Good Days, Bad Days (You know I've had my share)

I've been listening to plenty of Led Zeppelin lately.  Not sure why.

Just so everyone knows, this is a bad day (actually, several bad days).  I am tired all the time, but can't sleep and I am in pain.  Nights are the worst.

I  have been so busy working on the physical therapy aspect of my recovery that I forgot I have a chronic illness that I know almost nothing of, especially how it manifests itself  after the initial symptoms abate. 

So I am taking it to the Internet:

“Yes,” “Not now,” and “I have something better”

Monday, November 15, 2010 12:14 PM

Adrienne left for Statesboro, Georgia today for an interview at The University of Southern Georgia. As expected, this is a big deal. The position seems like a good fit for her and being invited to meet faculty is a good sign. Also an anxiety inducing one.

Naturally, there has been plenty of tension in our house because we don't know what to expect; will they offer her a place or does she have to go back to the beginning?

We started the process of preparing to leave Oxford over a year ago-Adrienne had to finish her dissertation and graduate, find a job, we had to sell the house and find new housing, etc...

Then along came the economic downturn, which made selling a house and finding a job more difficult, and my debilitating illness. Being paralyzed or so fantastically weak means that I haven't been able to be much of a partner for a lot of this. Thank Heaven for Alex, he has proven that his shoulders are wide enough.

There is a lot going on this week-Adrienne's interview, Alex and me home alone for the first time, the our trip to New Orleans (my first major trip as a non-TAB), and Alex staying behind to look after the pets. I don't know about my other house mates, but my stomach is tied up in knots.

When I question the future, I am reminded something Adrienne taught me; when we ask God for something, He has three responses, “Yes,” “Not now,” and “I have something better.”

This morning we both prayed for knowledge of His will and the strength to carry it out. That greatly simplifies and focuses things.

Monday, November 15, 2010 01:07 PM

I return to work

Friday, August 6, 2010

I went back to work yesterday. I didn't go back to work work, I went back to take part in a celebration.

My job was to teach computer classes in the senior center at the Mayerson Jewish Community Center and to coordinate a volunteer run telephone assurance program.

Both my programs are funded by a grant from the Mayerson Foundation. Once a year we would have a special luncheon to thank the Mayerson's for their generosity and to show what we had accomplished in the last year. Click on the picture below to see a Picasa web album from yesterday.

This was the first time I had been back since March 19, the day I went into the emergency room. It was also the first time many of these people have seen me since I got sick.

The senior adults and fellow staff members swarmed me, giving me hugs and kisses and tears of joy to see me again.

I was reluctant to let go of the people I was hugging. Being physically close to them was an intense reminder of how much comfort they are to me. They have been lifting me up with their prayers, well wishes, cards and letters, whatever they had to offer since I left.

Once again, I'm left speechless by the generosity of the people in my life.

It was a physically and emotionally exhausting day. It was a pointed reminder of how far I have come (and how I got here) and there is still a ways to go.

When I got home I went right to bed and stayed there until 10 o'clock today.