You are all a great bunch of friends, thank you so much.

Dorothy, I so admire your energy and willingness to go with the flow and get things done that you need for yourself. I love the way you write and always look forward to what you read. I don't think of myself as doing anything extraordinary. I know of folks here on the Mudcat who have lived their whole lives with what I would consider insurmountable challenges and I admire them and look up to them for inspiration when I have a bump in the road. One of them, recently, reminded me it is all relative. What might've kept you from walking comfortably in August is just as valid as anything the rest of us may go through. Having said that, though, I am delighted that you have such good health and are able to do so much. I consider it a blessing.

SRS, no surgery or anything, thank goodness. My osteopath did some incredible work on my leg and my body yesterday so that I am able to put a little bit of weight on my foot with the use of a cane to at least move around from the chair, to the sink, and to the bed. Roger was able to go to work today, although he did set up a few things for me, within easy reach either of my desk or the bed. He also brought me lunch; such a sweetie. (As to why I seem to have a lot of soft tissue challenges, my doc said I am like an onion. We are peeling away the layers of years of compromised living due to the old heart valve and inability to exercise. Since the heart valve replacement, it has been up and down, as you know. My goal is definitely to get back to where I was off the oxygen and doing much more. Taking baby steps seems to be the best and safest way for me to do that. I appreciate the reminder of where I was. It shows me where I can, again.)

For exercise today, my sore muscles in my arms, legs, and back are not as sore today. I have used them more and without Roger's help, so I feel I have done some good " rowing" up and down the hallway from my desk in the dining room, to the bathroom, bedroom and back. LOL

For decluttering, I was able to sit at the desk long enough to print out copies of our holiday letter, get them stuffed in the envelopes with cards. For the first time ever, I printed out mailing labels both return and addressee and put those on, too. I don't like doing that, I think it looks to impersonal, but my hands are happy that I didn't make them work quite so much. :-) I already had stamps, so when Roger came home for lunch, I sent those out the door with him for mailing. That had been bugging me, so I'm glad to have it done.

Time for a bit of a lie down, I think. National Public Radio station here has been playing some beautiful holiday music on their classical side. I think I'll go have a listen and will probably check in here later this evening.

Thanks for being here,

luvyakat