Gulik Again

I open my eyes and test things out. Yes, the legs are stronger today, the head not so aching. I am tired, but not undone. I know I need to exercise if I want to stay strong and keep my immune system stoked.



Last night Mark and family appeared to collect Kiel and whisk him away to help out while they deal with the death of Mark's wife's grandfather, the man who raised her in her father's absence. I got to hold and kiss and hug my charming almost one year old grandson for a few hours before they managed to get Kiel packed and disappeared.



Today the house is quiet. It will help me to get out after almost a week's confinement, to slide gently back to the normal world. The YMCA is a good place to start. I walk Sugar, then pack my bag. I had hoped to do some water walking after the Gulik Gym, and I take my suit, but I am not sure I will be able to add it in just yet. I will see how things go.



When last I left the gym, I had worked up to level 3, and I intend to begin there at least for round one. Though tired, I snap my gloves in place and concentrate on moving through the stations in a thorough if somewhat slow mode. I make it fully around once, watching three or four young girls whip through the same exercises at twice my speed. Ah, to be young!



So far so good. I head into round 2, feeling OK. The music is quite engaging, a Latin beat, an invitation to dance, and a few of the ladies ahead of me get a bit zippy on the cardio steps. Its cute. But I resist the temptation to zip. I am afraid of being undone. As I round the final few stations, I debate about the water walking. I still have some reserve, but it is early in the day and I want to be able to do some cleaning in the apartment.



I am also concerned about germs. Right now my immune system isn't exactly at its zenith. I almost do it, but at the last minute, decide against it. Perhaps in another week after school is out and there are fewer people interested in being inside on a Saturday, there will be less risk of infection. But I am happy to have made it through the whole workout without any noticeable drop in strength. I actually feel as if I am breathing deeper. That's good.

Bumpy Day

Arghh! One step forward and three back. Today my throat is raw, my abdomen hurts, my legs are in pain, my muscles keep stiffening and cramping in my arms. Phooey. I had fully intended to go to work and be happy catching up, but instead, I crawl back into bed and rock myself gently to ease the pains.

All I can think of is how fortunate I am to have a soft comfortable bed to lie in, to have cool fresh water at my fingertips to drink, to have the beautiful comforter my Mom made me cradling me softly. How lucky to be able to see the green leaves waving outside my window, and see the blue of the sky high above me. How lucky am I to have plenty to eat and such a welcome variety, to have medicine to ease the discomfort, to be able to get treatments to kill this horrible disease.

There are so many people in the world so less fortunate than I. Imagine having to deal with the pain of cancer in some dirty hovel where the only running water you get is to run with it in your bucket after you hike down the hall to the community bathroom. Imagine what it is to lie on a hard lumpy mattress and not have the strength to roll over and get comfortable.

Even in America, there are many who can't afford treatment, who live with the pain, who must work despite not feeling well, who have no friends to help them when they are in need. Man, I have nothing to gripe about.

But a lot to pray for. So I recall the newsletter from Samaritan's Purse about the Russian Jewish women who are dealing with severe financial hardship and I pray that God will intervene and supply their needs. I remember the descriptions of the street people that Mother Teresa was helping in India and how they lived and died and I pray for them. I recall the two men who live in the intersection of the highway in North Carolina and I ask God to meet their needs. I pray for my neighbor who lives in pain that God will relieve the situation and help the doctors continue to find solutions.

I pray for the lady I met last week with the bad back pain and the young children who's mom just passed away and the family of the young boy who committed suicide, the bipolar guy whose Mom couldn't deal with his issues who has been living in the woods, a friend of my son's - the list is endless. The needs are overwhelming. The perspective is helpful. I am happy to count my blessings instead of my aches. Besides, its easier to drift off to sleep while you are praying! I am sure tomorrow will be better.

Up and At 'Em

Now this is more like it. My energy is returning, and even though I took the day off just to be on the safe side, I log on and scroll through email and answer calls. Yes, a touch of working is healthy. It feels good to accomplish a few little things and I watch that I am not overdoing. I know these flashes of energy can be short lived, and I know my system tends to be stronger in the morning than in the afternoon, so even though I am making hay while the sun shines, I don't push.

Sugar and I take longer walks, venturing farther from the building, chasing the millions of white pieces of tree pollen fluff that saturate the air. You almost need a mask to keep from breathing it in. Sugar loves in, leaping into the air and snapping at the white danglies, racing around in the piles caught in the grass and stirring up a regular snowstorm, then barking at the whirlwind as if she had nothing to do with it.

My legs feel stronger, less rubbery. My tummy is good, and my appetite is returning. I splurge and give Sugar extra treats for tolerating the longer walks without complaining. The sun even shines and warms my bald head as we amble along listening to the wind feather through the leafy green of the trees that shelter our building and are transported by the cooing of a turtledove to some mysterious era of intrigue and romance.

It feels good to feel better. I relish the gentleness of the day, the yellow sun, the quiet street, the softness of Sugar's puppy coat. Thank God for this peace and goodness. I wrap up in it and take it indoors for peaceful dreams during my afternoon nap.