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What's outside of your picture window today?
Just Want to Talk | Last Active: Dec 8 2:18pm | Replies (2400)Comment receiving replies
@ess77 Hi Elizabeth! This week was a bit hectic with an untimely passing of my husband’s business partner which necessitated several days of unexpected travel. I was still online and Connect, but didn’t have the chance to post photos or look outside my window! ☺️I’ll tell you about the muskrats in a moment.
Going to our friend’s wake was my FIRST outing in 2 years, mingling with people. I’m not an anxious person nor easily intimidated. However, I have to say, filing into a funeral home for the wake had me wide-eyed and sensing panic.
The funeral home did a great job with Covid protocol and we went very early so that our exposure was minimal. As people filled the place my husband and I were looking for an escape route. We’ve been vaccinated but still have to be profoundly cautious as I’m still on immunosuppressants.
We found a small corner where we could sit apart from everyone. Too many people with masks pulled down and talking loudly! We had to wait because we wanted to meet with the rest of our partnership group as we’d not seen our friends in 3 years. We were all able to find an unused room to gather and catch up. None of the members knew I had AML or had gone through a bone marrow transplant. Most remarked that they loved my awesome ‘short’ hair cut and wow, did you lose weight?!! (I’m lucky to have hair and I did lose 30 pounds one the Chemo diet. LOL)
I didn’t want to explain any of it! But finally had to fess up when I had to decline hugs from friends.
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Muskrats live in swamps, along shorelines of lakes and rivers. They can do a lot of damage to shorelines by tunneling under and that causes erosion. We have a little snag of bog that floated from somewhere else in the lake and landed in front of our shore. Over the years it’s anchored itself and now is a habitat for the muskrat and his family!
They do look similar to beaver but more of a thicker rat tail than the flat one of a beaver. They are also smaller and nasty. You don’t want your dog to get near one. We live harmoniously. ☺️
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Well, my friend. You've had quite the time the last few days. I'm so sorry your friend/partner died. Those are difficult times and we've had a bunch of those lately. Sorry you had to deal with that now, but you made it! Of course...I hope you were strong enough by then for the trip and expenditure of precious energy. You know, it's probably a good thing you were forced to share with your friends from those times about your challenges. I understand privacy, but friends, even previous or unseen, are such an important part of our therapy and healing. Welcome home to your sanctuary.
You know, Lauri, we're all in a bit of your situation emotionally about getting into life again, of whatever sort it may be. We've been through some very traumatic times, especially you with your illness and treatment! But, all of us are facing having to go into social situations after over a year of such drastic isolation. I was isolated for a couple of years prior to my hospitalization in Jan 2919 with CHF and severe edema, as I got sicker. Then, I was in rehab for a couple weeks, home with home health for months and it took me over a year to begin to get up and out and reconditioned. That's actually when I began this journey with Mayo and began finding myself.
This living again will be a shock to our entire systems, physically, mentally and emotionally. And, just think what it will be like when folks start taking off the masks. We aren't out of this pandemic yet, as we have the recovery times to face....but, we can and will do it with grace. That's who we are. That's how you are beating that nasty AML! How Sue and John and Becky and Ginger and Fiesty and Jake and all of the folks sharing here trying to work through the yucky mess life can throw at us. We are fighters, winners, lovers and survivors.
Well, enough philosophy for me. I'm off to Mayo...naturally...for a covid test before the endoscopy procedure tomorrow morning. I'm not pleased to do this, but it's necessary for my swallowing. The doctor will stretch the Schatzki Ring that's formed near the Barrett's Esophagus so I can swallow food and liquids better. They get stuck sometimes and I choke or have pain as they try to work on down to the stomach. That's fun. This will hopefully correct that and I won't have any negative consequences from a 2nd procedure just 3 weeks after the 1st. I am concerned and ask for your prayers this little procedure goes well. With my muscle weakness and such and deep sedation so soon, I have concern of a tear or damage and of brain issues w/sedation. Mother had altzheimers for 12 years. One year in her moderate stage she had 3 sedations and came out of each with more dementia. I don't have any dementia, other than normal for my age, but still have the concern.
Thanks to you for you.
Blessings, feel well and enjoy your wonderful, peaceful home.
elizabeth