Thursday, August 10, 2017

Putting in time

Yesterday was an energy depletion - both physically and emotionally - which means I'm starting off behind today.  There have been a lot of those days lately.


I don't want to dwell on this, but if you know someone with one of the 'invisible' diseases - like lupus, it might be helpful to read The Spoon Theory by Christine Miserandino.  Christine was trying to describe to a friend what it was like to have lupus.  Because she and her friend were in a restaurant and there were spoons handy, Christine used the example of spoons to explain the expenditure of energy - her limitations - and what happens when you run out of spoons (energy).  It's an interesting read and one that I used to explain to my family what it takes for me to go to softball games, football games, etc.  - mainly planning, so that I'll have spoons left when it's game time. 

Anyway... I need to watch my spoons today.

Lunch with a friend.  We've been friends for 35 years so it's easy and comfortable.  We talk about grandchildren - my appointment at Penn - books - everything but Greg.  I've cried in this restaurant too many times in the past few weeks.  Not today, I think.  But I don't make it.  It's not too bad (a one-tissue cry - twice), but Greg is there all the time - whether I say his name or not.

After lunch, I head home and halfway there, I decide to go to the library instead.  It's a beautiful day - not too hot - not too humid.  It's a good day to unload and load my scooter.   I read a lot of books on my Kindle and someone told me that you can rent Kindle (e-books) books (and audiobooks) online from the library - free with a library card.

I arrive at the library and there must be 40 cars in the parking lot. I unload my scooter and go in, noting the "senior" volunteers who are busy and smiling.  I go to the counter, fill out the paperwork, hand the nice man my driver's license and he gives me a library card and instructions on how to download books from the library.  Success!

I made today's bracelets this morning, before lunch, because I knew I'd be tired by the time I got home. - and I was right.

Michael meets me at  the car with my 50' oxygen tube.  That's one trip from the garage into the house that I don't have to carry that heavy portable oxygen tank. I am grateful.  (Whoever said that you can't be depressed and grateful at the same time was completely wrong.)

I chat with Michael and then head for the couch to crash.

Michael finishes packing today's orders and asks me if I'd like to go out and get something for dinner.  I apologize - tell him I'm sorry, but I can't - I'm done - out of spoons.

It was a day of 'Normal things' - things that go on in the world every day without thought.  It's life.  But sadness clouds my life with a haze. Some days the haze is thicker than others and I can hardly see, but even on the days with the lightest haze, my life is not the same - never will be.  Will life always be lived through a haze?

I feel like I'm just putting in time. 


No comments:

Post a Comment