(not necessarily in that order)
I’ve been packing pretty much all day and am now officially out of steam.
There’s still more to do but it’s going to have to wait until the morning.
It’s actually a little sad to be leaving this space that has sheltered and nurtured us throughout this long and rather intense experience.
Feeling very grateful.
Not really, but it sort of feels that way!
Our stay here has felt somewhat never-ending; as though we’ve been here forever.
But as usual, everything speeds up as the end draws near. To the point where I find myself amazed that all of a sudden our departure for the coast is the day after tomorrow!
Gathering up all our stuff and restoring order to the house takes some doing; even though we started the process last week, there’s still plenty to do.
But then — Pacific Grove, here we come!
I think I neglected to mention that when they removed the catheter from my chest, I still had to wait another week before I could take a full shower.
It had to do with the fact that the opening where the catheter had been led to my heart, so it had to heal completely before I could allow it to get wet.
But finally the moment arrived. I am soooo grateful and hope I never take hot showers entirely for granted ever again.
Ever since my time with Ananda LA, regular pedicures have been part of my self-care routine.
But as I’m following guidance (both external and intuitive) to take my nurturing to another level, today I decided to also treat myself to a manicure.
Isn’t it pretty?
Tonight we watched “Won’t You Be My Neighbor” — the 2018 documentary about Fred Rogers.
This is the third or fourth time I’ve seen it (starting with twice in the theater back when it first came out), but I had forgotten just how powerfully moving it is. It’s so full of beautiful, loving messages that I feel I should watch it at least once a month!
Most of all, I can feel my inner child being comforted and healed with virtually everything he says. For example, this phrase that concluded every episode:
“You’ve made this day a special day, by just your being you. There’s no person in the whole world like you; and I like you just the way you are.”
Our Ananda Village choir resumed rehearsals this week after an extended pandemic hiatus and several failed comeback attempts. We’re hoping and praying that this time choir is back for good!
Although Ramesha and I aren’t there to participate yet, we’re thrilled to know it’s happening. And even more thrilled to receive this photo of everyone sending us love.
How sweet is that?!?
We can’t wait to be singing with our beloved choir family once again.
It’s interesting, really, but having the bone marrow tranpslant behind me has been slightly disorienting.
I’m no longer heading to the hospital every day, plus there are less and less precautions to think about (hallelujah!).
However, I’m rapidly adjusting and very much enjoying having both time and energy — especially for planning our trip to Pacific Grove and our return to the Village.
I’m extremely happy to have very little to report in this update.😄
It’s been two weeks since the AFib incident, with no further episodes. I’ve added back in regular energization, as well as gradually increasing the pace and distance of my morning and evening walks. The opening in my chest where the catheter was is healing well; there’s just a regular Band-Aid on it now and even that will be gone in another couple of days.
Yesterday was my final doctor’s appointment and I’m officially done! I can go for walks without wearing a mask and as of next week I can start eating in restaurants again. The doctors are no longer overly concerned about food restrictions, but I still have to avoid people (or crowds of them at least).
A week from tomorrow we’ll drive to Pacific Grove to stay in a house near the ocean for five days. A chance to relax and unwind in order to begin the process of integrating this amazingly intense period.
And then we’ll finally be homeward bound — after a full two months away. I can hardly wait.
Thank you again and again for the love, the prayers, the emails, the notes, the gifts, the voicemails, the insights, and endless support. We couldn’t have done it without you. 💖
Gosh, it feels great to once again be walking at my normal pace.
I was being very careful the first week after the AFib incident, as I didn’t want to trigger another episode. But this second week I’ve been gradually adding distance and the pace has been picking up quite naturally, without me even thinking about it.
And today finally felt absolutely normal. Yay!
When I lived in Italy and then Switzerland for four years, I could tell it was time for a visit stateside when I started craving Mexican food.
It was virtually impossible to get good Mexican food in Lugano. Likewise Chinese food; there were a few restaurants but they were ridiculously expensive and not nearly as good as what I was used to from twenty-plus years of living in San Francisco.
Well, I’m realizing a similar thing is happening due to this long stay in Sacramento: I woke up this morning to the realization that I haven’t seen a deer in over six weeks, which is unheard of for someone who lives at Ananda Village.
Here in Sacramento we see lots of squirrels and there are even a few wild turkeys in the neighborhood, but nary a deer or coyote or bear in sight.
Who knew that I would miss them?