May Day Already?!

Greetings,

Long time no blog!  Life has been full.  It is also evening out a bit more.  I can actually begin to find some sense of personal rhythms again.  That hopefully will include more frequent blog time.
This one might be a bit long because there is some catching up to do.

I know it has been some time now since I made a blog entry.  My bad.  However, it points out that there is a considerable transition in life and healing.  It is believed that the doctor visits are coming to an end.  Eventually that means less bills and that stress.  Health advocacy still takes concerted focus.
There is still a healing curve to complete.  I look forward to the time that these legs will feel less "crinkly".  The absolute plastic feeling is giving way to a more leather like feeling.  There is still tightness and tingling sensations.  I do not have the great stretch I remember, but in time perhaps most of that will come back.  The worst part is sitting in one position for extended periods.  When one gets up from such periods, one needs to work out the kinks before ambling off in some direction.

Domestic chores and operations are more slowly accomplished.  They are possible, but in smaller chunks of time.  So my days are often more diversified as I adjust to this new me.  The legs do not look so intense as just a few months ago.  The color is more in keeping with the natural scale.  No doubt they might get some funny looks at the pool.  I just might be able to bring back the long swimsuit look.  Actually the idea of some light duty wetsuit has crossed my mind.

The glow of the community benefit still is cherished in memory.  It was such an absolute reward to see many friends from different times and places.  That event has sustained me to this point.  Thank you.
It is with a certain caution that I am pursuing more activities and certain projects.  I did manage to complete the museum display improvement in Oakland during March.  It was sort of at half speed or less.  It was rewarding to finally sense completion of that project.  The materials for that sat in my truck for a long time before they could finally get delivered.  Then they sat a while longer as I mustered up the stamina and will to spirit myself to Oakland, stay the nights, do the days so as to get the job done.

Once again the hospitality of an old friend and neighbor made this a gentler escapade.  Now it is possible to solicit there for more gainful projects.  It was getting over that psychological hump of what one can and cannot do that was such a challenge.  Sometimes I'm a bit to cautious and then at other times a bit to ambitious.  Finding that balance in the recent circumstances has been a challenge.  It is one we all strive to find whatever the situation at any given time.  It is a time of acute awareness and sensitivities.

Art works have been creeping back into life.  A new offering for the Capredero event in Pescadero has given me a creative outlet to stem the tides of contemplation.  Community activities, meetings and safety training sessions have been filling in the days.  It is also a challenge to know the limits as well as push those a bit.  Stamina is better but....there is still room for improvement...at least in my mind.
We have both been sticking close to home and objectives.  This summer may change that too.

Travel is in the offering of activity too.  There is an opportunity to see most all of my immediate family at the end of June in Salt Lake City for a family reunion gathering there, (my mother's side).
They get together every 2 years for a big session.  It has been nearly that long since I have seen her. Both of my sisters will be attending.  It seemed like a good opportunity to spread those wings and try my first airport adventure since before my injury.  We are taking the Amtrak train back to California.  It will be great to be able to watch the sierra scenery go by and be able to get up and move around.  I always have enjoyed train travel, when one can make the extra time for it.

Speaking of which; it is time to get up, stretch and move around a bit.  I'll continue with this memoir soon.  Perhaps the frequency will pick up again.  There is a plan to have another benefit through the Burned Man organizational effort.  It is the intention to follow through with that.  This process of getting healed and back to a relative new "normal" has been frustratingly slow.  9 months out of the hospital.  I could say that this gestation period is over.  The phoenix is almost reborn from the ashes.  There is room for improvement.  The challenge of getting into a better physical condition that ever still lays ahead.  There is some trepidation as well as earnest desire to feel and look as good as can be.  There is also the challenge to get into that mind set of doing more than just the consideration.

More will be posted soon.  In the next couple of weeks the art show will be up and done.  There will be more to report about what projects are coming to the forefront of activity....I trust.  I can't say it is perfect.  I do get bumbed out about it all sometimes....and then at others there have been a revelations.  There is still much advocacy to do and so much to learn about this health system we live with.  It is my intention to continue with the recovery process as well as make progress on how to share what is learned while helping others with similar circumstances in the future.

The art show is for the first two weekends in May.  It will be in the same town as the benefit was. Glenn