A WILLOW MEMORY

One of WILLOW'S cute "LITTLE HABITS" when she was a puppy (not yet a year old)..........  

I kept my paper recycling in a paper bag in the laundry room.  WILLOW would gently pull one piece of paper or an envelope from the bag, then she'd SLOWLY SAUNTER across the room with that single piece of paper in her mouth, lie down on the carpet and SLOWLY tear it into a few pieces - GENTLY and DILIGENTLY. She never disturbed any papers on the counter or anywhere else - she KNEW she could take only from that one bag. 

She'd go back for another and sometimes another........  

One night I watched her work on 6 separate pieces, one after another, leaving a small pile of shredded paper on the floor while she'd walk back for another. I'd shake my head. 

Too funny. 

Too smart. 

I really LOVED that precious, little, darling WILLOW!!  And I miss her so.............

JOAN

AFTER MY EYE SURGERY

Well, THAT'S something I hope I don't have to do again.........  

THREE DAYS FACE-DOWN.  I was able to rent a chair that looks much like a massage chair, which came with a shelf and mirror to reflect the TV so that I could watch it with my face down. Naturally I had to put it together, but it was quite easy.

The same head piece was provided for the bed.  THAT was more tough to get used to, particularly because the right cheek pillow wasn't glued on properly and kept slipping off so I'd wake with my cheek on the metal bar.  

BUT, the GOOD NEWS is, the gas bubble they injected into my eye is almost gone. Just another day or two and then 3-4 weeks of additional healing and I'll be back to true normal. No more wavy lines and faces - like in the FUN HOUSE MIRRORS - it was kinda cool and kinda creepy actually. But I'm glad to say good riddance.

The reason I had to lay face down was because the bubble floats "up" and when I was face down, the bubble would float "up" to the back of my eye and keep the "repaired macular hole" (in front of the retina) flat. A miracle really. WHO was the first doctor to think this up? And WHO was the first patient? AMAZING.

It was a happy day when my neighbors, MONICA and LEX packed up the equipment to send it back!!

This past Wednesday, one week after the surgery, I was given the go-ahead to resume normal activities - even DRIVE - even drink WINE. WHOOHOO!! It took me a few extra days, but yesterday I intermittently read a PEOPLE magazine and then ventured out in the car - got a pedicure (only to find out that the owner sold the place and it was her last day - I don't care for the pedicure I received from the new owner, so the hunt is on for a new place - another CLEAN place!!). I then drove to the grocery store, but as I looked down into the refrigerator bins, the gas bubble was right in the center of my vision and it made me a bit woozy. Needless to say, it was a short visit.

Typing on the computer must still be short-lived too - floaters, gas bubble and glasses are still learning to "get along" simultaneously. I HAVE caught up on Seasons 3 and 4 of HOMELAND and am looking forward to Season 5 starting October 4th.  A few movies, and the Presidential Candidate Debate kept me satisfied in front of the TV - an activity I can do without any problem.

Before you feel TOO SORRY for me, take a look at the "DAY BEFORE SURGERY DECADENCE" that I enjoyed - a NORDSTROM CHOCOLATE CUPCAKE!! It was truly as good as it looks!

A shout out of THANKS to all of my FAMILY/FRIENDS/NEIGHBORS/BLOG FOLLOWERS who have wished me well and taken care of me. HOW could I have done it without each of you?! It was much appreciated and brightened my days!! You have no idea.

I have much to say about my trip to FRANCE and ITALY with the kids the week prior to surgery....... that's coming up.........

JOAN 

I'M STILL HERE........

Hello again,

The last few months are a bit of a blur as the days sped by with one thing after another.  Losing my precious 4-yr-old dog, WILLOW on JULY 6th hit me hard - I was literally left stunned by her sudden illness and passing.

Shortly after she died, I noticed some impaired vision in my right eye - right in the center - a bit like looking into the "wacky mirrors" at a "Fun House" - wavy, distorted and some blank spots. Needless to say I rushed to the eye doctor and she wanted me to get the earliest appointment with her retina specialist. Because the specialist wasn't available for 2 weeks, I asked a friend of mine if she could get me into hers. Lucky me. An appointment the next day!

He identified a "MACULAR HOLE", which CAN be repaired. The recovery he described was to lie FACE-DOWN FOR 10 DAYS!! IMPOSSIBLE!! I have "ants in my pants" as it is and can't sit still under normal circumstances! 

So I spent some time researching other alternatives. I found 2 doctors locally (at WILLS EYE) who have a "NO-FACE-DOWN" recovery. I was able to get an appointment with one of them within in the next 2 days. He said that the macular hole I have is small and I could probably get away with only 2-3 days in a face-down position. In addition to this good news, I liked his style and confidence. The facilities seemed cleaner and more up-to-date and the fact that this Doctor is Head of the Retina Dept. doesn't hurt either.........  

But just to be thorough I also saw the surgeon recommended by the first Retina Specialist. However, he didn't seem as "confident" to me, yet he did suggest 5-7 days face-down, not 10 days. 

I decided to go with the doctor at WILLS EYE.  My surgery is this WEDNESDAY.

While these appointments in July were happening, I was also searching for a puppy to fill the hole in my heart and the silence in this house!! My plan was to find "just born" puppies that would be ready to bring home in September, after my late August trip to FRANCE. 

Well, the UNIVERSE delivers when it feels it's best and CLOVER found me in the middle of my dog sitting a friend's Black Lab for a week. More about CLOVER in my next BLOG Post. She's ADORABLE!!

• My grand-niece NORA was here for a week of camp until JULY 17th
• CLOVER arrived on JULY 20th
• The following week, five high school girlfriends and I did a 5-day VIRGINIA WINE TASTING TOUR together.  We also hit some historical sites.
• Two weeks later TWO OUT-OF-TOWN FRIENDS visited for 5 days.
• Three days later I left for FRANCE (returning 3 days ago)........

So, please forgive my negligence in posting on my BLOG.......  BUT I'M BACK!!

All is good,

JOAN