DIGGING DEEPER DEVOTIONAL SEPT. 6, 2024
DIGGING DEEPER DEVOTIONAL SEPT. 5, 2024
A PROBLEM I DIDN’T KNOW I HAD
I have never been good at going to the doctor or the dentist for my yearly appointments.
I actually lost my last doctor because I did not keep up with my yearly physicals. I don’t know about your part of the world, but in my part that is a cardinal sin of the medical health system. I always told myself I was just too busy to go to the doctor or the dentist.
Two years ago I told myself it was time to make a change. I needed to start taking better care of my health….
I applied for a new primary care physician and I made an appointment. It got put off a few times which I was fine with. When I finally got to have the appointment the nurse practitioner ordered a bunch of tests. One was a colonoscopy. I made the appointment and failed to show up for it not once but twice. I just freaked out and couldn’t make myself go out the front door. I told myself it was just because of that particular test, but then I failed to get simple X-rays done. I told myself it was just that I was too busy.
Then Mom got sick. I told myself she had to be my focus, so I cancelled all my doctors appointments. I picked things back up in August with a visit to my PCP (primary care physician). She ordered more tests of course. She modified the colonoscopy to COLOGUARD which I managed, but the new test was a cardiac MRI.
I thought I was good with it. I set it up. Then the day of the test, which was yesterday, I totally blocked it from my mind. I went to bed the night before knowing I had to be out of the house by seven for a seven thirty call. I was up in time, but I just went on with my morning chores like a normal day. It was noon before I realized I had missed the appointment.
I think I have to come clean with myself and admit that I have a major case of WHITE COAT SYNDROME which I have been hiding from myself for years. It’s not just busyness or forgetfulness or shame. It’s fear!!!
I broke two teeth a while back and finally went to the dentist when it started hurting. I now need oral surgery to have two wisdom teeth removed and a molar.
I think this one will be OK. I am going to need a ride there and back so I will have the kids hold me accountable, but the rest of this fear I am not sure how I will deal with. It’s getting rather inconvenient.
HOW DO YOU HANDLE LIFE CONTROLLING FEAR?
MINT AND MAINTENANCE AT THE VICARAGE
The temperatures here in North Central Massachusetts have gotten unseasonably cool. From what I have read the next few weeks are going to be more like late October or early November than early September. We are definitely into the Brrrr months.
The gardens are slowing down and it is time to begin thinking about bringing in the last of the harvest and to get ready for the winter in a big way. I feel like all my fall projects are being put on the fast conveyor belt. The issue is basic maintenance here at the Vicarage seems to be taking more and more time. Mowing the lawn, walking the dogs, caring for the chickens, laundry, dishes, cooking. The kids are helping a lot, but I think I am still saying yes to too many things. I still haven’t figured out that perfect rhythm. Maybe I never will. Of course it could also just be that the whole family (except for me and Joe) have had COVID for the last week. We have been down two adults to help with the work. I think I am definitely feeling that extra burden.
Anyway, whatever may be causing my autumn angst doesn’t change the fact that time has to be made to bring in the fall plants. It is time to start drying the herbs for winter. I have a huge mint harvest to hang and then I have to start moving plants from the front gardens to other locations for the Spring. I have giant hosts, and daffodils and some irises to move.
Before all that though…the mint. Here is a video on how I am going about the process of drying.
I didn’t get all the mint harvested the other day. So I am back at it today.
DO YOU HAVE A LIST OF FALL PROJECTS?
DIGGING DEEPER DEVOTIONAL SEPT. 3, 2024
DIGGING DEEPER DEVOTIONAL SEPT. 2, 2024
MONDAY MORNING KICKSTART SEPT. 2, 2024
Here is the next offering from CREATIVE CONSULTATIONS.
WHAT ARE SOME THINGS THAT HAVE MADE YOU PUT YOUR DREAMS ON HOLD?
INTRO TO NOTES FROM THE VICARAGE YOUTUBE
I have had a YouTube channel for the last several years. Like so many things in my life I have neglected this channel during the time of my mother’s illness, hospice and passing.Today I am making this channel’s resurrection one of my writing/platform building projects here at the Vicarage. Let’s begin!
WHAT PROJECT HAVE YOU BEEN SITTING ON FOR A WHILE? IS IT TIME TO RESURRECT IT?
DIGGING DEEPER DEVOTIONAL AUG. 31, 2024
A SETBACK TO 2020
The night before last my grandson awoke from sleep crying and wheezing. My son and daughter-in-law packed him up into the car and were off to the emergency room at 2 A.M.
The day before he had been bitten by a mosquito and the bite had swelled up into a giant egg on his leg, so the chief concern was all the fall viruses that come in our area with mosquito bites, like West Nile virus and Eastern Equine Encephalitis.
Several towns in our state have put restrictions on afternoon sports programs and other youth activities because of an increase in the number of cases of these dangerous diseases.
As it turns out Sevy does not have West Nile or EEE. He has Covid. And Kristine is also displaying symptoms. Amanda has also tested positive. Amanda has just completed radiation treatments, and so the concern about her immune system’s ability to fight the sickness is pretty high. She also cannot take the medication for Covid offered to many immuno-compromised individuals because of the kind of cancer she had.
Everyone is doing OK this morning. Sevy’s breathing seems to be good now that he is on steroids. Kristine has mild cold systems, and Amanda is experiencing more flu like symptoms but no breathing issues. Joe and I are testing negative, symptom free and feeling fine.
This morning I got up and sanitized both bathrooms and all the living room and dining room furniture.
Amanda is quarantining in her room with Bakari, her kitten.
Kristine and Sevy are quarantining in their bedroom and the playroom.
Joe and I are doing the household chores. Yesterday I made a corn chowder for lunch and a macaroni salad and hotdogs and cheeseburgers for supper. We bought some ginger to make tea along with all the medicines we will need over the next couple of days.
It feels like a throwback to 2020, but it is different. Back then the whole world went quiet. This time we are stepping aside a bit but the world is still spinning.
I AM WONDERING, IN THE NEW NORMAL DO YOU FEEL GUILTY WHEN YOU HAVE TO PULL BACK FROM THE WORLD TO QUARANTINE OR TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF OR WAS THAT ISSUE SOLVED FOR YOU BACK IN 2020?
Notes From the Vicarage 