@ rosemarya, Thank you for your well wishes. I had a very good day except for my unrelenting back pain.
I finally had an appointment with the closest Pain Clinic today and got some injections that I was very hopeful would lead to at lease a few months of resolution. It was an unsuccessful and painful experience. Now I have to wait for the next step. We still have some options, so hope remains. Right now I am hurting and despondent.
Tomorrow I restart physical rehabilitation at home using my last regimen -- at least as much as I can do. Since part of today's regimen was to walk for 4 hours, we did some shopping and I found a guide to Toga as well as an illustrated Yoga handbook. So we are praying for strength for carry us through and endurance to become as physically fit as possible in case back surgery becomes a reality.

@2011panc, Best wishes for you as you start the next regimen of treatment. I really hope that you can get some relief.
Wow! 4 hours of walking - is that possible for you, or is that the goal? I have to assume that is throughout the day and any movement counts.
My girlfriend has back pain and we are going shopping this week. She can walk for a while, then needs a shopping cart to lean on. She used to be such an active gal. We used to walk together, but now we shop for our craft and sewing notions, and do lunch:-)
The fun goes on anyway!
I enjoy hearing from you. Keep us updated.
Rosemary

@rosemarya Amazing, right? Walking and standing are the most painful things I do, and they wanted me to walk the first 4 hours after leaving the office. So . . . we went shopping, my favorite pastime. We went to Target and I used a cart. I made it an hour before I had to find some place to sit. We ate a late lunch and then found a little strip mall to check out the shops. After about a half hour we ended up in Barnes & Noble, where chairs are available. I had to sit every half hour just to make it through. It was tough and I am certainly glad it is over. It was a test to see how the injections affected my pain. As I said, epic fail. I am disappointed, but will go back next week and see what else we can do. As smart as God made us, there must be something. I also like craft and sewing shops.
Just now I am preparing an introduction box for a student in Oklahoma to share our local customs and culture. I discovered that I have a wealth of information to share and a renewed pride in my State. It reminds me of how many people seem to think that we need to go somewhere else for vacations. I wonder how many vacationers really know their own area?
Best to all, thank you for sharing with me.

@2011panc, I am honestly surprised that they assigned you 4 hours of walking! I realize it was a test of the effectiveness of the injection for pain - but, I don't imagine that you are in physical condition right now for that kind of endurance. No offense intended.
My husband and I enjoy a good hike. And we do not/cannot go 4 hours of even easy trails that long. Personally, I find shopping to be very exhausting anyway, I still enjoy it, though-it's my girl time with my girlfriends.

You have raised a good point about knowing our own areas! There was a push for 'staycations' several years ago when the gas prices were rising. And people were sharing about their local features. That might be a good discussion topic for the "Just Want to Talk" Group. I can envision it to be an uplifting and informative conversation. And it would appeal to all members. I would like to ask you to think about starting such a discussion. I'm thinking in terms of the features of your area that make you feel good or How does it present blessings or positive living, etc. (Maybe I'm putting off paying my bills, by writing this;-) What are your thoughts?
Rosemary