row I
have written in the paper journal. Life is upward.
No jazz but a couple of worthwhile conversations. Yes, I
will be back in church as soon as it’s in the church. I did not enjoy the outside
service although I have great respect for those who have kept us going through
the covid. Chatted politics with a guy on cooper who has to take his Biden sign
in at night to prevent vandalism. What a weird world we are experiencing. I wore
my mask as usual. Big deal today is a massage from Karen.
I reread some of the 84 word blog book looking for a timeline
between the close call with the truck and the collapse on the hill. The tremor started
only three days after the incident. Two notable walking differences happened at
two weeks and four weeks.. Most of the daily posts are the same and not all
that interesting. I’m guessing all the covid routine days will be equally uninteresting.
How can I jazz up my life so I can write interesting posts? Good luck.
Great start for Friday. Beautiful outside and much more positive
inside. I started out with Cat Stevens singing the remake of Tea for the
Tillerman. Hard to believe it’s been 50 years. The music has inspired me to turn
off the TV and write in the paper journal. I need the commentary as this blog
only touches the high spots. I’m glad to keep this going as a writing discipline
and log of activities. The endless timelessness of isolation would not be
chronicled without this.
It’s time to get the worn out plants into the compost.
Yesterday I gave two raspberry canes to Nancy. I hope they grow for her. She has
lots of room and likes to have plants. We
talked about roses and the state of the world. I like to have company and a
brief respite from isolation. No agenda. I may tackle the bookcases. I feel
like digging into the remaining items that are in the house. Hollie needs to
have room for her things.
Yesterday’s board of supervisors meeting lasted four hours! I’m
glad I watched it from home as that is
too long to sit. They bought property for transitional housing. We went to Safeway
at 7 AM. It was a family outing as Chuck went too. We were in and out quickly
as the store was empty. Later, Hollie
and I will walk to famers’ market for
our fresh produce. Then it’s time to get in the yard and pull up the old vegetable
leaves and stems.
Good start on a beautiful morning. A restful night improves
the mood greatly. Today I’m going to
pull old plants up and stack them for the compost bin. It’s time to clean the
yard. I dug potatoes and love having a fresh one with my eggs. The chard and
kale are still growing and may until January. I am seeking new ideas, a
project, or a connection to fill my need for stimulation. I’m not doing it for myself.
Looking for rescue from outside myself.
Misty morning. Woke up with energy and now the laundry is
done and the kitchen is neat. No agenda. Hope for a couple of walks like yesterday.
Maybe today I’ll get my journal open and start to use the ideas Rosalie gave me
on how to track the progress of living well during isolation. While it is
comforting to know that the covid has made separations from our usual routines,
it is not enough to feel well-being. I have friends who offer plans for keeping
well.
Yesterday’s rain brought clean air and a fresh feeling for Sunday.
The visit with Karen Q. was warm and I realized how much I miss her and the
church family. She liked her cups and brought me ginger snaps. Nice exchange. Then
dinner at Megan’s with Ben and his mother. Comfortable group and a delicious dinner
of lasagna, salad and garlic toast.
Today I will get out and walk. It’s been a few days inside. I need the exercise
and the contact with the world.
The visit was a boost in many ways. The socializing and catching
up was comforting. We shared out ways of isolaation coping and gathered strength
from each other. Then I asked them to choose four of the china cups and saucers
from the Tea and stories group. I turned out to be meaningful for Rosalie as
she lost some in a move that had been gifts from a special Aunt. Michele too
felt the connection with the china. I have saved four for Karen Q.
It took inviting Rosalie and Michele to get the vacuum out. Now
the little house is neat and dusted. Rosalie is bringing cookies. I am
determined to improve the quality of my days.
It’s time to live the way I say I want to live and not the want to want to
procrastination. Starting with a domestic
energy, moving to the paper journal and the process of writing How to
Like my Life. It will be part of the program that Rosalie and I have written.
Unhealthy air again. Another day inside and I won’t walk. I
don’t think the masks help a bit with smoke particulates. Hollie and I talked about
the state of our lives with all the limitations and stress. I want to make more
of my time than food and TV. I say that and don’t act on it. I will push today to
clean and sort. At least I can control the way I keep house. Watching the lack of
motivation as a symptom of depression.
Damp, gloomy bad air day, again. Yesterday’s walk helped
with the mood. Even with smoky air, I need the outside activity. Maybe walk to
the farmers’ market with Hollie. They might still have green beans. My house
could use attention but I may wait until Friday when Rosalie and Michele come
to visit. I’m ready to do sorting and purging in the bookcases. Maybe clearing
out another space will give Hollie the urge to bring her things from storage. We still haven’t finished our moving.
Another morning of fog and smoky air. I am tired from a
restless night that was anxious and brought up old memories that I would rather
not review. The blah attitude is also tiring.
I can’t focus and keep distracting
myself with TV. I have been getting my 10K steps from short walks and
rebounder. It is a saving grace to at least do that for my well-being. It isn’t
much of a relief to know that my malaise is wide-spread. I'm doing my best.
Damp cold morning and I may not get dressed. I walked yesterday
and it did improve my mood. I sorted the food cupboards and made some sense of
what I have stored. Lots of soup and beans. I’m feeling the need to clean out
more things from the house and purging, moving them out , or taking them to my
house. I’m wanting to own as few things as I am comfortable doing. It’s seven
months since the move. Megan’s lights help in the gloom.
I told Karen Q. that I would attend the outdoor church
service this morning and I’m going to regrettably renege. It is wet and cold
and I’m not going to sit outside and get chilled. I miss church but that doesn’t
feel right. Two good walks yesterday and I pushed to get them. My gloomy mood
would have preferred a blanket nap on the couch. I felt better when I came home. Later I will
push myself out the door remembering the value of moving.
My ear procedure was almost good. At least it is better and
I can hear out of both ears. We got our flu shots and brought home our favorite meal from Chan’s.
Then a nice long walk in the clearing air and a better night’s sleep. It’s Saturday
but we aren’t going to the market because it is too crowded for covid comfort. I have two
big baking potatoes and will have one of them with chili. I have two Cornish game hens to bake.
I perked up yesterday afternoon and enjoyed it. With the smoky
walk to do errands and the rebounder I had 10K steps. Going to Brookings later
for the ear lavage. No need to shop as I took care of the essentials . We may
stop at Chan’s after the appointment for our favorite Szechwan chow mein. Too smoky
to get out for weeding and I miss it. I want to feel well and have a chance to
be outside as the days grow short and dark early
Safeway at 7 AM and glad for it as it’s the first of October and the place will be mobbed when the banks open. I have food in my refrigerator again. And new items in the pantry. Long texting with Rosalie and Michele saved my isolation from closing completely down. Today the air is better but not good enough for outside activity. I did well using the rebounder and will do it again. I have gained a pound a month and that has to stop.
