My World With Words

Today I got my new back brace. It’s looks like a warrior breastplate, and it’s tight. It’s supposed to be snug to give me the support I need, and I’m told it’s fitting appropriately so I know it’s not too tight, but it’s uncomfortable. It forces the use of muscles I don’t normally use, which I suppose is a good thing.

Getting in and out of it is an ordeal. The clinician at the brace company told me it’s a two-person job, but I live alone so I’m forced to put it on myself. I trust that that will get easier with time.

I can’t believe I’m going through this. My friends laugh and tell me “welcome to your 60s,” although they are extremely sympathetic and supportive. It’s just hard to believe I have six compression fractures on my spine. Some of you have asked how that happened, and it wasn’t a fall or an accident. It appears to be the repeated lifting I do at work, sometimes of items up to 25 pounds.

Since my job requires lifting I don’t know what the future holds at that company. I’m updating my resume, but I can’t start job hunting until I get back to work since I have to go back to that job once my short-term disability leave period is over.

Anyway, that’s the latest on my back. Thanks for all of your support and understanding.

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Image Credit: ©Studio-FI – stock.adobe.com

This is a difficult post for me to write, so I’ll just dive in. Last month I learned I have six compression fractures in my spine, something my doctor called “crazy.” Not the words you want to hear about your health. So now I’m locked in a back brace for three months or so, and stuck at home on short-term disability.

One of the bones has broken the barrier into my spinal fluid and is therefore dangerously close to my spinal cord. I’m not sure how that will heal, but I hope it does because if it hits my spinal cord, that could mean paralysis. So this is a serious injury and my usual attempts at being upbeat are failing me.

It’s not that I’m depressed. Not yet. I’m bored and frustrated, and concerns about my mom are distracting me from my own condition (I won’t go into those concerns, but they are common to those of us dealing with aging parents).

I have friends who are helping me get through this time. I can’t lift anything heavier than five pounds, so as you might imagine I need help with kitty litter. That stuff is heavy, even the so-called lightweight cat litter. I also have someone taking my trash out. That same friend has extended an open invitation to play Scrabble with her, and I’m taking her up on that on a regular basis.

For those of you who are inclined to prayer,  your prayers for healing are appreciated. If that isn’t part of your life, good thoughts are appreciated as well.

Thanks to all of my blogging buddies for your support these past few years.

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Image Credits: Foggy Forest © Roksana Bashyrova–stock.adobe.com; Scrabble Letters © berna namoglu 10–stock.adobe.com.

Several weeks ago I wrote a post titled “Going With the Flow…and the Flow is Easy.” Well, I must have been tempting fate because suddenly the flow isn’t so easy. I’ve developed serious back problems (although what they are specifically has yet to be determined). I also learned a week ago that my mom has a tumor on her kidney.

I haven’t been able to perform my job duties as a result of these back problems, so I’m on short-term disability until they can be resolved. That’s 60 percent of my already low income (thank goodness for those stimulus checks) and weeks of boredom.

But I refuse to give in to the boredom and depression that have started to plague me. I’m hoping to make the most of this time, whether it’s by completing more writing projects or plowing through the mess in my storage room. The latter is unlikely to get done as it will probably bother my back, but I should be able to type.

I’ve also considered taking some online computer courses to refresh my skills in the basic Microsoft software. Word and Excel have changed so much since I first learned them, and I haven’t used them on the job in years. Yes, I use them for personal projects, but that doesn’t really challenge my knowledge.

As for my mom, we just learned that the news there is pretty good. I’m exceedingly  grateful for that, because I’m not ready to lose my mom. Not that I expect I ever will be ready for that inevitable day.

So the flow is a little tougher–but so am I.

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Image Credit: © Galyna Andrushko–stock.adobe.com

Well, the laptop that I told you all was kaput the other day shall henceforth be known as Lazarus, because it has been raised from the dead. Okay, it still dies now and then, so it isn’t as reliable as I’d like and I should probably get a new one. But I need to wait for my tax refund anyway so I’m going with the flow with ol’ Laz here.

Going with the flow seems to be the story of my life these days. I’m living in an apartment I’m not thrilled with because that’s what I can afford. The pandemic has limited my social life (we’re all in that boat, I know). It seems I spend a lot of time at home and that can make me a bit stir crazy.

Still, I remain proactive about some things, which brings us back to the laptop and why I’m likely to get a new one even if Lazarus remains alive. I’m active in my writing group and need a reliable computer to maintain my good standing. Not that anyone would kick me out if my attendance and writing were spotty, but I want to stay active and be a consistent, contributing member.

I’m also proactive about the health of my cats, which can be costly. They each need to have their teeth cleaned, and that’s expensive–but necessary. So I’m saving my pennies and hoping this latest stimulus package goes through so I can get that done soon. Poor babies. They need to go back to the vet (high trauma) and get put under to have their teeth cleaned. 

I’m lucky enough to have a couple of great cats, snugglers both of them, so I want them healthy and happy.

I may not like my apartment and I may be bored quite a bit of the time, but overall, I’m happy with life. Sometimes you have to put up with something for awhile to make way for better things. I’m hoping I can move up in my job sometime soon, although I really like my manager and the group I work with so I’m a bit hesitant to get too proactive there.

So yes, I’m going with the flow on my job–a job with great benefits and respect for its employees, so the flow is easy.

And I’m lucky enough to say right now with my life, the flow is easy.

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Image Credit: © Oceloti--stock.adobe.com

Some of my longer-term followers may remember the last time my computer went kaput. I got a new laptop then, but time has flown by and my “new” computer has died.

So I’m writing a short post to let all of you know you won’t be hearing much from me for a couple of weeks.

The timing is okay, however, as I’ll be getting enough of a tax refund to afford the laptop I want. Nothing fancy, but definitely more powerful than what I’ve been working with lately.

I still have my phone so I can respond to comments you leave. So for now, thanks for being there for me!

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Image Credit: © vladwel–stock.adobe.com

Like the rest of you, I’ve had my share of both good and bad luck.

I have the worst luck with socks. No matter how many I buy, I never have enough–they just disappear. I got a pack of six last week and the first time I wore a pair, I noticed a hole. Of course I’d thrown out the receipt so I can’t return them. I just have to hope this is a fluke and the remaining socks will hold up well.

My love life has been decisively unlucky. Okay, I bear some responsibility here, but looking at it from the great vantage point of age, some of it is also a matter of luck. Frankly, at this point I’ve given up and I’m planning for the future with the expectation I’ll be single for the rest of my life. Thirty years ago I would have been depressed beyond measure, but I’ve outgrown that thinking.

Despite my bad luck with socks and love, I consider myself lucky in most ways. Those of you who’ve followed my blog know how crazy I am about my cats, Walter and Mimi. They chanced into my life (read “Here’s Your Baby” for that story) and are two of the sweetest cats I’ve owned. As companions I couldn’t ask for more.

I have a job. I have a home. I have a reliable car that’s paid for. Given the current economic situation, I consider all that tremendous luck. My parents are both living and they love me, as does my brother (I won’t speak for my sister out of respect for her feelings and actions). I have intelligent, thoughtful friends–and I count several of you in that group.

Some people don’t believe in luck, rather, they see everything as part of God’s grand plan, and maybe they’re right. I have a strong faith and I consider that a gift from God, so call that good luck. I think personal responsibility is a big part of our fate. But I can’t help but believe some of it just comes down to the luck of the draw.

We have to accept the good and bad in our lives, and know that both will come and go. I know I’m not the first one to say this, but what you believe in will save you. Believe in being grateful. Believe in sharing love. Like the rest of you, I’ve had my share of both good and bad luck. But I’m choosing, with gratitude and love, to put my eggs in the good luck basket.

 

Image Credits: Socks ©Julija – stock.adobe.com; Eggs ©Nitr – stock.adobe.com; Heart © Belinda O; Cats © Belinda O; Friends ©Rudie – stock.adobe.com.

Today is my sister’s birthday. I’ve written before about her decision to cut herself off from the family, so I won’t elaborate here, except to say, Beth, you are loved. I’m hoping against hope you may know about my blog and might check in here. I trust you are happy and healthy and living the life you want.

Happy Birthday, Beth, and many more.

Image Credit: © Web Buttons Inc. —stock.adobe.com

Last week my dad told me about one of his earliest memories–certainly the first New Year’s Day he remembers. He was about three or four, and when he woke up on January 1st, he ran to the window, fully expecting all the snow to be gone. It wasn’t, of course, and early on, he learned a valuable lesson: not much changes between December 31st and January 1st.

That’s not to say things won’t change in the new year. They will, and I think most of us are hoping for a better year. I had high hopes for 2020. It wasn’t as bad a year for me as it was for some, but I agree with those who say:

I’m hoping 2021 doesn’t require the same resigned sense of humor and that things will be better. I’m hopeful the new vaccines will do the trick and that COVID-19 won’t be the threat to us it is now. I’m hopeful that jobs are gained back. I’m hopeful for a little more political integrity.

Not much may change in one day, but we have reason to be hopeful. For all of you, I pray your year may be filled with unexpected blessings, big and small.

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Image credits: Snowman ©Lilya – stock.adobe.com, Stink/Stank/Stunk © Ak7studio-stock.adobe.com

Hope Santa Paws was good to you and yours! Merry Christmas everyone!

It was six years ago today that I first started this blog. I had no idea what I was doing, and thankfully they didn’t have these blasted blocks for me to deal with. I also was in a dark place and needed an outlet for my pain. In the past I’ve reposted that first post on this anniversary day, but since I’ve come so far since then I’m going to forego that tradition.

Blogging is a funny thing, and my blog has gone through several transformations (none of them deliberate) to become what it is today. Four years ago, I was posting two or three times a week. I had a bi-weekly feature, Classic for a Reason, where I featured movies from the golden age of Hollywood. That feature became its own blog and I’m still posting there today (classicforareason.com).  Check it out if you’re a fan of classic, I mean really classic, films.

Today I have much less time to dedicate to blogging, but it gives me a great deal of pleasure to see that many of my old posts are still viewed. Of course that doesn’t compare with the pleasure of getting to know my many blogging buddies.

Merry Christmas, everyone!

Image credit: ©Anton – stock.adobe.com