To Good To Be True

This blog has a life of it's own. I tried to let it go, but heard from several of my readers/friends that they missed it, why wasn't I writing anymore, etc. This morning I called my college friend Barb who had just checked in and found out that I was writing again. And my dear Russian student that I met in my ESL class (and who has since returned to Russia) wrote me that she had been checking my blog to see if I was writing it. So here I am on a Saturday night, writing a post and it feels good.

My leg and back pain are still gone! I am so relieved. Today I read in the doctor's list of do's and don't's that I probably won't notice improvement until 2 - 5 days after the injection(s). I noticed it right away so now I'm uptight that it will disappear after 2 to 5 days. I know that's silly but it all seems too good to be true.

Pain Free!

I am so excited! I had the epidural injection above and below my fusion and got out of bed this morning like a teenager! Seriously, it is the first time in years that I haven't had stiffness, limping, pain, and instability to deal with every morning. And, it has lasted all day. I've been taking it very easy (read watching TV and using my iPad while lying on the bed) most of the day. Because I felt so good, I wanted to do all sorts of things, but I also want this to last and to do the trick, so I am following the doctor's orders. When you have so much pain for so long, you just get used to it. Having that pain gone is like being reborn! I forgot how good it could be! So now, I just hope it will last for a good, long time.

Refirement!

I can't believe that it has been almost two months since I posted on this blog after being so diligent over the past couple of years. I think I was feeling guilty that I had regained some of my weight and that I "shouldn't" blog anymore. So now I know it doesn't matter to anyone but me and I do like writing, so I may or may not talk about weight. There's a lot more to my life than that number.

Last Sunday we went to a church service that featured a progressive Christian speaker, a former Catholic priest named Matthew Fox. Among many very interesting things that he spoke about was how when we use the word retirement, we should, in fact, think about that period in our lives as refirement. It's a time to find that fire in ourselves to do something that we feel passionate about that enables us to give back. When I look at the two words I so like refirement better than retirement.

Last night was the 2nd annual spelling bee that Jeff has organized and propelled to success up here where we live. (He has definitely been in refirement!) The money raised goes to the local school system. Last night's event raised $25,000 about $10,000 more than last year. More people participated and more money was raised through donations this time around. Yes, I was on a team and we did not win, which is probably a good thing. I have the same huge word list that all participants get, but it might look a little fishy if my team won. How's that for an excuse for not winning? The winners this year also won last year. They work at a local library.

Later today I'm going to have an injection in my low back to see if the leg pain and other issues might calm down a bit! So wish me luck with that, and it's good to be back.