Feeling Better, Today

Bottlebrush Tree (with red flowers)

Today, I am feeling so much better. 

Last night, I was in pain, but, eventually, the pain wore off.  I was calling out and praying aloud in pain and my daughter joined me in praying and she was crying.  So, I began to sing and she began to sing, too.  I started out with a Buddhist devotional song called "Danno Budunge" which is a song I learned in my childhood and my daughter, too, learned as a child attending religion classes at our temple.  From there, we sang my mother's favorite song, "Whispering Hope" and other family favorites and, somehow or the other, the singing was a good antidote to my pain!  By the time we finished singing, I wasn't in pain and was able to go to sleep.  I woke up at 6:00 a.m. to take my medications that the doctor had prescribed.  After which I slept again.  

I woke up feeling minimal pain.  Was able to go to the bathroom and back without too much pain, afterwards.  I am actually able to sit up in bed without pain, which is a blessing!  

According to the ER x-rays, I have some bone spurs and lumbar facet arthropathy (fancy name for arthritis) as well.  I have an appointment with my primary care physician (her office is finally open after being closed due to Covid since last March!) on the 25th of May.  There was no earlier appointment available.  I am on an anti-inflammatory medication and a pain medication that my primary care physician had prescribed; they and extra strength acetaminophen (again, with the doctor's approval) are what I am taking.  I am trying not to take the pain medication the ER doctor prescribed, as it is a narcotic and I'd rather not take it.  It's the same medication I was prescribed after my lumpectomy surgery, which I didn't use that time, either.  I don't want to risk getting addicted to anything!

I asked friend M to stop by and water the garden, yesterday, which he did.  I tried to pay him a little extra for this extra visit, but, he wouldn't accept any payment, saying I was a friend and like family.  Such a kindhearted person.  

The monks at the Temple have been calling and checking on me, saying they have been mentioning my name during their morning and evening blessing services; family, friends, and neighbors, too, have been calling and checking on me and my daughter.  I don't know if I mentioned it before, but, my aunt C and cousin N dropped off some soup on my front door step on Monday night, which was so very kind of them and much appreciated by both my daughter and I; I've been having that soup these past few days.  Daughter made some delicious teriyaki chicken, too, which was lovely.

We also enjoyed the first 4 or 5 ripe blueberries from one of our bushes!  

Today, my late friend Irene's two daughters came to see me; they now live out of state, but, they were down here on a visit.  We were all masked and with both daughter and I being fully vaccinated, I was happy to have them visit.  When I thanked them for visiting me, M said, "You came to see my sister T when she was in hospital and you were there for me when I needed you; of course I had to come to see you".  That was so sweet of her.  I had dreamed of my friend Irene, earlier this week, on the day before her birthday.  

Today, I am grateful for:

- Feeling better
- The healing power of prayers and song
- My daughter for being the amazing caregiver she is
- For modern medicines
- For family and friends, and I include all of my blog readers in that category; thank you so much for keeping my daughter and me in your thoughts and prayers.

Today's joyful activity was finally feeling well enough to sit up in bed (propped up on pillows) and comb out the tangles in my hair!  

Hope all is well with each and every one of you.  May you all be blessed.