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Monday, February 15, 2021

Home. Alone. With my mystical toothpaste and magical pillow.

My apologies for taking so long to resurface. Again.  I have been adjusting to being on my own and sorting out the on-taking of my day-to-day chores.  After bidding a tearful goodbye to my middle sis (Peanut and Lovey stared out the window for hours, not believing that she had really gone), I muddled about for a few days.  Most of the activity centered around finding where the girls had relocated kitchen items.  Apparently, I have morphed into an OCD person, having to have my little red handled knives in their place, the water pitcher just so.  While I still have the QE3 (aka walker) and cane at hand, I am slowly and surely starting to get about without accouterments.  I only stagger a little.

I have taken on the chicken tending activities and hope to be fully functional by the end of this week, dammit.  I am sure my neighbor will be popping open the bubbly when that happy event occurs.  What a gem.  The only downside is that each appearance of my neighbor (the same neighbor, wearing the same outer clothing, driving the same car) drives the dogs into maniacal throes of barking.  This is especially hard on the nerves when he makes four trips over.  He makes four trips over because he is 85 and does things in steps.  We are now to the point where he only comes once in the morning and as needed for snow removal (it's snowing as I type).  The chickens were happy to see me and I, them.  There's no one like mom.

My PT has started and I have a list of exercises to perform at home.  This is a good thing, as we have had ice, snow, sleet, wind and more snow, every other day.  Interspersed with frigid temps.  Our next storm is starting now and building up overnight into tomorrow.  The chances of my making it to PT tomorrow are slim.  I have plenty of food (but no one but me to cook it, boohoo) and, other than PT and a few doctor appointments, there is no reason to leave.

As we segue off in a totally different direction....

I have been on an off-and-on search for toothpaste that does not involve mint flavoring.  That's led me to children's toothpaste - mango and strawberry; yummo, but a whole lotta sugar.  What's up with that? - to tea tree oil, which was reminiscent of brushing one's teeth in the woods, using a pine branch - to baking soda.  Blech, just blech.  Then, quite by chance, I stumbled on Tom's of Maine's Propolis and Myrrh toothpaste.  I could have turned to their cinnamon flavor, but the sheer oddity of the ingredients attracted my wacky side.  And, let's face it, both of my sides are wacky.  I now enjoy a mystical experience every time I brush my teeth.  Who can ask for more?  

As you can surmise, two weeks under constant surveillance and care did not put even the tiniest dent into my own particular (or peculiar) life bubble.  Having solved the toothpaste dilemma, I immediately turned to the pursuit of the perfect pillow.  I have been through buckwheat, foam, foam with gel, bamboo, fiberfil, fiberfil plus.  I feel like the proverbial princess with her pea problem, if you will forgive the reference.  Nothing produced the quality of slumber that I daydreamed about.  One night, a few days before surgery, I grabbed one of the shammed pillows (used just for frou-frou-ness) and shoved it under my head.  Out like a light.  In the morning, waking from a deep and painless sleep, I beheld the feather pillow behind the sham.  I was on my Amazon account before my first cup of coffee and am the happy owner of two pristine goose down pillows.  Let's hope my luck holds but, deep in my heart, I think that pillows are fickle.

I am celebrating every day that the minimal pain I enjoy is based on whipping my muscles into shape and not the soul-crushing pain of collapsing hip joints.  I have lots of projects to tackle inside, while I wait for winter to disappear.  I have a garden to plan.  I have retirement to wrap my head around.  I have mountains to climb, ships to sail and lots of knitting projects.  I also have a LOT of catching up to do with friends who keep checking on me, bless 'em.  


17 comments:

Theresa Y said...

Good to hear you're coming along so well. Stay safe and don't overdo. I'm looking for a good pillow too. Ordered a supposed "pillow for neck pain" from Amazon. Pfft....Like you I have tried everything, maybe a goose down will work for me. So far nothing else has.

Debra She Who Seeks said...

Glad to hear you are doing well in your recovery! I hope you don't overdo things, though, in your enthusiasm. Yes, pillows are fickle. They are also extremely individualistic, so if you find one that supports your head and neck perfectly, hang onto it!

www.self-sufficientsam.blogspot.com said...

I was concerned! I sent you a card (email) yesterday and didn't hear a thing which really scared me as you are usually johnny on the spot for answering. I guess I didn't know exactly when you were having your surgery but glad to know you are on the other side of it now and healing. We are having a great snowstorm here and it's at least 5 or 6 inches so far. I am in my glory! We never get snow like this in the south! I think it was God's Valentine's Day present to me as it seems I am the only one enjoying it besides the kids! LOL! Enjoy your home and all the coziness at this time of year and your new toothpaste and your new pillows!

Susan said...

It must be almost euphoric to be pain free after so long. Glad you are taking care of both your physical and mental wellbeing. When I hear about these 85yr old people ploughing on I look at myself and fear I will not be one of them. I am surrounded by woodsmen still spry and up for anything at 90. I am relying on pride to keep me going.

Ed said...

I searched high and low for the perfect pillow without luck but finally had an epiphany. I took one of the pillows that was too flat and installed a zipper. I took a pillow that wasn't good either and ripped it open and then just added stuffing until it was just perfect. I used that pillow for many years but it was starting to see its better days and so after searching online, I found pillows now that just come with a case and a can of foam stuffing to tailor to as you see fit. I should have patented my first pillow 20 years ago. I would have made a fortune.

Mama Pea said...

Although there's probably not a GOOD time to be home alone recovering from any kind of surgery, thinking of you making your way along paths covered with snow and (eeeek!) ice leaves me shaking in my boots with the metal teeth strapped onto them. I'm having enough trouble remaining upright (and am lucky enough to still bounce when I do fall on all my old, but original, parts), and feel down right queasy just thinking of you going outside in such awful conditions. Do you have your phone with you at all times? Please do.

Susan said...

Yes, I have my phone with me at all times. Let’s just hope I don’t land on it if I fall! Plus, I’m vewy, vewy careful....

Michelle said...

Here here for the sisters leaving! Methinks when you are being spoiled you have no time for blogging. 😉

Debby said...

I am looking at my own pillow in a perfectly new light. Fickle? My pillow better not pull any shady stuff on me. Just got that sorted out to my own personal satisfaction and I will not put up with any nonsense.

A mystical experience brushing your teeth? You sent me off and googling both myrrh and propolis. You are ever educational. Now that my teeth have got a glimpse of this, can they ever be satisfied with their mint toothpaste again? Prolly not. Thank you for this.

Seriously happy to see this post.

ellen abbott said...

glad to hear your recovery is going well but your weather snuck off in the night and is now hanging around on my lawn and I wish you would come fetch it. re toothpaste, we use Trader Joe's fennel, propolis, and myrrh.

jaz@octoberfarm said...

you are soooo lucky to have those sisters!!! i am so glad that all is well and you are healing. this was good timing because you should be in pretty good shape by gardening time!

Marcia LaRue said...

Now, indeed, we can see you are definitely alive and, seemingly, well! By all accounts you will be very careful ... no falls. You don't need that business!

Joanne Noragon said...

You recalled to me the moments of bliss, on first having a new hip and no pain. A life changing moment.

Florida Farm Girl said...

Oh, its so good to hear from you again. Not a good time weatherwise for someone recuperating from surgery to try to navigate outside. Glad you're doing well, too. Stay safe.

Retired Knitter said...

QE3!!! LOVE IT! LOLOLO You have such an amusing way of describing everything. I really enjoyed this post - sorry your little furry family members are missing your sisters. I am sure they will adjust. So glad you are improving.

linnellnickerson@gmail.com said...

Wonderful to see that you haven't lost your wonderful sense of humor. As they say just one day at a time, or maybe a little more!! Your amazing! take care!

ErinFromIowa said...

So you're on the mend and on the go! Yay!
The dogs barking at the neighbor 4xday gave me a chuckle.
I'm curious about the toothpaste. Always up for an new experience, especially during #pandemiclife.
DITTO on searching for the perfect restorative pillow! I think we'll need an update. ;)