Wednesday, March 25, 2009

Pain And Suffering

It's been 3 3/4 months since the car accident and although I have been progressing, I'm still experiencing sharp pain, swelling, and fatigue. I love being back at work and working with kids, but that's all I have energy for. I drag myself up in the morning and I collapse when I get home. I haven't had physical therapy for two weeks ... not enough steam to get in and out of the car after work. I have an appointment to start next Wednesday. Actually I stopped by today by mistake, but I was relieved when they turned me away.
I had a splinter in my heel (the "good" foot) for more than two weeks. My doctor had a hard time finding it to pull it out. But she found it and also gave me encouragement and told me I was wise not to go back to teaching night school right now. Though money is so bad, I wake up in dread each morning.
I was much more chipper several weeks ago. But maybe that was oxycontin. Now the road to recovery is getting old.

Friday, March 20, 2009

the x rays are in




Here's a few of the x rays someone at the hospital was kind enough to mail.

Thursday, March 12, 2009

Charity

I've been thinking about sacrificing in giving and the idea reminds me of this powerful and surprising scene at the end of the movie Schindler's List. There is an urgency about the generosity of some people I have known. Perhaps it's because the truly generous know what their love and resources can do, so they withhold very little.

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

On the road again


It was my first day back at work (although I had been to the school for a few short visits). The kids who are special to me greeted me, each in their own special way. Staff was a blurr. Each going about their constant business and giving a happy greeting and then moving on. My mending joints did remarkably well, but my back was in agony by the end of the day of sitting. (Note to self: call the chiropractor soon!)(note: Do it NOW!)(OK I did it and have an appointment for Saturday at 10)
Now I'm lying on my futon enjoying my second kosher dill pickle. Hits the spot.
My main thought is on planning to get up early enough to get out of the house on time to get to school in time to get my wheel chair moving down the hall to clock in.
I'm pretty pleased that I got the schedule made for picture day in record time. Assuming I did it on the right letter day, much of the work was done by me last fall when I made a spread sheet system to record conflicts in teacher's planning time, and avoiding times that come after PE. Unfortunately nobody else could have used my spreadsheet, so they waited for me to return to get the job done. Well it's nice to feel appreciated. And I mean that.
I'm reading a little of 40 days of Living the Jesus Creed every night and feel as if it's keeping my compass in line.

Thursday, March 5, 2009

"You can't go home again"


I had bad dreams last night, dreams that I actually can remember. I dreamed of the place my father retired to and then sold a few years before he died. He had taken such good care of the place and the people he sold it to treated it much more casually. In my dream I had walked to the store in North Creek and the owners didn't remember my dad. His old place was run down as it was when he bought it.
After I woke up, I thought of the places where I've lived and of how I thought they would stay unchanged. After all the effort we put into a home, it's dust and ashes after a few decades. What lasts? I have my grandmother's silver spoon collection. Absolutely nobody in my family has a desire for these spoons. I have a website that I have been tending and growing for a little over a decade. Someday that internet "property" will be completely ignored.

More and more I think poetry is the legacy that lasts.