What a Difference a Day Makes

I’ve just come in from a daily walk. Having had several days in the past week in the mid 50º range, today’s high of 18 feels a tad differently when one is out in it. ¶ I’ve been in the house the whole day (it’s now 5:00) and thought I’d better do something beside sit. With a Zoom meeting this morning, a small nap this afternoon and some seam ripping I’ve not had much exercise. ¶ While walking it occurred to me that I’ve really slacked off fitness-wise. When I belonged to the fitness center I was pretty religious about going every weekday. I made a commitment to go to a class every day. I worked with a personal trainer once or twice a week. I felt very good. I remember my oncologist saying to me, when he was remarking on how well I was tolerating the chemo, that I came into treatment healthy, and that made a big difference.j

¶ Then came the pandemic and I was paranoid about being in a place with relatively close quarters and heavy breathing all around. We were allowed a few months grace period and then had to make a decision. To drop or not to drop was the question. At that point the virus was still pretty much an unknown quantity, no vaccine was available and I was immune compromised from the chemo. My better sense told me I should stay away. I hated to do it but did. ¶ I know my strength has gone down hill since then. When it’s possible walking outside is pleasant. When it’s icy, windy and/or bitter cold it is not something I can convince myself to do. One of my former parishioners makes it a practice to walk each day around one of the big box stores. Others known to me “mall walk.” The indoor malls are too far away to be appealing. I’ve done the strip mall thing on my side of the city. The distance between stores is not too great and one can still be inside most of the time. The problem is that I am a shopper and I can always spot something to purchase. That something could be in the category of “I always wanted one of those,” or it could be “I need that for …,” or even “some day that may come in handy.” Of course, by that time I will have forgotten where I stored said item. ¶ Anyway, I made myself walk outside today even though it was 18º, but virtually calm, so it was pleasant. ¶ For reasons similar to my absence from the fitness center, I’ll attend tonight’s symphony concert remotely. The Omicron variant is on the wane here but still prevalent enough for me to avoid crowds of people. ¶ The chemo week went very well. No side effects this time around, which is usual. One day I was actually finished in 45 minutes. That’s a new record! My blood work was all good. I am continually grateful that I tolerate the medication as well as I do. I know it is keeping the cancer from spreading everywhere except my head.

¶ I’ll see the radiation oncologist this week. It will just be a “hi, how are you” meeting. I won’t have an MRI for a month or two. Then it will be revealed what the Gamma Knife has accomplished. ¶ Sophia has decided she just can’t give up all her nap time to keep track of the livestock on the deck. There’s just too much activity, which is very tiring. There were 13 birds at one time on the deck today. It’s nearly a full time job keeping the feeder supplied. There are, at times, up to five squirrels chomping down the peanuts and the corn. It’s just too much, and they don’t pay attention to her anyway. It will be interesting to see what happens when it’s warm enough to have the door open. The screen will prevent her from attacking. She will, perhaps, be even more frustrated. ¶ Thank you for your thoughts and prayers. Thank you for all you do for me and for others. Thanks for reading.