Day by day is a present.
With a lot uncertainty as of late – each with my sickness, my dad’s sickness, and on the planet – it appears probably the most logical factor to do is to give attention to every day. What within the day makes it successful? What’s there to be thankful for? It’s as if probably the most tacky sentiments are my mantras as of late…they usually maintain me going.
I’m midway throughout the nation proper now, down in Lafayette, Louisiana, visiting my mother and father for just a few weeks.
Earlier than I left Bend, I had a barrage of medical doctors’ appointments, and as soon as once more, issues are promising! The neck surgeon gave me the perfect information of all, my neck (a continuing supply of concern and soreness) is therapeutic properly, though I’ll in all probability have the neck soreness for the remainder of my life 
I simply have to make use of ache as my information.
Straightforward to say, let ache be your information… I gained’t comprehend it’s an excessive amount of till the ache comes on, however there’s hope in that steering as properly. He mentioned the one issues I must keep away from are axial loading actions, like standing on my head, and I can safely say I might be doing no such factor! I’m even beginning to take into account placing on an empty day pack and slowly including weight over time. If I can stroll with a day pack, the world appears way more doable…and my plans of a Camino journey much more probably.
The perfect end result from these medical doctors’ appointments was the clearance to stroll a bit of the Camino this fall. Extra to return on that as I begin to put that journey collectively, however I might be heading to Portugal for just a few weeks in September! I’m thrilled on the prospect of stretching my legs alongside the coastal path, all with a mattress to sleep in every evening, coffees and cafes alongside the way in which, and assembly folks from all around the world. Sure, I’ll be going solo, and I’m excited concerning the prospect of trusting the world on this subsequent journey. I’ll be running a blog each day once more on that journey, it is going to be similar to previous occasions!
I’ve been sharing my story with a wider viewers too. The Nationwide Mind Tumor Society requested to characteristic my writing on their weblog, so that they put collectively a beautiful little characteristic from my weblog this yr.
Then I did a podcast interview with Hikertrash Radio about my journey as properly:
I’ve performed numerous podcast interviews prior to now, and you may take heed to a earlier one I did with Hikertrash Radio right here:
For much more podcasts examine this out.
What else is new? I did my first water aerobics class yesterday, and wow, am I sore! I needed to modify my strikes within the pool…an excessive amount of leaping continues to be fairly jarring to my backbone…so I slowed my roll as wanted with the stunning older women that have been at school with me. My cousin Amy helped me get a go to her pool as a result of I rapidly discovered that going for a stroll in July in Louisiana was WAY TOO scorching and humid for a cushty jaunt. I both should rise up earlier than the solar or head to the pool for any train whereas I’m down right here.
I’ve a busy, busy schedule once I get again to Oregon. A ton of medical doctors’ appointments await me, together with a full physique PET scan…cross your fingers for me that every one my tumors are nonetheless getting smaller! Then it’s Kirk’s birthday, a go to from my Aunt Barbara, a Burkina Faso Peace Corps Reunion, a visit to see some associates in Japanese Oregon, PCT Days in Cascade Locks, and perhaps even a visit to the Oregon coast. It might be an excessive amount of, however I wish to be optimistic and impressive, so we’ll see! All of the whereas, I must ramp up my miles so I’ve hope of mountain climbing 5-10 miles a day on the Camino in September.
I’m taking every day because it comes, but in addition giving myself issues to look ahead to. And I’ve a lot to look ahead to!
