(Header picture is Chris, Heidi, and Scott at Echo a few winters ago)
‘Seasons greetings’ everyone,
We are now three months past surgery, and are on a long and winding road. The road seems to be getting a bit smoother, a bit wider, but it’s still uphill, and the end is nowhere in sight. I know it’s there, and we’ll get there….when is the question.
There’s nothing of major import to report on the health scene this week. I did see the physical therapist a couple days ago, and he added a few more exercises to my repertoire. I haven’t seen my doctors in a bit, but I’ll see all three of the main ones by the first week in February.
I must say, every morning when I wake up, I feel great. Then as I go through the day I realize my endurance is not good (the heart rate climbs as I climb the stairs) and my back starts to ache if I stand up too long or go on too long of a walk.
The logistics of fitting two or three repeats of my exercises daily, along with eating six times a day, is complicated. That’s a lot of stuff to do. And if I miss a meal, I can’t make up the calories on my next feeding because my stomach can’t handle larger portions of food.
I guess this complaining is my way of saying my weight dropped from 121.5 lbs last Friday to 119.8 lbs today. That is the first time I’ve broken the 120 barrier and I’m not happy about it!!! So I will just refocus my eating efforts and try to have snacks with me whenever I go someplace for an extended period. It has been difficult keeping to a strict eating schedule during the holiday time, and I am hoping that next week I can get on a more rigorous schedule and put on a few pounds.
I hope everyone is having a good holiday season. We had a grand Christmas Eve and Christmas Day….tamales on Christmas Eve…delicious. Eggnog French toast Christmas morning (wow), and salmon steaks for Christmas dinner. Santa was good to everybody, and we took in the Star Wars movie at the State Theater in Woodland on the largest screen in Northern California, ensconced in spacious recliner seats with large arm rests. Drew and Mel and Scott and Heidi were with us for all of these happenings. A fine time was had by all.
So let us welcome in a new year….2018 will be a good one I am sure. Here’s hoping you all have a healthy and happy new year.
I’ll close out with a poem about family gatherings at Christmas….
Family Christmas
Christmas is over and the kids have gone home
Their spirits’ still here but now we’re alone
When they were with us the times they were sweet
With laughter and games and tenderloin treats.
We gathered around and shared a few gifts
We listened to them and their goofy old riffs
We always have fun when they come to stay
But a longing can linger when they’ve gone away.
We’ll do it again and we’ll talk about when
We’ll pick out a date and let’s do it then
Fixing the when of our next rendezvous
Gives the heart something to look ahead to.
Memories forward and memories past
Sweeten each meeting, and longer they last
Thanks for the memories, here’s for some more
We’ll write down the date and wait by the door.
Chris,
I think it’s symptomatic of your singularity that you are the only one I know who loses weight during the holidays.
Hopefully you’ll become boringly normal in the new year.
I love your poems. I can feel your light and laughter from here.
Thinking of you fondly,
Greg
Gregory,
Always good to hear from you! With Scott and Heidi moved out of Portland to Grants Pass, there’s not much motivation to head that far north anymore. Glad we touched bases with you that one time up there anyway. We should try to think of excuses to get together in 2018, with Ringer and whomever else.
Hi Chris,
Happy New Year to you and yours!! Once again, thank you for sharing your life’s journey with us this year. I’m a part of you now in so many ways, and have learned much about how to respond to life’s adversities as a result of your strength and willingness to share your own. I don’t know anyone else who would do what you are doing.
It is so easy to forget life’s unpredictable nature. My son, Dominic ran into a cow on the road after leaving here Christmas Eve. He was unhurt, but feeling sorry for himself at dinner last night. Framing his experience with your’s, allowed me to better explain to him how lucky he is to only have a broken car.
Your friend,
Don
Hey Don,
Like ol’ Forrest Gump said, ‘life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you’re going to get.’ We’ll just grin and bear it and carry on!
While I wouldn’t wish this on anyone, it has been an interesting and (I suppose) a life-altering experience. And if nothing else, I don’t drink coffee anymore, and alcohol is unappealing. There should be some darn poems in there, too, somewhere.
Sorry about Dominic, his car, and the cow!
See you tomorrow (Tuesday), eh.
Hi Chris,
I just checked my contacts, and don’t have your phone#, or address. Help!! My phone# is:9162845681.
Don
Happy New Year, Mr (and Mrs) G’s,
It was great to read that you had a great holiday season with family, did a lot of fun stuff, and ate a variety of tasty foods, albeit in small quantities!
Kevin and family were here from Pittsburgh, and we also had a nice family time over Christmas. We are pulling for you on the weight thing. We can only imagine how frustrating it is but we feel confident that with your perseverance and good advice from docs and nutritionist, you will prevail! As we begin the new year, let us thank you again for sharing in such detail and with great flare, what you have been going through the past nine months. You have taught us all a lot about dealing with and conquering adversity! Wishing you a great year in 2018 and hoping that we see you soon.
Mr and Mrs B’s
Mr and Mrs B’s,
Many thanks for your continuing, uplifting comments. I certainly appreciate them. And now we are in January, so we better start thinking about a rendezvous somewhere, sometime!