I did something to my back on Tuesday afternoon. I was getting out of my car after work and I could feel all the muscles tighten like clenched little fists. I hold all of my stress in my back…and this first week of summer has been stressful at work…plus I decided to make appointments for the cars this week. Mine to get the windshield replaced after it randomly cracked and Anna’s to get the oil changed and tires rotated so that it’s all set to drive when she gets home from South Africa. So, thinking it was just stress I ignored it on Wednesday…by the time I left work Thursday I couldn’t stand up straight and spent an hour in J and Cheryl’s hot tub trying to get it to feel better. Friday I knew there was no way work was going to…well…work. I spent most of the day with the heating pad on it. Today it is marginally better, but not great. It’s frustrating and really sucks not to have Jason here taking care of me. My boys are great, but when I asked Levi to rub it for me I got a most definite “No Way”.
Doubly frustrating is that today is the day I was going to get out on a trail…rediscover my love of hiking…and fill my cup with nature. The past couple days I have been prepping by purchasing new hiking boots…socks…pants…etc…online. So today I have been grabbing all my new goods from the porch as they arrive. Finding my hiking backpack and cleaning out years old dog treats and poop pick up bags while reminiscing about all the good times that backpack has seen. Lots of hikes…even a trip to Belize. I found my trekking poles…and as I was grabbing them out of the garage I was thinking about how Jason was the last one to use them as his eyesight and balance started to deteriorate. For a split-second I thought “maybe I should just get some new ones”, but then I thought “no. Jason bought those poles for me for Christmas and I can just think of him holding me steady whenever I use them”. And I strapped them on my bag. And now I’m all set to go. Just need my back to feel better!
I have been working on getting other things on my calendar to look forward to this summer. Thanks to my friend, Vicki I discovered last summer that I love going to Saints games. I already made it to one this summer and have tickets for 4 more. I also booked a weekend camping in August. I’m planning on going to Nerstrand Big Woods State Park. Jason and I loved hiking there and it was a frequent destination for last minute trips. I especially remember one when I was just having a really cranky day and he is suddenly packing the car. I’m asking him what he’s doing and he just said “Grab your bag and get your hiking shoes on” and away we went. Hiking with my man and a stop at Caribou…what bad day??
Love, Tennis, and Cancer 