Friday began with a walk with our friends, including Stacy’s family and their three dogs. Oh, it was fun! Tenly and Kieren, Stacy’s daughter and her fiancé, are spectacularly fun to be with. I walked with them and their dog, Vigo, and the hour went by in what seemed like minutes.
We came home, Sheba to rest, and me to get busy with cleaning the house. I was getting rid of ceiling cobwebs, washing floors and getting everything back into its place after all the recent disruption of wood stacking. And then something wonderful happened.
I got an email (on Good Friday) from Sam, Dr. Dorscheid’s assistant, and it was packed with good news. I have an appointment with Dr. Dorscheid on Wednesday, and Sam suggests a bronchoscopy will be likely very soon. It thrills me to hear that the bronchoscopy may be done. That may lead to something valuable for me. When Dr. D. said several months ago that my lungs were not the problem, he was going by tests done before my breathing became so difficult This test is the best hope I have for a definitive diagnosis. And a diagnosis may lead to appropriate treatment.
And then more wonder: Beth called on Facetime to chat. She’s in Gords with her dearest friend, Lynn, and Lynn’s husband, Denis. I’ve visited Gordes and stayed in their house, so it was delightful to see the everything and everyone again. And then Bruce called, also on Facetime, and we got caught up.
All afternoon, I reflected on how wonderful I felt after hearing from Sam. It also felt wonderful to tidy up the house. I’ve been letting things go for ages because no one ever comes here. But I like having a clean and tidy house. While I worked, I was chuffed knowing that when all was done, I could have a lovely forest walk through Elder Cedar with Her Highness and then come home for a lovely long spa.
I was a walking zombie by 4:30, when I got out of the spa. I was exhausted but it felt good because it was the outcome of a good and active day. I didn’t water a single bed, but that will likely be something I must do today. The entire island is drying out after a week of sunshine. The stream in Elder Cedar is disappearing, and the two big paddocks on either side of Buttercup Road, the road I drive at least once every day, are brown.
Totally free of guilt, at the end of a very busy day, I had leftovers for dinner because it was so quick and easy, and I watched Towards Zero on Prime. Period drama, Agatha Christie, Devon countryside, only three episodes, rich lush sets and costumes, it was the perfect way to end the day comfortably on the chaise. I deserved this nice fine film in a clean and tidy home where everything is in its place. Heaven.
My challenge for today it to figure out a way to effectively secure a rake claw from a rake I had with a broken handle, to a very robust extension handle that, when fully extended, will make it very easy to clean my rooves of all the detritus on them. I will have Grayson do that when he cleans the gutters. I feel like a lord of the manor who’s very fond of his Grounds Keeper.
I’m going to try to drill through the metal of the extension handle so that I can put a screw through it and bind it to the rake. On Tuesday, I’m going to Nanaimo to fetch some gutters I’ve bought that will ensure that the rain coming off the roof will not drip down and be blown onto the wood.
Although my health is more fragile, finding Henri and Grayson, has Pinecone Park in better shape than it’s ever been in before. And now that the house is in order, I’ll be outside raking and toting, watering, and weed whacking. I’m thrilled to be inspired to do things and to be outside. I go slow and steady. I’m over-the-moon happy.
Thursday evening, when I was cleaning myself up for the dinner party, I looked at how fat I was and felt ill. Yesterday, I had orange juice for breakfast, a modest sized lunch, and a light dinner. I had no sugar, none of the mini donuts in their package on the shelf. It was impulsive, easy and I felt very good about myself for doing the right thing.
Today is another day. I’m going to try to stay focused and responsible—bot not obsessive like I’ve been in the past about losing weight. When I eat with friends, anything goes, but home alone, no sweets and modest servings. The house is tidy and next I’m going to get rid of all the clothes I don’t wear. We have a second-hand consignment shop. I’m going to take my good things there. Some things I’ll try to give away via our community Facebook pages. I’m on a mission to lighten my load.
I’m engaged with living. The past year had been all about my shortness of breath. That is winding down. The last chapter begins on Wednesday. Now I’m excited about raking all yard and driveway—everywhere there isn’t forest or garden beds—and toting it all to behind the fence. And then I’ll start on the garden beds or I’ll hire someone to do it.
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There was a fellow at the party Thursday night who had a sneezing fit. He covered his mouth with his shirt each time he sneezed, but I’m much more vulnerable now that I’ve ever been, so I was alarmed. Then, this morning, Nola was sounding very congested and before I asked her about it, she announced to us all that she was dealing with allergies.
I’m now hyper vigilant about my lungs. Suddenly, having neurological problems keeping me alone at home all the time serves some purpose. My lifestyle couldn’t be better, assuming now that my issue is lung related and not heart related.
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| Crystal Cave, Mexico |
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| Moss agate with inclusions of iron and other minerals which give it a forest look. |
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