Bullwinkle 2, Stumpy, Smile awhile? Any names you like? Aimee menard, one of our caregivers helped me on with what I sometimes call my “shrimp sock” for shrink sock, designed to keep the end of my stump ship-shape. From shrimp she went to moose, she could see him just trying to find his way. Lightening up can be difficult especially as I feel myself journey into a deeper darkness, stuff like this brightens up my day. Gus is asleep beside my computer happy to hear me clicking away again.
I had very welcome cortisone shots on Monday. You may not believe how well my spine and vertebrae respond to the cortisone the specialist, is able, with a visually guided system, to ease my back pain. It’s not for everyone, and I have not had success with it in my knee, but we mixed up dates so it had been six month since my last back pain relieving injections. Tuesday was an intense six hours of neurological testing with shape shifting lines I could not repeat. The cube was child’s play, already too hard for my visual spatial senses. Never has “repeat these words after me exactly in order” been so frightening despite all the wonderful reassurances. Yesterday was a much needed day for recovery, treats and comfort food, spaghetti and meatballs by any other (bolognese) name tastes just as good prepared by Christine who is back on her shifts after visiting her mother.
Davina is out delivering my book Always Breathe to our first bookstore acceptance for consignment, more on that in a minute. Jayden smiles patiently as she watches me stumble through decisions, particularly as related to my computer. Jayden’s talents in the kitchen and with tech and aesthetic eye that she shares with Aimee, will be set aside after my book launch as she accepts a full-time summer research assistant position in medical physics for cancer care. She will keep at least one shift, and/or visit as we are friends with our team members. My wife Michelle will get a separate thank you whose unwavering support has not been remiss as she completed her Ph.D. in Disability Studies as I said separate news on that as she has launched a new website. The fight for DWP (disability without poverty) is beginning anew though the credit is present and scheduled to begin paying out in July, the $200 a month is a tiny wedge to move the huge weight of poverty from people with disability.
Finally I feel good having confirmed the guest suite for my three children visiting over the Easter weekends! Yay!
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