I am getting an up close and personal tour of America's medical, health world these recent weeks and months. I have the benefit of fantastic individuals doing yoeman work to bring healing and repairs to me. I almost said "to us" but that would include all those citizens without access to what I have and/or those who will soon lose it. Since it is Christmas Eve, I hope this season means a renewal, a recognition of our common responsibilities to one another, whoever and wherever we are on life's journey, that will swiftly grow and give new depth and meaning to: "Do unto Others as You Would Have Them Do unto You".
Thoracic surgery is my lot not far ahead to remove the spot and portion of lung with an excellent prognosis in view. January 9th is targeted for it to take place. The medical teams taking care of me are extraordinary and I feel confident there will be the best possible outcomes for that and for determining my other issue that so far confounds diagnosis. In the meantime, it is surreal that I feel very well, and yet this is happening; as though I am getting ready to go somewhere to get a pedicure.
Besides Wendy, John and now Keoni who is home for Christmas, many friends have stepped up to provide transportation to myriad appointments, studies and tests; even taking me to Aidan's PYAO concert.
First, he had a concert one evening at his school...
Then, came last Sunday's PYAO concert...
Taking his position as Principal Cello.
Warming up. No pictures allowed during piece.
Taking a bow.
After the concert.
Around home there were a couple of things to remind me what time of year it is...
Simple decorations here at Marge's hearth.
Keoni came with my pony Subaru to take me back to the farm one evening to decorate the family tree. But, first, the boys and I had time to take another walk together around the farm pastures...
Aidan testing ice. Keoni recording.
I missed the ladybugs all over the outdoor wall at the farm this year, but not entirely when one fell from the light fixture where she was wintering...
That's Aidan practicing in the background.
John, Aidan, Keoni.
Kennedy Center where Keoni was for a month last summer and the summer before.
Aidan adds the angel.
Karma seems quiet now but will watch for a chance to denude the bottom branches of ornaments.
A week or so ago Aidan, The Ice Man, sent this...
It was around that time that Granddaughter Sonja called and said they were heading off to a drawing for a Chevy Trailblazer. She said she almost thought it was a hoax but knew she'd entered some local contest. Some communication said she was in the top five drawing. So they went. This video didn't arrive very well, but you get the idea. She is the last name called. That's Jeff with her at the end...
She sent a snap, too, of her beautiful new car. It looks like young Kingston just escaped out the back end of it...
Coming back from an appointment in Philly my friend stopped her car so we could watch these geese crossing the road...
There were perhaps 12 times as many birds in this flock.
Carol and Janie sent me a newly published book of Jim Waid's art that I love. It's a wonderful presentation of his work. I know him from the last year he taught at Pima College when I took Drawing I & II from him. That's when I got to know Carol.
Marge went on her way down the Eastern Seaboard last Wednesday for her visits with family and friends before her annual stay for the rest of winter with her Charleston, S.C., brother.
Marge headed for warmer climes just in the nick of time.
Snow and cold soon followed her departure.
Concentrating on what was at hand, I attended to appointments and obtaining the rides to get there and was hugely happy for the willingness of others to help. That continues this week as my two main health concerns are researched and diagnosed and and and...
So, that being said, I won't walk around this anymore and tell you a little about what is going on.
Not driving... Cardiologist said stop for awhile until it is determined what exactly has caused a series of irregularities. Strong heart but something electrical maybe misfiring. Still looking into causes. Except for episodes, I feel fine making it seem surreal that I am not driving. I'm walking. I'm asking for rides. Boy, is that different! Good part of getting rides from others: I get to see more of Pennsylvania. The leaves are off the trees and there is much to take in that summer hides. Good part of walking--it's like slow food.
The other thing.
Last fall the adversities that befell my advancing years via leg pain and serious coughing it was learned, after serious research and hospitalization, were blood clots. That's from Factor V (Leiden Mutation). I got a copy from Mom and another from Dad. Now I know and you know. A modern pharmaceutical has that under control, thanks and all praises, and put me squarely in the Doughnut Hole, thank you big Pharma.
In that quest last winter, a nodule in a lung was noted while the Factor V search was going on. The good doctor made note and followed up on it through this year. Last summer's scan and the scan made a couple weeks ago revealed the nodule is just fine; still sitting there doing nothing, but a new species of neighbor moved in and is, according to yesterday's full body scan, classified as a Stage 1 cancer. That's medicalese for it hasn't spread anywhere else. The same good doctor is calling on the mighty knowledge of Temple University's Lung Department, their formidable expertise and their robots that will excise my in-dwelling threat. And, that's to be within a couple of weeks. If all that other hadn't happened last winter and this fall, this newest development might well have gone on to advanced stages.
It's all a mystery and sometimes we get to know it is.
So, this part is about what I'm doing these late years with what life just morphed into. No doubt, much will be cleared up and I'll be back behind the wheel later on. But, just now, I get a very close look at the world with my feet on the ground.
There was wrapping and mailing to be done and I applied my stack of funny papers from the Philadelphia Inquirer to the wrapping task; thus, thwarting at least a small portion of Christmas merchandizing if I can't thwart Big Pharma. My trusty new sidekick Cartwheel and I headed out with packages walking the mile plus to the US Postal Service in the old part of town. But first, there was a big intersection awaiting. All along this corridor that cuts through Quakertown there are big boxes and franchises with a pretty squalid block paralleling either side of it. Each lighted intersection has at least one inoperable pedestrian button and the painted crosswalks lead to nowhere except for one corner that has about thirty feet of sidewalk running alongside a Wendy's. The rest of the egress from the crosswalks is lumpy stuff. Two of them send you directly into oncoming traffic lanes. I plan to alert the Borough of Quakertown.
The far side has nowhere to go but up the lumpy grass slope and over a curb into the McDonald's parking lot. I doubt anyone but me actually walked across over the past month. I'm sure no one in a wheel chair has ever
Once a block on past the highway, the walking is through old neighborhoods; albeit, strung with electrical infrastructure, but full of history and interesting human occupation.
The little sign says "Oldest Log House 1761".
This made my feet stop hurting. At least, for a little while.
I was amazed to find this library...
...and it's stood here since 1788.
Ah yes, the electrical infrastructure. Yet, I still loved walking this street.
McCool's Event Center has a presence here I didn't know about.
McCool's Red Lion Inn next door on the corner.
Bucks County's Visitor Center.
One of the historic houses...
...where I'll stop in sometime.
A bid to recycled patriotism
A bridge marked with its beginning.
Infrastructure again. Soon there will be more salt to damage it some more. We're due for some serious freezing right now.
And this is the creek it spans. I wonder if it has a name.
This is proof that Cartwheel and I were at the post office.
On the way back we picked up a few groceries and out there next to parking lot land a sound emerged; then, I found this...
My first busker observation in Quakertown. Then, I saw seagulls.
Back on my side of the challenging highway intersections someone copied the house in My Big Fat Greek Wedding.
By then Cartwheel and I were in trudge mode. Mostly, because I packed a little too much into him.
Walmart asked me to rate and review my recent purchase. Here is my post to them...
"Now that I am an old lady and can't have my pony Subaru, this cart is a nice light-weight substitute on my trudges to Walmart and local businesses. Suggested improvement: Lights and Electricity."
My pony Subaru is out to pasture at Wendy and John's. Subaru says he doesn't mind Cartwheel handling errands for awhile.
On our way to the Walmart and Giant Supermarket, Cartwheel and I pass another giant--a big dumbbell in a parking lot.
Some walks take in the backside of strip mall terrain not too distant; still, not within sight and sound of my home in Quakertown. Most of the town is not on this four-lane State Road that runs through. It is a larger town of many very old homes and businesses. The newer stuff set up shop along this thoroughfare so it is now a necessary part of living in Q'town. Recently, I found a nice afternoon walk is about eight blocks to a Dunkin' Donuts where I have a decaf and am, oddly, not attracted to the doughnuts. At least, so far.
So, it is different than looking at the pastures and woods around Wendy's on my walks there. Yet, it is outdoors and wild things are in the sky. The geese sounding off on their v-shaped flights stop me in my tracks sometimes. I stand still, listening and watching.
Aidan and I had almost a day together while Wendy and John joined friends for a party and some music at another location. He showed me cartoon characters he developed.
I love these little characters! Hope he does some more in his drawing book.
My sister Susie sent greetings and a selfie...
In honor of Aidan and I playing poker, Carol sent a photo of the two poker players who were responsible for naming Showlow, Arizona...
That's Carol enjoying a hand with them.
It was nice to be greeted by Toby at the farm. He was sitting on the bench by the back door waiting for me to come onto the porch. I like to visit my fuzz ball friend, too.
