Good News and Bad News

If you've followed my blog much at all, you're aware that I've had some health concerns of late. My heart/blood pressure seem to be doing weird things. At the last visit to my general practitioner, he asked me to schedule a stress test. It was yesterday.

I'm going to be upfront with you and tell you that I was a bit nervous. My pulse rate is so rapid some of the time (122 with no exertion) that I was afraid I might pass out from what they were going to put me through. There was absolutely no need for concern. The young (seems to me that doctors, police officers and service men and women are getting younger and younger) doctor's assistant was over-the-top kind and informative. My resting pulse rate was 115, and he said they would only need to get me to about 133. No sweat. I could do that.

After they hooked me up with all the little electrodes and did an echo, they put me on the treadmill. I was chatting with them, hardly exerting myself at all, when they told me the test would be over in five seconds. What? I had only just begun!

As it turns out, my heart, as a pump, appears to be healthy and strong. However, I seem to kick into overdrive at little or no provocation. I don't know what this means as far as future tests, etc. go, but I'm confessing that I'm relieved - at least, for the moment. I was quite concerned that they might find a problem. The only problem, it seems, is that I have too much stress. I find that laughable. I think the only way I'm going to get away from some of the stress is to die - and that's not really a good option!

A friend suggested yoga. I'm getting my treadmill back from Dondra so I can begin walking at home. Mom tells me prayer works (as if I didn't already know that). Lots of suggestions, but I'm looking for solutions

Not Grieving for the Past

Don and I had a teeny, tiny scare yesterday. We were just preparing to leave the house and go to Marko's in Madison for a fish sandwich when he said, "Oh, I have the hiccups!" After our last experience with Don and hiccups, we both feared what might be happening. As it turned out, they lasted only a few minutes and were gone. We were grateful, and it got us to thinking.

We neither one dwell on what might be or what could have been or what's possibly lurking in the shadows ahead. We don't cry over things we've missed and things we might never be able to do again. We do, however, share countless stories of good times, memories we share, "forever" times we shared with our children, grandchildren and extended family and friends. I believe that's one thing that keeps our spirits alive and helps us go on, facing every day as a new adventure.

If we were honest, we would both tell you there are things we miss. It's sort of like losing a good friend who had lived his life in preparation for what's coming after. You grieve the loss, but you don't long for a return to normal. We may never get to take a nice long trip again. But we can certainly remember with laughter and joy the many nice long trips we've already taken. I treasure each day with Don. I value the things we CAN do and enjoy together. We're excited and anxious for the future. Who knows what God may have for us, right around the corner.

Plenty to Smile About

I haven't been feeling the best for the last month and a half. I've had blood work done, and, so far, nothing is jumping out as being terribly out of line. What is elevated is only slightly higher than normal, so there's little to be concerned about. Only problem, I still don't feel "right."

So, Don and I both had doctor appointments today. As the doctor went down the list detailing my blood work, I became more and more confused - because nothing seems to be wrong. Makes me wonder; is it all in my head?

I came home from the doctor visit, however, counting my blessings. Don and I sat together in the small examining room and talked and laughed the whole time. How many couples who have been married 45 years do that? We're one that does - regularly. We chatted all the way home from the doctor's.

Since Don had a Culver's engagement tonight, he laid down for a short nap before Tom was scheduled to pick him up. Tom called saying he would be a little late, so I went ahead and loaded Don into the van and sat with him there until Tom and Jim arrived. The whole time, he was keeping me chuckling with his dry humor and sarcasm.

I love being with that man - even after all these years. He makes me feel secure. He makes me smile. And I know he loves me more than anyone else in this whole world loves me. Sure makes an over-the-hill 63-year-old feel like grinning ear to ear!