All is 'recovery mode.'

Well, Norah’s wedding is over. I haven’t been to such a well-planned and enjoyable celebration for a long time. It was really fun, and I enjoyed my little participation very much. It was pointed out that I had related to four generations of the Freeman family (Ruth’s family). At the wedding supper I met the fifth generation; two little children, the grandchildren of Ruth’s brother Chris. What does that make me…besides OLD?

Recovery continues. Workouts at the Rehab program are getting more strenuous, particularly upper bodywork. Dr. Swartz will be pleased. I see her on Tuesday. She has urged me to strengthen my upper body for a time now. I am walking a full 70 minutes, five days a week. I think I won’t increase the time, or I’ll be walking all day, and having no life!

Beatrix is undergoing some work-related stress these days, and this has prompted some discussion between us about where to live when she retires, whenever that is. Current choice is Wetraskiwin, about a half hour north of us. Have I mentioned this before? If so, here it is again! The benefits of Wetaskiwin have to do with the location of our physician, and a really good hospital, plus a larger community, only 20 minutes or so from the Edmonton airport.

It’s interesting how recovery prompts fresh thinking about where to live, how to live, and to wonder about how long I will live. ‘Life’ is the theme, and all the questions are the subtext.

I began thinking seriously about summer vacation this past week. I’ve been wondering about the shape of the “birthday weekend” in Winnipeg. I hope someone can give me a rough timeline soon. There are people I want to see while there, and I’d like to be in touch with them beforehand about it. (Hint, hint.) Ruth Lumax’ father, John Freeman, didn’t make it to his granddaughter’s wedding due to health problems. He has to be closing in on ninety, and I want to see him this summer.

Recovery now involves the pool twice a week. I am slowly regaining my strength in the water. Soon it will be time to test out my ability to survive deep-water workouts. Then I can begin the labour of swimming. All in good time…but sooner rather than later. I still haven’t managed to get the bike on the road, however. Why do I keep resisting that?

The replacement of the garage floor was completed this week. Wow! It looks great! Light grey tile, smooth and easy to clean. A good replacement for the crumbling concrete, caused by salt lying on it. One step in the process of re-doing parts of the house. We haven’t fully decided how long we’ll live in it, or exactly where we might go. But at some point, we’ll move…on…up…or out, for sure. One way of looking t this is to say; after over a decade in Stampede Town North, recovery is necessary and important, one way or another! (BTW, Stampede Town South is Calgary, Alberta).

Another week…or two.

A full two weeks. Stress tests in Edmonton, allowing me to lower one medication by one half; a supper meeting with a “young” woman that I haven’t seen since she was eighteen – now sixty; going to a variety show that featured three below average stand-up comics, and a burlesque troupe in which we have a young friend. That was fun, and tasteful, in comparison with some of the other stuff on offer.

Finally, a start on the refinishing of the garage floor, which is proceeding apace. Beatrix was off to a one-day conference/memorial in Winnipeg, and I participated in two or three cardiac rehab sessions. The high point of these hours is that my therapist has started me on “upper body work,” which means strengthening my pathetically weak arms! The exercises are excruciating – or were to begin with. By now, I am building some muscle, and I can do more than in the beginning…thank God. Dr. Swartz will be pleased; she is forever complaining about my lack of upper body development. What does she expect, Tarzan at 80?

Tomorrow AM sees me off to Fort Saskatchewan for a second cataract removal. Beatrix must drive me, but when I’m recovered from that, its new glasses for me. People keep asking me if I might have no glasses. I had glasses long before I had cataracts, so I expect another $900 bill for new lenses. I’ll keep the old frames, however. Cheap Scot that I am!

Father’s Day was interesting. I received flowers from one child, two phone calls from others. That’s all I wanted, really…a chance to hear their voices and to take a moment out of their lives.

I went through the credit cards today, and discovered that we actually have five CIBC car ds, only one of which we use, periodically. Next week, a morning at the bank, cancelling most of them. Thinning out again!

This weekend is Norah Lumax’s wedding. The mother of the bride, whom I have known since she was sixteen, has asked me to participate minimally, asking the question regarding support of the bride and grooms parents, and to attend the rehearsal dinner, where I will get to reconnect with her father, whom I haven’t seen for almost thirty years! I consider it an honour to do this.

All in all, a big week, and I am still progressing on the road to recovery. Tonight, I will drive the route I walk each morning for seventy minutes, to see just how far I actually go each day! ‘More anon’, as Grandma Black always said.

Another week…

A whirlwind week. Lots of medical stuff, connected to “recovery,” in a way. First, a cataract removal on Tuesday, with the second eye to follow in two weeks. Everything looks brighter from my left eye. Hope it gets lots better when both are done. A tedious follow up: eye drops every AM, noon, and bedtime. They have to be right on the eyeball: precision bombing!

The Cardiologist, Wednesday and Thursday, took up the next two days, with a follow up stress test. The purpose of this procedure is to “fine tune” the medication that moderates my heart rate. I tend to go too fast…way too fast! The test involved rapid walking on a treadmill for a time, followed by a scan of my heart, supposedly after exercise. However, the scan was hours later, so I don’t understand the purpose. The next morning, I had to come in for a noon appointment for a second scan, this time at rest. I didn’t tell them that I had walked for an hour earlier in the morning. That was it. I suppose I’ll get to sit down with the Cardiologist…or someone…to tell me what comes next. In the meantime, I walk. Five days a week, over an hour each time. I’m reaching for 70 minutes this week. To day I tried to decide when I would stop increasing the time each week. Maybe I need medical advice for that. If I don’t stop, one day my whole life will be one long walk.

The garage floor gets replaced in just over a week. In the meantime, we have to get our friend Bruce to take down the back steps so they can do the floor under them. My anxiety rises, in case we can’t get him within our time constraints. I realize that I worry too much and for too long about stuff like this.

I spend time each day on Face Book. Most of that is enjoyable, but there are things there that rile me up, get my blood pressure climbing. Most of that has to do with reading about the implications of our Federal government policies. Today, I read about Harper’s personal faith – a very conservative form of Christianity. I posted the article on my home page on face Book. Read it if you can stomach it. The outcome of applying such a faith stance to government is a clear form of Fascism. If he remains in power for another four years, our nation is doomed to be totally undemocratic. I feel sure that even die-hard Conservatives of the old school will be horrified at this. I hope they are horrified enough not to vote Conservative in the next election. Anything would be better than what we have. (I worry endlessly about this as well!)

We finally have summer, although when I was in Edmonton earlier this week, the temperature dropped ten degrees in an hour and it was windy and it rained. It was strange to see young women trying to get home from work: short shorts, a light blouse and a purse. Most ran, while other just gave up and plodded along, getting soaked and chilled as they went. At the last minute before I left for the city, I packed a rain jacket and rain pants, for some reason. I was very glad of those things, as I walked each day, rain or shine, warm or cold.

I had a real treat on Wednesday evening. I had earlier reconnected with Alison McInnis, whom I had known when she was eighteen years old, and played piano for me at chapel in Winnipeg. She – like me – has had a whole life since then. We managed to get the concert that her choral group put on last week. Incredibly beautiful classical music. We intend to go again to their Advent performance in November. The payoff came when I had dinner with Alison on Wednesday. Long talk, lots of catch up, and the promise of more visits in the future.

Full weeks, life progressing. Seeing old friends makes me miss my family, for they too have passed thirty years and have had a whole life, much of which I have missed.

Plus this week: I get back in the pool for real, both Tuesday and Thursday. A step ahead, for sure. I have yet to fill by bike tires and go for a ride. Soon, I’ll be doing nothing but exercise. And not even for the Olympics!