Part 4-Leaving where I was behind

My birthday was the next day and I was greeted by balloons at my desk, a coffee mug, a card and streamers. I took pictures and I looked awful. I never felt so happy to have a birthday,it would be later when I grasped with the reality of what could have been that I realized the birthday was a bit of a miracle.

Then a weekend and time spent building myself up to work an 8 hour day,5 hours then increasing to 6 hours. I never did the 7 hour day. I decided I should get up and be ready to go at 7:30 just like normal.The first day of that experiment a hard rain fell and I just layed in bed and drug myself to work about 10.

That first weekend I kept a promise to myself that I made when a co worker was kind enough to want to drive me around the lake on a nice evening in April. Watching the walkers I realized I wanted to do that. I needed to .When I left the hospital I was given drug instructions, drainage instructions but not recovery instructions.I was on my own for that.The old joke applies "Doc, will I be able to play the violin afterwards",
"I don't see why not" the doctor replies
"Great I never could before"

I walked at the lake, I didn't go far but I did it,I didn't get to on Sunday and only 1 that next week, but my heart was in it. I was tired and felt great.Walking aways and stopping to look at the lake. I also established a goal, time and distance didn't matter but I knew I wanted to walk across the dam. By the time I returned to work, I knew I wanted to work with the girls on break. That kinda replaced the Lake although I still have gotten out there.I did walk the dam in late June before heat and rain kept me out. I tried Yoga ,but that and the walking was too much. I want to do something with Yoga but I don't know what or where. A gym is probably out of the question for now.

One last medical issue, the stint, it was either coming out naturally or the digestive specialist would take it out.I made an appointment based on work for early July,after the 4th.The procedure was short and this time I felt the sensation of the room spinning around before falling asleep. The doctor said "This was the last chapter of a very long,painful road for you." In fact I got the stint as a gift, I want to turn it into a paperweight.Looking at it that day it became a symbol of survival,recovery,the balloons and flowers I got are long gone, I should have taken a picture but didn't. The cards are in a box,except Mel's card which is at work. The Card from Nancy Sinatra is on the table where ,next to the lap top. The Sinatra discs are duly organized, the Copy of "nothing but the best" I bought next to the one I was given.

I walk when I can at home, am waiting for cooler temperature to return to the lake. I feel better than I have in 10 years.I returned to traveling the state, a passion I developed last summer. The weight returned slowly,but I'm happy with it. Work has not been tiring.I do wonder who is in room 720 of Stormont Vail, and the nurses who were so good. I need to drink the energy shakes even though they taste like crap.

My mother ended up with the same doctor who removed the stint for her colosophy and he confirmed what bad shape I was in, the right lung had almost collapsed, that was new information.

Survivor,Recovery,Miracle I don't know. I havn't listened to the Grateful Dead in several years and one day just wanted to get a CD by them and yes it's " lately it occurs to me what a long strange trip it's been."