The Middle of July

Should anyone have told me, in the middle of March, that I would break my wrist two times I would have thought they were crazy. Then again, if we could predict the future we would most likely take steps to thwart any disasters, right? When you think about it, that is precisely what is happening all around us now. Far too many people have not taken advantage of the vaccine and more and more people are coming down with Covid. I learned of four new people just yesterday. And while most people do have a mild case, why take the chance? Lisa was telling me about one of her patients who still has a tracheostomy following his bout with Covid months ago.  All he wants to do is go back to his job being a meat cutter at Publix.

Most people go through wrist surgery without complications which is what I was hoping for, but hasn't exactly panned out.  That said, I am further along this time than last. I am super glad that I have a comparison found in this blog post so I don't have to rely on my faulty memory. It was at this appointment that Darlene said that I was on the verge of shoulder problems and boy was she right. I have been going to the pool most days to exercise which is helping a lot.  Because the front pool gets more sun in the early morning I went there, having the place to myself.

My red noodle is visible on the right side of the picture which is what I am mainly using. Basically, anything I can do to keep it moving is good for me.

If you read my last post,  you may recall that Lisa was going to text my doctor about me having a cortisone shot for my shoulder and that it appeared I had an abscess in my incision.  Wednesday afternoon the phone rang and it was Dr. Patel who pretty much flipped out claiming she should not be diagnosing. Mind you, she is who has been watching this happen, but he was undaunted. It's a long story, but the gist is that he ending up prescribing an antibiotic which I've now been taking. Does it look much better? Some. The downside is that this particular pill is making me feel a little crummy. Two more days though, so that is good. In general, I've heard people complain about reacting to antibiotics, but this is the first time I've experienced any difficulty. Anyway, the upshot of this is that we did not go to the office and I did not get a shot. What I couldn't seem to make him understand is that it was really, really sore, seven weeks after surgery, so how could that be normal?  I heard that same line during my first break when I kept hearing that my fat hand was normal. He also told us that he had to re-break my arm to pin it back together properly. No wonder I was hurting! 

So, it is one thing to do exercises, but what I really want is to get back to normal activity incorporating wrist movement. I decided to make some peanut butter cookies which would involve a rolling motion with dough rather than the ball she gives me. 

The sprinkles are kosher salt making the cookies both sweet and salty. It is really nice to have a full cookie jar again. Almost full anyway because I put a few dozen in the freezer for another time. 

I used the hand mixer and a plastic bowl because, for now, the stand mixer is too heavy for me to move. Baby steps my friends!

Bruce took me to the library on Friday where I found all kinds of books that I think I will like. Right now I am reading one called, Sorrow and Bliss from an English author. From this review I see that it has an entirely different cover than the US version.  Interesting because I mainly chose it for the pink and orange cover and that Ann Patchett had a blurb on the back. I am a big proponent of picking a book from the cover. I pretty much know that if the cover font is gigantic, it is not for me. The subject matter is mental illness, so not everyone's cup of tea, but I am enjoying it in spite of the sad story.

Near the library on Rosalind, there is a fairly new French bakery/restaurant that we popped our head into.  What a cute spot! We were asking all kinds of questions about when it opened, (around the time of the shut down) and how they were managing.

Turns out, pretty well. What was a large menu board when we arrived, became this after he slid the doors open tp show it off! It was so pretty it begged to be photographed.

We visited after breakfast and before lunch, so we didn't sit down to eat, instead taking home some goodies for later.

Bruce wanted some more familiar baked goods to take to Denny when he visited him in the hospital later in the day, thus we drove towards Charlies and, of course, did some sightseeing along the way. By that I mean looking for new stuff that had been happening during my "confinement." Well we found it off Washington Street. On the side of Burtons, Andrew Spear and Shepard Fairey painted these murals.

I don't imagine that you recall that Andrew Spear was the artist who painted the giant mural in Earls at Millenia for the restaurant. Bruce was so lucky as he got to see his work come to life. In my opinion, we don't have nearly enough street art in town, so seeing these made me happy.

We did make it to Charlie''s which is always a treat, even though they have been around since we graduated high school. Wow, just typing that seems incredible. Not too much has changed in there over the years, proving that if you have a great product, people will come. 

Speaking of Rosalind we used it while driving to church yesterday, and it is quite the contrast from a weekday. There is definitely more traffic during the week but not nearly up to pre-pandemic levels.

I hate to even mention it, but probably this is something I will want to remember for the future, and that is that the medication is making me nauseous, thus no going out to lunch for us yesterday. Bactrim is the culprit, my first time taking it. Poor Bruce! He hates seeing me struggle. I am still not driving, although I think I could, but we are continuing to be cautious. Perhaps when the incision is completely healed?

I could not wait to talk to Lisa this morning because I wanted to hear her reaction to the freak-out by my doctor. Calling her first, he made a fuss,  which when she was younger might have put her into a funk, but she mostly shook it off. After 30 years in the business, she's pretty much seen it all. She says I'm doing good, measuring my ability to perform different tasks. I did get to use the pegs again today, beginning with having a bunch in my hand and putting them in one by one which was far more difficult than picking them up one by one. While I thought that was an accomplishment, she added in something else. Yup, I had to take them out using this clip.

My goodness that was tricky! 

For some reason I've kept this photo of the first go-round on my desktop.  I can't explain why I have not moved it to the trash.

Maybe I will move the photo to trash when this is all behind me. After all, I have a long standing blog that reminds me I have been through some challenges over the years that as time passes fade from memory. Most especially if you have a memory like mine!

Looks like I won't have any pool time today because it is already raining. Then again, after the workout she gave me, that might not be such a bad thing.

your friend,

Gail

Freedom Day

Yesterday morning I went in the pool. Not my customary "jump in" method, rather a gentle drop in off the deep end steps. In spite of the overcast weather, it was heavenly being suspended in the cool water. At first it was a bit of a dog paddle using my right hand, but it wasn't long before I began using my left. The swelling in my digits continues to diminish and my finger movement is miles ahead of where it was at this point in my first break. This morning though, I have to admit that I am a little weepy because of the shoulder problem that has developed as a result of my holding my arm in such a weird fashion for so long. Apparently it is not unusual to develop a "frozen shoulder" but it is not something I was either mentally or physically prepared for. That said, doing some of the exercises in the pool was far easier than on dry land. So much easier, that in my optimism, I did more than I should have and paid for it later. Slow and steady is how I will win this race, a lesson I've yet to learn.

At Thursday's appointment, I requested the surgical report so now I know the name of the inserted device. The image below is enlarged a bit on her laptop, her being Dr. Patel's PA, so a few of the lower screws are cut off from sight.

She recommended that I continue to wear my splint while I was outside the house, however, as I was leaving and Dr. Patel saw me wearing it, he called out to me to quit wearing it and keep on moving my wrist. Thus, today's title referring to freedom. Having a splint or cast on one's arm for so long is no fun. Earlier he'd checked the red spot on my arm and pronounced it no big deal.

During my therapy sessions Lisa has been monitoring it so I had already learned that it is a stitch working its way out of the incision. Speaking of Lisa, she has been treating my shoulder as well as my wrist with exercises, heat, cold and on Wednesday, a machine that looks like this.

Attaching these to my shoulder,

once turned on, it delivers little electrical signals to the area for pain relief. When I mentioned my shoulder problems to Lillie and told her how I was getting help from my therapist, she said most of them don't really care and will only treat what is prescribed. Asking her name, when I responded Lisa Cody, she said that I was in the best hands possible. Woo hoo...lucky me. 

She is usually treating several people at once, a few I've come to recognize, however a young woman arrived on Wednesday that I'd not seen before. Wow, hearing her story was really something.

Apparently she was going for a job interview and instead of taking an Uber she decided to use one of the motorized scooters that are popping up on our downtown streets. Instead of tripping on a sidewalk, she hit a manhole cover the wrong way and went flying over the handlebars, breaking her right wrist in the process. She was fortunate enough to be steered Dr. Patel's way after visiting another doctor initially. If only we had! And yes, somehow she also managed to get the job. 

We had the house cleaners come again last Monday, mostly to do the floors. Bruce is doing a wonderful job, but on occasion, it is nice to have help. I swear I have no idea how they get the cooktop to look so great.

I have been able to do some simple cooking as evidenced by the pan above, cooking rice. As well, I can make sandwiches and pour things. I even managed to make taco salad one night. Washing my hair, while I can now use my left hand, the shoulder problem prevents me from doing a great job. While I still cannot make a pony tail, I did manage to hold enough hair with my left hand to put a barrette in, so that's something. 

Ever since I purchased these orange lamps from Lightstyle, probably 12 years ago, they have graced the buffet. 

Having spent more time on our couch in the last few months, probably fifty times as much over previous months, I had trouble reading with the lamps on the end tables. Orange, but of course. Anyway, because the buffet lamps are taller, putting the light over my shoulder, I asked B to switch them out.

Far more useful in their new location. You might notice the extra pillow with the towel on it and that is for placing my arm on after I massage the scar with Aquaphor. Plus it is just plain comfortable for my shoulder! It is really hard for me to keep to my exercise schedule, not because of time but because of discipline. I have never been one much for exercise. That said, doing play-like exercise is fine and dandy. As such, I am incorporating play with this gift given to me from Matt many years ago. You can manipulate it any old way which is great for moving my wrist.

One thing I read in the surgical report was this:

I have made it clear that even with appropriate fixation and perfect anatomical reduction, she may not regain full range of motion. She may require second try surgery. She may have persistent pain. She wishes to proceed with surgery.

Sobering words to say the least. Thursday's visit also made it clear that there is no doubt that I will have arthritis in the wrist. How that affects me in the future is anyone's guess.

In the meantime, I must continue to focus on baby steps and my beautiful surroundings where daily I can watch bird life, sunshine and shadows. Plus the continued support from everyone.

Not to mention a recent rainbow. Bruce was out with David and some neighbors on the pontoon boat and I was so grateful he alerted me so that I might at least enjoy a bit of it. Apparently it was a double for awhile.

There are so many hardships people suffer the world over, each one unique and yet similar. Distress and despair. All we have is hope for better days ahead. While my situation is far from grave, the feelings of distress and despair have been an unwelcome byproduct of my injuries. And that's when a devotional has been helpful for me, in this instance, "the rainbow promise." At some point one has to force oneself to put things into perspective, right? 

Here's a little something fun that happened recently. I received a message from a woman who was going through her brother's possessions in Chicago following his death. She came across one of my photographs, still in the packaging with my phone number on the back. She could not imagine how he got it as his visits to Orlando were few.  While I had no answers it did make me think of my market days and the huge variety of people both visiting and selling. In order to lighten up this post a wee bit, here's a fun blog post from eight years ago entitled, As The Market Turns. If you weren't a reader in those days it will tell you a little more about where we have come from.

Lastly, I was able to type this with two hands without a splint, so that is what I call real PROGRESS!

your friend,

Gail

Muscles, Tendons, Oh My!

Unintended consequences, isn't that always the way?  Or so it seems to me when I look around the world. In my case, it is my shoulder and tricep muscles that are so painful if I move them much. My wrist is still incredibly stiff, but the actual pain is far and away better at four weeks than my last break. Speaking of which, today is my three month anniversary! Therein lies my problem. During the time I was in the cast during my first break, I carried my hand palm up because the pain in my hand was too great to do otherwise. That set the stage for trouble followed by this break which is just the opposite, I can mostly carry my hand palm down.  Couple that with disuse and it is a recipe for trouble. Not only are my muscles weak, but the tendons are tight, all of which is what the therapy is meant to fix. Seemingly the recovery is up to my efforts which is no easy task. Simply amazing that something that happened in the blink of an eye could lead to this. Why, pray tell, I am surprised at that notion is just plain silly, isn't it?

My therapist on Thursday was a really sweet young woman named Michelle who began our session by massaging my hand and wrist which was very nice indeed.

Since I took the photograph, most of the scab on the scar has fallen off and I dare say that it is healing nicely. It probably helps that Dr. Patel is not only an orthopedic surgeon, but a plastic one as well. In a new twist on the sponge exercises, she had me put them between my fingers and drop then in the bowl. 

That same day Bruce took me to see Maureen for the first time in a month. It pleased me to no end that she remained awake and alert during our visit. I still can't get over that her hair is the longest I've seen it in the last 40 years. Blame it on Covid.

I've just returned from my appointment and Lisa wants me to try typing with both hands now because it is low impact and may help with my shoulder. Woo hoo...one sentence down ...

The lake was so low that all of the fallen branches were providing nice perches for our resident ducks who are now in molting season.

It is particularly noticeable in the male Wood Duck pictured in the foreground swimming along with his new family. As a reminder, in their full color they are very distinctive. Since the perch photo was taken we've had at least six inches of much needed rain.

Friends continue to spoil me in more ways than I deserve including this lovely potted Anthurium from Anne.

On the eve of my surgery, Lorelei and Clinton came for a visit bringing candy and a beautiful Peace Lily that is thriving in its new home on the front porch with more blooms than I can imagine.

On Wednesday Ann and Liz picked me up for lunch around the corner at Aardvarks. I insisted we take photos in front of the colorful wall.

These long-time friends graciously accepted me as a new friend a few years ago after we began going to First Congregational.

Which reminds me.....we went there yesterday morning and were so glad we did although many are still staying away for a variety of reasons. It was my first visit since the pandemic began last March. Watching on television is no substitute for corporate worship. 

For fully vaccinated folks like ourselves the mask mandate is no longer. For the most part, it is only my medical appointments where they are required. Thursday I return to Dr. Patel for a check up on my progress when I presume they will take another x-ray to make sure things are stable. For the most part it looks good aside from one, what looks to be, errant stitch. Lisa seems to think it will resolve itself before I go, but only time will tell.

One of the biggest challenges one faces is where the heck to put ones arm while wearing a splint. In church I solved the problem by using a stack of hymnals and the pew Bible.

I am allowed to take it off at home for a bit but wear it always outdoors and while sleeping, which is going far better than a few weeks ago. Now it is not my wrist that hurts while sleeping it is my shoulder and arm. It takes a bit of shuffling in order to find a comfortable resting spot for that darn arm.

Friday night, neighbor friends Dave and Sandy took us out for an Italian dinner at Il Pescatore on Primrose and it was delicious, and so fun to be out at night. It is their son who is great friends with Dr. Patel as they went to school together and have remained very close.  As we exited the restaurant, both Sandy and I walked carefully, her recently replaced knee required caution and everyone is petrified that if I am upright I will fall again. Not true at all, but it will take time for everyone to see me as anything but a fall risk. May I remind everyone that I walked over 1,000 miles without incident during our time in Vancouver. Anyway, that exit put us in line with a cool mural was within eye sight.

Following church we had lunch at Ravenous Pig in Winter Park a place we visit infrequently, not because the food isn't great, but it can be a little pricey. Because it had be awhile ,we'd not seen their newish beer garden which was striking indeed with that wall treatment.

I wonder how long it took to paint all of the white lines on the building, not to mention another building is done with white walls and black lines? Eye catching indeed. 

Our meal was oh so tasty, beginning with these blue crab deviled eggs, topped by crispy pieces of corn.

I only wish I'd taken a shot of the mini apple turnovers we had for dessert. 

On Saturday I did most of the laundry by myself, albeit slowly. I did not even attempt putting the clean sheets on, but I gingerly folded underwear, shirts and shorts. I can now hang my dresses up by myself as well. What I still can't do is put my hair in a ponytail or do my bra. I can hold a piece of paper, hold things still like say a jar or something like that, pick up puzzle pieces, and hold my glasses when I wash them. And now it seems I can TYPE in my preferred way! My wrist is crazy sore following this effort, but it is a good start. 

I'm hoping that I will get the go-ahead to swim and use the hot tub which I think will do me good. There is a whole lot of things I still cannot do, but in the coming weeks I hope to be able to add more to the "can do"list. A girl can dream, can't she?

your friend,

Gail

Wrinkles Welcome!

Let's begin with some exciting news today. For the first time since the pandemic began, I HAD A PEDICURE! Check this out.

Bruce took me to Nail Spaz yesterday morning and it was fantastic. Although the place name is suspect, the chairs are comfy and the workers nice. Yesterday I had Nancy who has recently moved here from Chicago. And how do I know this you ask? So I was feeling a wee bit sketchy about going because in the novel I am reading, On Earth We are Briefly Gorgeous, the narrator's Mother does nails and the depiction of how hard it is, year after year, made me cringe. A note of caution, the novel is not for everyone as there is violence in many forms depicted. 

I asked her about her job and she claimed the hardest part is the customers. It is good to be reminded that every job is difficult in its own way and deserves our respect.

As this post is meant to be upbeat, here is another good thing that has happened. We took one of Bruce's dress socks and he made me a comfortable cover for my arm that stays in place.

The fabric is very soft and there is a bonus, it is clean, A cup of tea spilled on the one I was given and it did not come out. I take both this and the splint off to do the exercises and they continue to be difficult, fortunately done without tears now. One way to think about them is if you went to the gym for the first time in ages and got very sore. But then you went back four hours later and did it again, and again in another four hours. Because it has been 85 days without the use of my hand it is stiff and sore. The pain, you will be happy to learn is minimal until I push myself to do the exercises, over and over. One thing that is helping is I am using an old friend, the heating pad.

I wrap my hand for about ten minutes and it helps to loosen my joints.  Every little thing I can find to make it easier is a blessing.

On Saturday afternoon I accompanied Bruce to Bill and Fallon's house where I sat on the couch while others were busy. Giuliana, Fallon's best friend, came over to decorate for the party to be held that evening. In exceptional news, she is getting closer to graduating from er corse work to be a Nurse Practitioner! 

Bruce and Bill had a deadline to finish the closet by her birthday and they made it just in time. Woo hoo!

For the longest time I've had a magnet on our refrigerator, a quote from Mark Twain that reads, "wrinkles should merely indicate where smiles have been". I seriously have no recollection buying it, in part because I generally don't go in for, shall we say, inspirational quotes. Plus magnets are what I buy while traveling. Inexpensive and reminders of special times.  So where am I going with this? Beats me!

Seriously, no one really likes wrinkles that is unless you had some and they have gone AWOL. As such, when I got up this morning I was encouraged to see a tiny bit of wrinkling on my thumb. Hold your hand out and look at your thumb? See all the lines around your joint? For 85 days now, I've had a thumb devoid of those lines. A stump, if you will.  Is there light at the end of the tunnel? By golly, I think there is!

Kelly was my therapist today while Lisa is in New Jersey. She was super good, massaging my thumb and never admonishing me for putting my elbows on the table. Plus I played with toys! Check out this progress!

When I told her that I had done the foam blocks with relative ease at my last session, she had me graduate to three blocks.

Damn exciting stuff. Am I on my way yet? It seems like it.  

There are more ducklings! Peek-a-boo!

This week the mail brought something amazing, a quilted card that is a beautiful piece of art.

Made by the talented Sharleen, the founder of our local chapter of Days For Girls, it is exquisitely done and the generosity of this gift overwhelmed me with gratitude. I can't wait to show it to Ann, a fellow quilter and artist, when she and Liz pick me up tomorrow for lunch. Oops, Liz will appreciate it as well because she, too, is an artist.

Can you believe it? I am going places again.  In another few months, I may just be a new woman.😀

We watched an excellent, albeit sad, documentary the other day, that you might enjoy.

Finally my darling Bruce enjoyed a fine Father's Day, going out to lunch with Bill and David and having a lengthy chat with Jonathan. Matt called from London but his dad was doing one of his favorite activities, playing pickleball, when the call came in. 

Keeping the positivity going, I remain, your friend,

Gail

It is All Relative

 I'm not ashamed to admit that I am so ready for this to be over. Never could I have imagined that I would be writing a post, seven weeks after my fall, and still have no use of my left hand. My thumb remains crazy stiff; thankfully my fingers move, but not well. That said, without a working thumb there is not much one can accomplish. And therein lies my problem. I am a doer and, sadly this doer cannot do much! Not when my hand stays mostly in a swollen state.

All that super pink part is due to the top layer of skin peeling off. Finally, this weekend I figured out a better way of treating it using a soft dish towel to wrap it after I coat it with Aquaphor. So, not only is the swelling unsightly, the skin is as well. Oy vey!

I do, however, have three new and fun dishtowels that I am not using for the above purpose. One from Carlene, a new reader of this space thanks to Patti who introduced her to my musings. Michelle gave me two for Mother's Day and if there is anyone who loves practical gifts it is me. Now. if only I could get back to cooking and baking! Last night I had Bruce cut the broccoli and I managed the rest for roasting. Not much to it but it's a start.

It must have been Thursday that I took a stroll on the property with my camera in tow. I spotted a small feather that once lived on a Limpkin floating in the clear shallow water of Lake Pineloch. 

From a distance floating decoys look pretty real, that is until the real thing appears, A Cormorant at rest.

Friday morning Bruce asked if I might enjoy walking around the Winter Park Art Festival while he continued working on the columns at church? I could not have been happier with his idea. Slipping my arm into the removable splint, I walked the two blocks to Park Avenue leaving him to his work.

Wallowing in my misery I've neglected to mention that the weather has turned cooler, bringing sunny skies, low humidity, and temperatures in the low 80's. In other words, an unexpected blessing.

Normally held in the middle of March, the weekend in May was a first. A Covid 19 thing. Advertising was almost non existent, so on this Friday the crowds were just right.

Although I was sorely tempted, in the end we did not return to buy two pieces we both liked from this artist, whose booth is pictured below.

Because it is May the roses are beginning to bloom as is the gorgeous Wisteria.

People were respectful of one another, either keeping their distance or wearing masks. Placards with the artist information were printed prior to the new CDC guidelines so masks were required in the booths, or so the sign said. Seeing the Emily fountain by Albin Polasek in the bright sunshine is always welcome and reminds me of my days at the museum.

For those new to this space I began there as an intern during my last semester at Valencia and stayed on for a number of years as a volunteer.

Seeing the art was great, but seeing friends for the first time in ages was even better. First I ran into Ann and Liz who were appalled seeing my hand in person. It is one thing to see a photograph and quite another seeing it up close and personal. Actually, I saw them twice, once while strolling and once while they were having refreshments at a sidewalk table. While chatting I noticed the ladies at the table beside them staring at my hand and what they had to say heartened me just a bit. Turns out that they have a friend who broke her wrist about the same time as I did who is not only having similar problems with swelling but, who also has a doctor like mine. Apparently he told her the swelling is normal and if it does not improve in three months, come and see him. So, yeah for learning of a fellow sufferer and boo to the notion that I might go three months like this!! Secondly, I ran into Cynthia and Joe and we had a lovely chat during which time I tried talking about more than my accident. One subject that came up was the vaccine and folks that are "vaccine reluctant", another term to add to our list of new phrases associated with Covid 19. While I cannot understand their position, if given the chance, I would do it again in a heartbeat.

All weekend I worked on trying to make a fist, icing and elevating, all of which were for naught. 😞

Now that we know where we are going, getting to the therapy appointment went off without a hitch. Before I tell you about what happened to me, something occurred in the waiting room that was so poignant I am putting it down for posterity. An old couple, it's hard to say but maybe 10-15 years older than we are, was already in the waiting room. The receptionist asked the woman who her doctor was to which she replied that she could not remember but for sue it was an Eastern medicine doctor because she did not trust Western medicine. (flashback to our sister Carol!) Anyway she and her husband began a guessing game, using the alphabet, trying to figure it out. Then they remembered the man's mobile phone but couldn't remember a phone number. I wanted to help but at the same time, wondered if they would be embarrassed. Eventually they figured it out but it was painful to witness, imagining it could be me in the future! 

Darlene began our session with a warm compress, hoping to alleviate some of the swelling before we began our exercises. Another woman was seated nearby having a treatment on her wrist, FIVE months after her accident. Long story short, Darlene reiterated that everyone's healing process is different and I just have to be patient. It is worth noting that my fracture is healing as expected and I am just one of the unlucky ones who experience other problems which in my case is swelling with subsequent tightness in my tendons. She moved my hand many ways, bent my fingers at each joint, telling me to have her stop when the pain reached level five. Listening intently, I did my best to commit the exercises to memory. That said, I came home with this.

The arm up means raising it above my head in hopes that gravity will help. In some ways it seems like a Catch 22 because how am I really supposed to make a fist with a deflated balloon atop my hand? If only the swelling would decrease, I think that I could make a fist. 

I must trust the process.

I must trust the process.

I must trust the process.

Following the exercising, she wrapped my arm in a big sleeve,

which is attached to two machines that pumped cool water around my arm as well as a very light massage.

That would be Darlene on the left, helping her next patient. One area of improvement I've experienced is that I can finally turn my hand palm down without crying out. Actually that is huge and not a moment too soon as I'm on the verge of having elbow and shoulder problems from the unnatural position I've adopted in order to not be in pain.

Baby steps has to be my mantra! 

So the seated woman finishing her last treatment broke her right arm, and the closed reduction done at the outset slipped meaning she had surgery. She described her despair over how long healing has taken and how hard it is to be helpless for so long. A seemingly lovely women in her late 40's, she was not trying to frighten me, only reinforcing what I already know.

It is all relative!

your friend,

Gail

p.s. today is Bruce's birthday and call me crazy if you want, but I'm going to try my hand (no pun intended) at making him a simple cake.