Day 193

Hollie and Megan and I will walk to the farmers’ market. It is the high point of the season. I enjoy every trip and especially when we go together. I want fruit again. My garden is supplying plenty of greens and I don’t need to buy any vegetables. With the long “cold” or whatever, the world feels smaller since I stay home more. I missed the senior center on Thursday and won’t have a duty until next Wednesday at the museum.

Day 192

I did exercise yesterday morning and then nothing the rest of the day. I had no energy and did not walk or do senior center duty. I did host our little group and that was the high point of the day. I don’t know why I’m so listless and need so much sleep. After 9 ½ hours last night, I should be dancing and singing. Not so much yet. Maybe the day will improve as I’m tired of whining. Let’s get going.

Day 191

I work hard at physical therapy. I sweat. I come home sore and smiling. Today I’ll begin with the exercises including the new one and that will get my system up and running. It’s writing group after senior center duty. I look forward to the gathering. It’s fun and growing closer. I have my two stories to share. Carol won’t be there as she is with Gene for tests and Karen is in Texas for the birth of her first grandchild.

Newsletter

One morning while waiting for the light to turn green, I noticed a homeless man waiting on the opposite corner. We met in the middle of the street and I smiled and said Good morning. He turned and began to walk with me. “Can you see me?” “Yes, I can see you.”” Can you hear me?” “Yes, I can hear you.” “You can see me and hear me.” “Yes, I can.”  I think I’m invisible.” “I guess everyone feels that way now and then”.” Do they pinch themselves?” “Maybe some do.”  “But you know I’m here.” “Yes. I know you are here.” He walked with me, rambling about a friend he hoped to see again and talked and talked. I turned toward him and said uh-hum often so he would know that I could see and hear him. “This is where I turn.” He smiled and said, “Now I don’t feel lonely.” He turned walked back the way he was going when we met in the street.

I carried that experience with me as I went through my day, smiling and acknowledging the people I met. I called the checker at the grocery store by name, smiled, and thanked her for her service. I was rewarded by her smile. I greeted everyone I had any interaction with that day by name when I could and thanked them or wished them a good day. I felt that it made my day better and brighter.  It has become a habit now.

The people who make commercials for television know that smiles sell. Behold, the sufferer with the furrowed brow suddenly breaks into a smile with the help of pharmaceutical products. I’ve noticed that their posture improves too. Do we need to pop a pill to feel like smiling? No. We just need to do it. There is evidence that smiles are contagious. One smile deserves another and that one goes out like dropping a pebble in a pond.

Back in 1900, French chemist Emile Coue told his patients to repeat: “Every day, in every way, I’m getting better and better.” And they did get better and better. Other doctors shook their heads in amazement. Later this was called the placebo effect as it used the subconscious mind to convince the person of their improvement. It’s a simple health plan, along with smiling and feeling grateful, saying a mantra that encourages progress toward health is as near and easy to do as the intention to be well.
Note founr on the golden Gate Bridge said, "If one person smiles at me, no one will read this."

Day 190

Yesterday did not improve. Karen’s massage helped but it was an early bedtime and now a UTI has appeared. I want to be well! What am I missing? There must be a solution to the low immune response. I’m taking acidophilus and yogurt, walking, exercising, sleeping enough, and enjoying life anyway. This morning I was to go back to bed and whine. Instead, I will sweep the floors, go for a walk, do museum duty, and have another physical therapy session. 

Day 189

I worked up a sweat. No purpose in being at PT if I’m not going to work at the exercises. It would be a waste of time. I will go back until I feel confident. I can walk without the walking stick too. Today I need to look inward. The house needs attention and maybe the garden too. Later, a massage with Karen. Probably another early bedtime. The cold symptoms aren’t gone. I do want more activity or another creative project. 

Day 188

Another damp gray morning. I’ll walk early since it’s the first day of school and the streets will be busy. The pt exercises are working. I can tell by how far and how fast I can walk before any discomfort shows up. Today I have another session and I’m looking forward to coaching so I can be sure I’m doing them correctly. I’m there to learn to take care of myself, not to have them fix me. I can do it.

Day 187

It was another day of naps and early bed. It’s been more than three weeks since this illness started. Only made it to the third inning of the Giants game and I don’t know how it ended. After nearly 10 hours of sleep, I need activity but it may be watering the orchids and taking a walk. I did enjoy the market and brought home fruit. Love the peaches and plums. Almost time for pears and apples. I’ll start with exercises.

POH

I had been living alone in the house on El Monte and decided it was time to find a home for myself. I sold it in April, 1976. and moved into a funny little house in Hiouchi. It was a travel trailer surrounded on three sides by rooms and I loved living in it. I started looking at properties and it was in August that I found this house.  It was stuffed full of furniture and the yard was overgrown and uncared for but I saw it as a livable and convenient location. I wanted to be able to walk to town and later walked to CE and JH to work. The house was for sale for $23,000 and I said it was too much and offered $19,000 cash. The offer was accepted. Since then I have made a lot of changes beginning with the yard. The north side was covered with huge fuchsia bushes and I had them cut to the ground. Not good to have cover on the north side of a building. Chuck and Hollie moved in in 1980. I had new plumbing and wiring when I changed the kitchen into what was the laundry. Added the back porch in 1982 and the sun porch in 1989. The little house was converted from a stable to a house in 1983 when Megan was born and I wanted a place of my own. The dirt driveway was paved in 1993. The foundation was poured in 1994 and new windows put in the front porch. It has been my home for half my life.