Coherence
Here is a Normaphoto of me working with a horse-shoe pillow and an ice-pack several days ago, trying to get my neck reduced to normal contours. It is my own post-surgery exercise after undergoing a routine decapitation --during which my head came off, rolled down the hospital hall and escaped onto Broadway. It was returned by a middle school soccer team that was practicing in its path.
Human cells are programmed to put themselves together in certain ways. When that directive is confounded, terrible things happen and that was what was wrong with me. Correcting it is science and magic --and knowing where to look for it. That's all I know right now. This week I'll know more. We're all in this together. Ora pro nobis.
Holding you and Norma in my heart.
ReplyDeleteThanks, EC. Doing our best. I'm just glad the soccer team kicked my head back up to the 4th floor (O.R) where it was needed.
DeleteNice to hear of a positive social attitude on the part of the soccer team. Wishing you well and a speedy recovery. Also wishing Norma any strength and fortitude she may be needing.
ReplyDeleteKind Tom, I have eased Norma's care of me somewhat by giving up carousing and brawling during my convalescence. Will quit other such recreations as they occur to me.
DeleteTrying to 'keep your head' can be hard at times. Best of luck with getting your neck straightened out Geo.
ReplyDeleteDear Delores, I'm in good care. Post-operative therapy has come a long way since practitioners used to grab patients by the feet and snap them like whips --or so I am informed.
DeleteWe certainly charge more, Geo.
DeleteConsidering the returns, Mike, you guys are well-worth it.
DeleteThinking of you, Geo. Hasn't been a great summer, has it? Best of luck, my friend. Keep in touch if you can, I know I haven't been good at it for the last several months.
ReplyDeleteMike
Friend Mike, I find blogging and corresponding so helpful to my mood in recovery that I can't abandon it, but have moderated considerably. It's real easy to involute like a whelk at times like these.
DeleteWe all lose our heads now and then, in one way or another. I'm glad yours was retrieved. Science and magic sometimes work wonders. So can the power of hope, faith, optimism, prayer,
ReplyDeleteand the support of good people who care. My best always, Geo.
Friend Jon, happily my lost head was recovered, but the hospital keeps a pile of extras in their Lost&Found Dept., so I wouldn't be sent home without one. And thanks for being one of those good people who care.
DeleteI'm certainly glad your head didn't escape entirely. Hoping you get good news this week, and, like EC, holding you and Norma in my heart. Please keep us posted, will you?
ReplyDeleteO_Jenny, it's your sort of lovely caring that keeps our strength up. Norma and I are grateful. We have much to attend to now --medical bills are like balloons; prices rise with inflation. But I am determined to look outward, away from caducity, as time goes by.
Deletesending healing vibes, Geo, take care
ReplyDeleteThanks Gwen, I'm handling everything with care right now.
DeleteI do not know how I missed your post a few days ago. You have been on my mind but apparently, my head was not screwed on tight enough when I looked down my reading list. I pray that all goes well for you this week when you go back to your doctor. You are one of the really good guys, Geo, and I am so sorry that you are going through this. Caring thoughts for you and the lovely Norma.
ReplyDeleteDear Arleen, you encourage me beyond measure. Thank you. I'm doing my best and Norma is doing better than my best, so I feel some degree of confidence.
DeleteGood grief! I certainly hope your health and your fondness of carousing and brawling will survive this period of recovery. I mean, really, Geo!
ReplyDeleteMe too, Dear Bruce. At my age one would think I could hire carousers and brawlers to attend to these public services for me, but no. I shall have to find other recreations.
DeleteWe are so grateful that they retrieved and reattached the proper head onto your body. That brain of yours is one of a kind, and we love it just the way it is.
ReplyDeleteYes, I'm definitely praying for you and Norma. May the doctor's words be entirely encouraging and uplifting.
Smarticus fared well. His surgery lasted longer than expected, and his recovery waaaaay longer. (Due to his stupid smoking habit, it took him hours and hours to recover from the anesthetic because his oxygen levels kept dropping too low, making alarms go off on the machine and in my head.) But he's okay. No cancer. We go back to the surgeon this afternoon.
And YOU... I wish nothing but healing thoughts and all the best for you and Norma.
Sear Susan, I'm overjoyed to hear your husband is okay! Hope this afternoon's visit with your surgeon reports good news and proper healing. Mine did so yesterday. Pathology report was clear and I don't have to go back for 2 months. I still tire easily and have to go lie down a lot --and I'm only a boy of 68!-- and have had to handle myself with care. Getting stronger bit by bit but it takes so long. Please convey my relief and good wishes to your husband and accept my admiration of your strength.
DeleteAnd I'm overjoyed that your path report was good. Keep on handling yourself with care, (I'm sure Norma helps) because on this earth, you're precious cargo. Let your body take as long as it needs to heal. I raise my teacup to you in a happy salute.
DeleteCheers, back and forth, Susan. Always.
DeleteIt is a fine and fertile mind housed in that soccer ball of yours. It is wonderful to see the cyber lights blinker on from The Trainride. It seems to have been a medical summer for you and we continue to send you our best healing thoughts and vibes.
ReplyDeleteGlad that middle school team "handled you with care."
Dear Tom, I may have exaggerated a little about the soccer team kicking my head back into the hospital, but I honestly and accurately appreciate your good wishes.
DeleteDo you think you can hook me up with that middle school soccer team? My head is still rolling around somewhere.
ReplyDeleteI hope you have a speedy recovery. I'm sending your cells lots of good vibes and duck tape.
Thank you, Mildred, for good wishes and duck tape for my head --I like the look of silver. Best wishes to you too!
DeleteGeo, you amaze me with your humor and positive attitude no matter what life leaves on your doorstep: I'm often too afraid to open my door. It's often more bad news than good. So I take the Emily Dickinson approach. I really do admire your direct approach big time.
DeleteSorry I have not stopped by sooner: My current life makes Kafka's novels look like comic books. So my energy level is such that leaving a comment is a huge effort.
However, I wanted you to know that you are in my thoughts, and I hope/pray that everything will turn out okay for you.
You deserve to be happy and healthy. Big time.
- Dylan
P.S. Thanks for taking a peek or two at my odd little blog :-)
Dear Dylan, I am always happy to visit your blog. Also happy to get your thoughtful and encouraging comments. As for bad news on the doorstep ("I couldn't take one more step" --Don McLean?), I too have a few frissons of dread on my way to the mailbox. Re. healing: Can't rush it but working on it --big time!
DeleteDear Geo, wow, you caught me on the borrowed Don McLean line :-) BTW, American Pie is my all time favorite tune. So much history and poetry! Current popular music cannot compare in any way. Well, at least they finally showed Bob Dylan a little respect. I hope this will open the door for other talented songwriters...
DeleteThat happened to Oliver Cromwell, and a soldier hit it up in his chimney for 50 years or so. Eventually it was sold to a dean of some big English school and buried (in a place very near here: true words!)
ReplyDeleteSo it could have been worse. Hope your healing progresses well.
Thanks for the history lesson, Susan! I did not know what had become of that particular Head Of State, except that it was eventually found. I echo and appreciate your kind hope that mine continues to heal.
DeleteGeo:
ReplyDeleteSuch a mixture of emotions I have... happiness that you have had positive news... concern about your discomfort... amazement at your still incredibly playful and creative manner of life... and delight at reading your writings.
I thank you for your efforts! They are greatly appreciated.
If I could offer one small physiological bit of advice... during your healing process... you can enhance the rate and comfort of healing by being very careful to consistently drink sufficient quantities of water. Dehydration, even very mild dehydration, can impede healing. I mention this because discomfort from your surgery may make it less comfortable to drink adequately... but it is so very important.
PipeTobacco
PipeTobacco
Thanks, Prof., for the kind words and useful advice. Fortunately my surgeon is extremely skilled and was able to leave enough of my pharnyx intact and did no nerve damage so I have no trouble swallowing. 20 lymph nodes came out the side of my neck which looks like I flunked machete-juggling, but I will hydrate and soon be strangely handsome again.
DeleteUgh. So sorry. Thank goodness for that middle school soccer team.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Squid. Fortunately they were in the right imagination with the right skills waiting for such an opportunity in public service.
DeleteI hope you're on the mend, Geo, and don't have too many muddy bruises from being used in a soccer match, before they gave up on the game with a ball that didn't roll straight! :)
ReplyDeletewwww.thepulpitandthepen.com
www.thepulpitandthepen.com
Dear Sage, my prominent nose and nuchal crest kept things bouncing favorably and may change soccer ball design permanently.
DeleteThat indeed looks like your head, and the prose style is familiar, so that bodes well for recovery. A strange head can cause complications. With science, magic and Norma, and us well wishers, this should be the start of a better era. xxx
ReplyDeleteThanks Lisa, I'm doing my best and getting stronger bit by bit. I'm even able to walk past the microwave oven without forgetting who I am.
DeleteJust checking in to see how you are doing. I am so glad to read that your path report was good.
ReplyDeleteMost kind. Thanks for checking in. I'm still weak, but have been trying to help Norma with house projects. She has all the strength, skill and endurance now and I have what's left. I take breaks less frequently this week but still have to go lie down a lot. Gosh, what a summer!
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