My world became (temporarily) smaller this week.
One week since my surgery and my instructions
are to keep my ankle higher than my heart – that's hard to do unless I lie in
bed or on a couch.
Pain has not been a
big issue, and my biggest problem is boredom.
My wife Judy is an angel; anticipating my needs and doing her best to
make sure I don't do something stupid to sabotage my healing ankle.
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| Diagram of my Peroneal tendons; one damaged, now fused together |
I prefer the couch where I can see the
garden, birds, sunlight, wind, and butterflies on the bodea bushes.
Our three Jack Russell dogs are very
solicitous – they do their best to entertain me with their shenanigans.
I have a kneeling scooter that is awesome –
way cooler than crutches – on that I can glide effortlessly down the hall and
reach any part of the house in seconds… it has come close to dumping me a
couple of times – so I am doing my best to be cautious when I use it. My
biggest challenge is the stepdown between the level of the kitchen and the
family room – 2 steps down.
I have tried
different methods and don't feel totally secure with any of them –
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| Butterfly bush (Bodea) with Monarch |
I have grown incredibly sensitive
to the issue of ‘handicap accessibility’.
Two steps can feel like an insurmountable wall. I am hopeful that in one
more week, when I see my surgeon again, I will graduate to a hard shell
cast….but even then I don't think it will be weight bearing.
So for now – I am thankful for electronics –
for my computer, for e- readers, for TV.
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| Jack Russel dogs vary greatly in coloration and personality - known as 'high energy' dogs |
I finished the 1000 page history of
Peter the Great (that I have been working on for about 3 weeks) and
am now reading an outstanding book of historic fiction - about the period in
American history between 1958 to 2000… Its book 3 of the Century Trilogy: ‘Edge
of Eternity’… It's a bit bizarre to read a book based on the history of my
lifetime – It focuses on 4 families, one each in Russia – Germany – England –
and the US
during these tumultuous years.
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| Our 'Lesser Goldfinches" in my hardwear store I bought a sack like this filled with their favorite seed |
Today’s mail included an 85+ page State
voters guide for the up coming election.
It is a lesson in the blessings and hazards of a free election…My
current book, ‘Edge of Eternity’, includes a vivid description of life under
the dictatorial one party rule in Communist Russia – where the whim of one man
could lead to life or death, and the country stagnated in a doctrinaire
malaise.
In the California voter book
each candidate has space to freely describe why he or shewould be the best to
lead the state…
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| This is it - the day of decision |
Carefully selected words are written by the election staff of
each candidate to present them in the best light to win over the
undecided.
Even more interesting are the
propositions – I fear that lobby groups and special interest groups have hired
skilled staff to describe their plan, to win support for their issue, or
present the best list of arguments pro or con to support their concept; and gather the most compelling
list of supporters.
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| Add caption |
My concern is that
many California citizens do not have time or inclination to digest this massive
amount of data – they will fall back on “how their friend is voting” or “which
TV ads are most appealing” or “I got this pamphlet in the mail listing my
parties choices” or will “fall for a catch phrase in the language of the
pamphlet” – without understanding the full nuance of the issues they are voting
on.
The entire process has become ‘slick’
with each side setting the ‘spin’ on their cause… it is a challenge to know the
truth.
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| Free Tacos - just for voting!? what A DEAL |
Enter the heroine…! I find that the clearest voice in the
midst of all the potential for confusion is the good old “League of Women
Voters”
- they offer a non partisan simplified
description of issues and candidates here:
http://www.smartvoter.org.
They provide a much needed breath of fresh
air!
Some years ago when they opened
their ranks to men
– I joined – and am
now a card carrying member!
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| Thoughtful decisions |
So for another week I lounge away -
watching goldfinches at the feeder out the back window, Rusty (one of the
pups) comes over demanding pets, Judy brings me a snack… I get cool emails from
friends and family… I am getting computer work caught up ...I have a lot to be thankful for…and all the while I am
growing new cells like crazy in my ankle!
(note: This week the photos are all downloaded from the internet, rather than my own files, due to my lack of mobility)
