Category: And Just Like That…

…Covid has come to call again!

It started last week. I felt icky—a slight cough, a little congestion, no appetite, and no taste for food. By Friday, I was running a fever and spent the day in my pajamas.

I took a COVID-19 test, and the first one was negative. But I kept feeling worse, and on Saturday, I took another test, and that was positive.

For whatever reason, COVID-19 has returned.

I ordered my groceries, drinks, and food that was easy to get down, and Heidi and I prepared for long naps.

My fever broke on Monday, and I have a bit more energy today, Wednesday. I still plan naps with Heidi, but I may actually be able to get a few things done.

People have often told me that I have the weirdest things happen to me. I tend to agree, as many of the things that have happened to me (healthwise) are beyond what most people would see in their lifetime.

Over the weekend, I started having double vision in my left eye. This was odd, as it came on suddenly. I am always sensitive about my eyes because I have not only had cataracts removed from both eyes but also surgery to reattach the retinas in both eyes. So on Saturday, I was quite frantic when the vision in my left eye became too distorted.

The retinal surgeon who had performed all of my surgeries on my retina has returned to my area. I got a quick appointment on Monday to see him, fearing another retinal detachment.

You can call me surprised when they discovered that the implanted lens from my cataract surgery had folded in half. This has caused all the visual problems.

Now I will be facing surgery to replace the lens.

An implanted intraocular lens (IOL) can be replaced if it dislocates or folds over. This is a rare but manageable situation, often requiring a secondary surgical procedure called an IOL exchange.

• Lens Folding:

  Sometimes, the IOL itself may fold or wrinkle, affecting vision. 
• Causes:

  Dislocation can be caused by factors during the original surgery, trauma to the eye, or diseases affecting the eye’s structures. 
• IOL Exchange:

  If the lens is dislocated or severely damaged, it can be surgically removed and replaced with a new one. 
• Prompt Treatment:

  It’s crucial to seek immediate medical attention if you suspect any issues with your IOL, as untreated dislocation can lead to vision loss and other complications.

   

  So, now I need to get the surgery lined up and all planned. The Puppy Nanny is set up to care for Heidi and will stay with me if necessary. But getting from New Hampshire to Boston concerns me the most.

  If all of this isn’t enough, I got a call. Yes, folks, today they will start digging up my driveway!

  Life was settling into a routine, and just like that…everything changed!

  

   

Everything changes.

What do they say about life? One minute, you are at your top peak; the next, it is gone. And so it is.

I used to tell Jack not to be so hard on me as he would pull me into the grave with him. It’s been close, but I’ve decided to travel only on land after three failed cruises.

I want to go and see more of my grandchildren. I want to see my sons in New Jersey, but I need to be in better shape to do that. I want to see my sister, Melodie, in Connecticut; again, I need strength. And I will rent a small place on Cape Cod for Heidi and me.

When Jack and I married, I was just twenty-nine years old. He was forty-nine. We ran road races. We traveled everywhere, and I could not keep up with him.

Then, one day, it all stopped. He sat down and didn’t get up, and my job became twenty-four hours daily. I even slept in the family room so when he fell I could reach him quickly.

I’m afraid this tired old body needs some rehabbing of its own.

So, dear friends and family, I wish you a happy and healthy New Year! 2025!

Your life changes.

Monday was a good day. I accomplished a lot, even if my hounds only allowed me 4 to 5 hours of sleep. Here’s hoping they allow me to get more tonight.

I had an appointment with our Dermatologist. I’d printed up Jack’s obituary and photo to bring with me. As soon as he came in, he asked me where my partner in crime was.

Those times are always a little tough for me. People are so kind, and I work hard not to break down and cry.

This is a new part of my life. Being a Widow is quite odd. While you are married (or sharing life), you share things with each other. There were times Jack drove me up the wall, but at the end of the day, and during my hard times, he tried to be there.

I would not have wished the last six months of Jack’s life on anyone. He suffered so much.

What I did not know then, but I do now, was that Jack was in the last phase of his life. The Hospice Nurse who wrote this small book I read calls it active dying. As I read the book, I could see all of Jack’s symptoms in his last six months on the pages.

I’m at peace with this now. I find this home we built together devoid of his presence. And I am trying to make it my own.

If people call and ask me out, I go. If I am invited to dinner, I go. And last weekend, I even went to a Craft Fair.

I’m alive and working my way back to the land of the living. I even took my car out to drive and learn more about her.

Good Morning, Gentle Readers,

As I wake each day and begin the process of walking myself through another day, I have realized that I am still in a state of shock with the loss of my husband.

Now I knew he was ill. I knew that at 85 years old, Jack was living his last days, but that day at home, his last day at home, he was happy.  All was right in his world.

And then, just like that…it wasn’t.

Now I wander around. I look for Jack outside, and the other day I actually wondered when he’d call. I know he won’t be coming home or calling, and I sure do miss him.

The Food Bank continues to make out well. There are so many items that Jack loved, and I did not. I’ll tell you, it felt very good to bring it all in, especially since their shelves were empty.

Lili is doing a bit better. She sure misses Jack, and her nerves have been somewhat frayed. But each day, she seems to get better and better.

Have a great Thursday, and keep an eye on the sky, as we are due for some rough weather later on.