Tall Tales from Kansas

it never fails to astonish and delight

On a recent short outing, I was so pleased to see this grouping of Star Magnolias blooming. Every year, at the end of March, beginning of April, when the winds blow, signaling the arrival of Spring, I begin to watch for them to do their thing.

The shift from bare stems, to blooms, then leaves, is fast… but oh it's glorious. 

This year was no different. 

I love the waxy petals, the hint of palest pink, the green of the grass, the blue of the sky. 

Every single year, without fail, I feel like it's the first time I have ever seen this transformation.

It never fails to astonish and delight. 

a return to walking

Sister and I have been sending each other articles about walking. How it's so good for you. About all the benefits for our physical and mental health. How it will help keep our joints in top form and keep us on our feet for as long as possible. Traversing the globe or right here at our respective homes. It's very nice to read articles about how things you like to do are actually good for you. 

 

Until you are unable to do things you thoroughly enjoy, it's hard to imagine just how much you are going to miss them. This past weekend signaled for me, a return to being able to take shorter walks, slower walks, using my cane to be sure, but WALKS.

Walks where I could see the birds, hear the frogs, smell the earth, have the breeze on my face.

Pure, 100% wonderfulness. I am certain if anyone saw me while I was rambling around, they wandered at the ridiculous grin on my face. It was there the entire time I was walking. What pleasure to be able to walk. Reveling in the feeling in this moment, because this moment is the only one we can count on.  

...she makes her own journey

My latest read is Maureen by Rachel Joyce. Sister told me about it. It is the 3rd (and last I think) installment in the Harold Fry series of books. Maureen is Harold's wife and in this novel she makes her own journey.  She is going to see Queen Hennessy's garden. You will recall that Queenie is the woman Harold used to work with, that he set off on foot to see as she was dying, in The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry. 

Book #2, The Love Song of Miss Queenie Hennessy, was probably my favorite of the 3 novels, but Maureen is very readable, and fleshes out the whole story a bit. It was a good story to read during my recovery from surgery, nothing too deep, easy to follow, and it was nice to check back in with the Fry's, and to have more insight into Maureen. 

Recommended, especially for those who liked the books centered on Harold and Queenie.

sit, sip, write, think, listen, smile

Let's talk daffodils today shall we? I have been waiting and waiting and waiting some more for the arrival of bunches of them in the grocery store for the American Cancer Society's Daffodil Days. Finally, on Saturday morning, I found some!

I rushed them home, trimmed the ends, put them in vases, and placed them where I could enjoy them the most. 

Early this morning, more were open. So beautiful. 

Spring things are happening a little later here this year, but they are happening. I have a wonderful crop of buds on my redbud tree right now.

These will open into the most beautiful flowers very soon.  While I miss the 2 small cherry trees that formerly lived in this spot, I have been delighted so far with this redbud tree. 

This morning I made a solo venture to one of my favorite coffee shops. A signpost of recovery. It was wonderful to sit, sip, write, think, listen, smile, be happy to be here. 

Right as I got out of my car I spotted these slightly different variety of daffodils.

So beautiful against that lovely distressed brick background. 

And just like that the weekend is almost over. Tomorrow I am back to work again, feeling revitalized and ready. Lunches packed, uniform at the ready. The trend that started on post op day #30 is continuing. Thank every single one of you for your well wishes.

 

I am not counting any chickens...

May I suggest that if you have surgery, and are off for a month, the week you are going back to work you schedule a drive into town like you are going to go to work, but instead go out and have dinner with your friends? That's a confusing sentence, I know. So let me explain...

3 days before I had to go back to work, I met the Quails at Il Centro in KC to celebrate Mary Joan's birthday. I knew if I could do that, I would be ready for work. It was wonderful to be laughing with friends, the meal was great, and my endurance was on point. 

So, this past Friday, back to work I went. It was harder in some ways and easier in other ways than I anticipated.

When you walk in the office to this on your desk, the love and support does amazing things to get you through the day. The walking was hard, but do-able, being with patients was the best, no passwords were messed up, I did not forget how to do my job. Whew. Now that the first day has been conquered, the rest will fall into place. I work with some of the BEST people. I also have ice packs in the freezer in my office. 

Getting back into that groove seems to have helped me. Today Chris and I went for the best walk I have taken since surgery. It was only about a mile, but it was pleasant, mild soreness only - no serious discomfort.

I am not counting any chickens, but my fingers are crossed for more of the same! Oh it was wonderful to be out of doors with some sun and a breeze and the birds...

you don't know what you don't know, until you do

Prior to my surgery, I made sure I had all the supplies I would need for stitching, sewing, knitting, writing, and all other manner of projects I would be working on during my month of recovery. It makes me laugh to think how my pre-surgery mind thought my post-op recovery was going to go. Kind of like this... nap during surgery, wake up, work with therapy, go home, take a nap or two, do PT daily, read books, finish up all unfinished stuff, go back to work.  

What I did not anticipate was that I would be so tired.  Jeez. I have been napping like nobody's business. Seriously. After breakfast, in the afternoon, AND before supper - a quick lay down as well. Well you don't know what you don't know, until you do. 

Sister and I did a FaceTime call the other day and while she sketched amazing things, I worked on a bunch of hexies for a project. They are kind of addicting to make and I am a little over halfway through. 

They are going to turn into a pillow at a sewing get-together next month. Which gives me plenty of time to finish them. 

Kansas has been true to form this week with temps in the 60's one day and the teens the next with rain then snow. There are signs of spring approaching though. Chris and I got out and took a couple of walks on the nice days which was completely wonderful. 

Once again, I want to say how excellent it has been to get Marco Polo's, texts, e-mails, and cards from people checking in to see how I am doing.

I will be stocking up on feel-better cards myself to send to anyone and everyone who has a sniffle or a scrape in the future. 

What I have found is the first two weeks after surgery went by in a blur, a blur of just learning how to get in and out of bed, moving around the house, and being grateful surgery itself was over.  Weeks 3 and four seem harder because you want to push your fast forward button and get better more quickly. Except I can’t find the fast forward button on my internal remote control.  Getting good sleep at night is challenging because of the difficulty finding just the right position. I have a serious case of the princess and the pea syndrome and can feel every tiny wrinkle underneath me. All of this is just to normalize the recovery experience for anyone going through something similar. The other little secret that everyone says is normal but no one talks about, is feeling blue, sad, downright depressed in some moments. I am glad to have Chris around to be able to take off my “happy face” with him if I need to. My brother and I also FaceTime regularly and discuss the chapters in the books we are writing (in our minds) about the travails of recovery. 

Onward ho! 

I knew who the villain was

This week I finished up a visit with my old friend Maise Dobbs. It's been a bit since last we visited. In Incomplete Revenge as a new case is investigated, Maisie closes out some of the chapters in her life, mends some fences, keeps close to her father, remains fast friends with Pricilla, and we are forewarned about troubles to come in Europe. 

The case she is investigating in this story kept me guessing. I mean I knew who the villain was but I did not fully appreciate the extent of what he had done and at what cost. I very much look forward to continuing to visit this character and see what her future holds.  

If you like a series, and you haven't tried this one, you may want to give it a try. Definitely recommended.  Especially for lovers of historical fiction. 

Thanks once again to the fabulous Lawrence Public Library for getting this for me from the Mid-Continent Public Library in Independence Missouri! 

Anne of Green Gables with a spooky/supernatural twist

Let's talk television for a minute shall we? I am curious to know if any of you are watching Wednesday on Netflix? My jaw hit the floor last month when Chris said he had heard it mentioned somewhere and maybe we should check it out. But, because he is regularly a good sport and goes along with what I want to watch, I enthusiastically told him "YES, let's watch it!" It's hard to fully describe what it's about but here goes. Wednesday is the daughter of the Adams family and is sent to the boarding school where her parents (Morticia and Gomez) both went years ago. She's an outcast in a school of outcasts but not to worry about her, she's tough. I told Chris it reminded me of Anne of Green Gables with a spooky/supernatural twist. Trailer is below. You may like it. You may not. It is entertaining. Jenna Ortega is fabulous as Wednesday. Really the entire cast is excellent. 

There was only 1 season made, but a second season is coming. We went through all 8 episodes in about a month or so, and eagerly await what's coming next. What is interesting about this show is the range of audience it has attracted from my great nieces to a couple of senior citizens like Chris and I. 

In other Netflix news, we also finally started watching The Crown this week too. We are hooked. 

whenever a healthcare provider moves into the patient role

French toast with blueberries and sausage is a very good breakfast when your body is knitting itself back together. It sends a message to new parts, that are getting acquainted with older parts, that the boss (you) are going to be treating them right. Plus, French toast is known to encourage the production of endorphins. 

I sliced the bread extra thick but neglected to take that into account when soaking it in the custard before baking. It was still quite acceptable on the deliciousness scale. 

The calendar tells me it has been 19 days since surgery. These are the thoughts that run through my mind in no particular order:
Will I be ready to go back to work in 10 days?
Should walking still be somewhat uncomfortable?
Why does it feel like I still need this cane?
Maybe I should use more pain pills?
And of course, the inevitable middle of the night, "hey what's that and why does it hurt?"

I am reporting on all of this because we humans just want to be sure we are "on track" don't we? We like to be sure that we are having a "normal" recovery. We change our expectations from having the fastest recovery ever in the history of this particular surgery, to being  in the "acceptable" range. 

Whenever a healthcare provider moves into the "patient" role, all our words of support, encouragement, and sound advice regarding how hard to push it and when to use analgesics play around in our heads. Chris asked me the other day if going through this will change anything I do as a part of my work. The answer is a resounding YES! What I will do a better job of is educating patients and their families about how they are going to second guess themselves at every single turn, driving themselves crazy with all of the uncertainty and expectations. Then I will hand them a card that says "You are YOU, different from anyone else that has ever had this done, YOU are going to recover at YOUR pace and no one else's, and when you start thinking differently, send me an email and I am going to lovingly remind you of this". There will also likely be a hug involved, depending on our relationship. 

I will then tell them that French toast with blueberries, sausage, and syrup can have a very soothing effect on whatever ails them.

making a life in an inhospitable world

Last night I bid a fond farewell to my Arctic explorer as I read the last chapter of The Memoirs of Stockholm Sven. You all know that I am a fan of the unexpected, unusual, unpredictable story and this novel checked all those boxes. This is the story of a person who doesn't "fit" where he is and goes looking for that big adventure, out of necessity more than anything... and without a well formed plan. 

It's about a man making a life in an inhospitable world, somehow connecting with the people who are able to see through to his inner spirit and show him the ways. This book contains a whole cast of unusual characters, each with unique stories that contribute to the overall richness of this story. The events in this story take place between roughly 1910 and 1946 and letter writing is the way of communicating across long distances, which also lends a certain air to the story. I feel for generations of "kids" who will never know the magic of a letter.

Thank you Sharron for telling me about this book.  Highly recommended. 

the cognitive and emotional aspects of recovery from surgery

Today it has been 17 days since I came home from the hospital. How is that even possible? To mark this milestone, a lunch date was arranged with my wise counselor Marti Huff and her co-counselors who specialize in laughter and distraction therapy. Oh how wonderful to be out in the world carrying on like a regular person, granted with the aid of a trusty cane. 

Marti reminded me of what her mom used to tell her ,"everyday, in every way, I am getting better and better", which is a helpful mantra as one starts to second guess themselves regarding the speed of their recovery. There was also discussion about reminding ourselves in the middle of the night, when all things can seem like more than they are, that... "this too shall pass". When you have a counselor who is 99, and has lived through all the things that life has thrown at her, and is thriving, you feel great comfort in her wisdom. I sure do. 

We toasted ourselves with a glass of wine, discussed potential future outings, and enjoyed sweet potato wedges, Brussels sprouts, a lyonnaise salad, lentil and sweet potato Shepards pie, and an earl grey creme brûlée.  

The scheduling of outings is as important as solving 5th grade math problems when one considers the cognitive and emotional aspects of recovery from surgery.  

purring promotes healing

On post-op day #9 a corner was turned. The corner that put me out onto walking better street. A smoother glide. Of course there remain times of discomfort. Which I fully expect to continue for awhile. Here are some other things that are enhancing my recovery this week.  Photos of my great-niece Katharine. 

Naps in bed in the sunshine with books by the bed, friends sending me photos of quilts they are working on, ideas of things to create bubbling up all around, dreaming of the gooey butter cake I saw online this week and deciding when will be the right time to make it. It was a "St. Louis style" gooey butter cake. How could it be bad?

Chris procured a pill splitter for me so I could cut my pain pills in half and feel like I can get just the relief I need and not feel woozy the next day. Hurrah. I am a fan of the "lowest most effective dose" with the fewest side effects. Sometimes it takes a bit of practice to find that sweet spot. 

Regular video's and photos of my great fur niece and nephew from sister. I swear I can feel them right here with me. 

It's a well known fact that purring promotes healing.

 

Jarred the physical therapist

Thank you all so much for your ongoing comments and support as I recuperate from surgery. While I have been doing exercises at home, and had a full 45 minute session at the rehab place yesterday, I want you to know about some recovery techniques I am investigating to see if they add anything to the traditional plan.

Today there was a drive in the fresh air and sunshine while we slurped up a shamrock shake. Those who know me are aware I typically choose not to use my good calories on anything "fast food", but for some reason today it sounded good. We haven't had one for a few years and they are mintier, than they used to be, the green is more artificial if that is possible, and we both enjoyed it.  One is plenty to split between 2. They do have 10gm of protein by the way. Which is important in recovery. 

For my cognitive re-training, sister is sending me 5th grade math problems to see if I can figure them out. Math in 2023 is not the same as it was in 1967 or 68 which is when I think I was in 5th grade. I could turn that into a story problem but I won't. So far I have successfully completed 3 of the 5 she has sent. One was a real hard one that I got wrong because I had never heard of a "tape diagram" before, which you need to understand to be able to do. Jeez! I am taking great comfort in the fact that Marti Huff (one of the wisest people I know) got the same answer as me when I sent it to her to do. I am saving the last problem for later tonight after I take a nap then eat dinner.  Math problems are fun when you don't "have" to do them and you are not getting graded.  Sister always gives me lots of encouragement. 

P.S. I wish you could have seen my face on Tuesday at therapy when Jarred the physical therapist said our next exercise would be to "get up from a seated position without the aid of your arms". He promptly raised the level of the platform on which I was seated, which made it easier, and we are still getting along famously.