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!