- SEPTEMBER - 13 days touring IRELAND with great friends (8 couples and me)
- OCTOBER - 4 nights in VA (a group of 9 women friends) - a full day of wine tasting, a food/culture/historic walking tour of FREDERICK MD, and a day at the WATERFORD FAIR (artisan crafts) in WATERFORD, VA
- OCTOBER - the next weekend..... 3 nights in NASHVILLE, TN for a GLORIOUS wedding (my neighbor's beautiful daughter). Truly a work of art (both the WEDDING and the BRIDE!).
- OCTOBER - 2 weeks later..... BACK SURGERY - ugh - FUSION of L4/5. The first 2 weeks were VERY tough - the bottom half of my body felt like it had the flu - achy, achy, achy!! After that, it was one day at a time, getting stronger and WALKING more. I was told it would be a 3-month initial recovery (it's 12 WEEKS TODAY!!), actually 3-6 months and up to a year for a FULL recovery. I'm well on my way and what a difference the surgery has made already. WOW!!!
- NOVEMBER - HEALING and THANKSGIVING - my first long distance drive (over an hour) by myself.
- DECEMBER - well, you all know how December can be with family and friend events..........
- JANUARY - a 5 night get-away to the BAHAMAS with a BESTIE for a little SUN and WINTER TAN
- JANUARY - Book Clubs. Reading books for Book Clubs. Lunches/Dinners out with friends. Did I say "reading books for Book Clubs...??
And here we are.
NEW YEAR'S REFLECTIONS AND REALIZATIONS -
- I've had THREE MAJOR surgeries in the past 1.5 yrs (hip and knee replacements and spinal fusion). Ok, FIVE SURGERIES in 3 years if you count my 2 EYE SURGERIES - MACULAR HOLE REPAIR and subsequent CATARACT REMOVAL. I've realized how much each surgery has taken a toll on my body/psyche. Recovering from surgery isn't for sissies, that's for sure. And my recovery isn't over yet. All of these surgeries were to improve my quality of life and ability to WALK and TRAVEL with more ease (and NO PAIN). I remain focused on that end result.
- NEVER UNDERESTIMATE the importance of having a pet. CLOVER!!! has been a GODSEND. She's good company. She's highly entertaining. She literally makes me LAUGH OUT LOUD. She reminds me (regularly) to GET UP FROM THE COMPUTER or to PUT MY BOOK DOWN and pay attention to her. She challenges me to get up and WALK to the door and let her out. These may sound like "LITTLE THINGS" but when you're recovering from surgeries, they are "BIG THINGS". Oh, and she SLEEPS later than I do in the morning!!
- FAMILY and FRIENDS mean the WORLD to me. My 2 SISTERS over-saw my surgery on my behalf and took care of me those first few days when I could do very little for myself. I received a VERY thoughtful POST SURGERY CARE PACKAGE before this last surgery from my NEPHEW/WIFE. Visits, emails, cards, phone calls, flowers, chocolates, meals, lunches out, time together with friends...... I am SO GRATEFUL and so VERY VERY BLESSED.
Yes, IT'S THE LITTLE THINGS.........
JOAN
