Gray clouds drifting snow
Golden sunbeams brighten sky
Lovely yin and yang
Haiku: Wintry Mix
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Capillary Action
Small glass cubed-shaped vase
Home for plant roots growing in water
Philodendron thriving nicely
In its bed of smooth pebbles
Today things however did not go well
While watering my plant
I missed the mark badly
Pouring a puddle upon my end table
Recalling science lessons from long ago
I grabbed a paper towel and created a straw
To suck up the liquid
O joy it did! problem solved
Haiku: Bobby’s Journeying
Your sails set just so
Edging out of the harbor
Adventures await
Your talents galore
Steer the way toward your future
What work will you choose?
Now time to linger
With family and roommates
Cook up a fine meal.
Haiku: James – A Revelation
At age five or six
Curiosity took hold
Drove you to explore
Everything fair game
You created ways to play
Drove me to despair
AHA moment struck
Finally I saw revealed
Genius in you
Mysteries to me
Your knowledge of how things work
Produced summer job
James, I’m proud of you
College years begin next fall
New things to explore
Episode Number Two: The Wonderful One Hoss Shay- 2019 Model
Behind the scenes my primary care doctor was monitoring the action. He noticed that my eye doctor’s concern about a stroke resulted in my appointment with the retina specialist. When the specialist made the call that I have macular degeneration and began treatment, the plot veered away from a possible TIA. My doctor picked up the loose string and arranged for me to have MRI’s of my brain, eye and neck. The results were that I did not suffer a stroke. However, I do have narrowing of the blood vessels in my brain. The next step is for me to see a neurosurgeon.
Up to now I have been weathering this weird series of my having a problem, a doctor making a diagnosis and passing me on to a specialist who instead finds something different and the next specialist coming up with another possibility – twice. The thought of having narrowing blood vessels in my brain begins a new chapter, if not a whole new book. It is scaring me. And my appointment with the neurosurgeon is three weeks away.
My problem with pain from sciatica and arthritis in my knee is ongoing but getting better. I began physical therapy last week. In my assessment the therapist asked me about my recent medical problems. I gave him my litany. When I got to my brain MRI and the diagnosis that I had not had a stroke… but, the therapist broke in and said, “They found narrowing of blood vessels in your brain.” Like this is normal. He explained that they will keep a watch on me from now on to see if anything develops.
Finally things are coming full circle. I think I’m in good enough shape to go another ten years. This One Hoss Shay is not ready to collapse just yet.
Episode Number One: The Wonderful One Hoss Shay – 2019 Model
July 14 was a wonderful day. I joined the small church where I was once pastor for the 175th Anniversary of its founding. My son, who had spent many weekends visiting me there, was my escort. It was a lovely travel back in time. By the end of the month I was in quite different territory.
Toward the end of July while typing the newsletter for the apartment building where I live – along with the word game ladies and the wonderful patio occupied by oak trees and squirrels, I suddenly saw bizarre forms marching across my computer screen. Upside-down vee’s and scallop-like humps decorated the page. This went on for several days until I finished my task. Then my vision returned to a new sort of normal. I thought stress had done me in. Typing was never my strong suit.
About a month later, on the day after Labor Day, I awoke with horrendous pain in my right knee and down my leg. I had experienced pain from sciatica before, but never like this. My doctor prescribed pain medication which took care of things until the RX ran out. The next step was x-rays and a visit to an orthopedic doctor. He told me that my knee had almost no cartilage left. In due time I’ll be a candidate for a knee replacement which this doctor specializes in. Nice to know but I think I’ll wait. Instead I’ll go for Physical Therapy.
At a regular check-up with my eye doctor I reported the strange vision I had experienced in July. She said if I had notified her when it happened she would have sent me straight to the ER to check me out for a TIA. Instead she sent me to a retina specialist. This doctor diagnosed me with age-related macular degeneration, the wet kind, and gave me an injection in my eye. During the hour I had spent in the waiting room I heard a woman talking about having such injections for the past five years with the result that she could still do most of the things that mattered to her, including driving. Never dreaming that I was about to discover I had the same problem, I nodded to myself that that was a good thing. After I received the diagnosis I thought that I would probably be able to see until I was ninety.
My primary care physician received reports concerning these visits. Wait for the next installment to see where that led me.
Haiku: Dressing For Halloween
Crisp chill in the air
Bright splotch of orange in oak tree
Fall shows its colors
Haiku: James, On Your Eighteenth Birthday
Gears in your mind turn
Creative thinking evolves
Your own signature
Your zest steers a path
You envision future days
My heart swells with pride
I treasure today
Creating Eggs Benedict
Simply sharing love
