Our oldest granddaughter texted
me bright and early this morning, to say, “Happy Birthday”; I heard from our middle granddaughter, family,
and friends throughout the day 😊
Today, I have outlived my mother – and both her
parents.
Snow was
still sticking around … but it has started melting.
The temperature is still in the low-30’s, but the sun rays
peeking through the cloud layer was warm enough to melt the icy snow on tree
limbs, and cause the ice layer on the street to soften, crack, and melt in
places.
This melt
is causing people to get overly confident and drive this street haphazardly; hearing
the vehicles barrel down the street, and bounce off the high, concrete speed
bumps, I am surprised none of them jumped the curb as they slid on the ice at
speed too ridiculously high, given the circumstances.
I’m still feeling a little punk, so I took my temperature …
but that appears to be normal.
And I pulled my peak flow meter out of my purse, and paid
attention to that reading.
I have environmental asthma, which is easier to control. I don’t know what set my lungs spiraling out of control over the weekend:
(https://jeastofeden.blogspot.com/2021/12/christmas-eve-asthma-attack.html)
I use an allergy blocking filter for the furnace, and I haven’t
been outdoors in days. The house is as clean as a house can be when it’s lived
in; and I use laundry soap/fabric softener, and bathing soap that is fragrance
free. I’m careful what I eat, and drink. And I’m in relatively good health/physical
shape, for a woman my age. There is little stress in my life at this point. And
I’m mindful of the environments I expose my lungs to.
Asthma
Attack: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/asthma-attack/symptoms-causes/syc-20354268
3 Steps to Better Asthma Control: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/asthma/in-depth/asthma-treatment/art-20044284
Asthma – Natural Remedies: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/home-remedies-for-asthma
What caused the severe attack is a mystery: nothing out of
the ordinary has been happening. The sudden and unexpected attack is
concerning. I have plans for 2022, that include out-of-state-travel
– I do not want to be hogtied by asthma flareups.
So, I plotted road routes that stick to backroads … and also
include medical facilities along the route. Though I am not supposed to be
more than 20 minutes away from any medical help, I can’t allow asthma to make
me a prisoner of my body or my location; some “nearest help” will be
further away than the 20 minutes doctor’s want to allow me, and that can’t be
helped – no one consulted me on highway layouts, or medical facility
placements.
I do not
make a place for fear in my life.
I have my inhaler with me at all
times, and I keep my peak flow meter in my purse always “just in case”.
My throat is still tender, so I ate a light Supper, drank a
couple cups of tea sweetened with honey … watched a few Martin Sheen movies,
and ate a bit of ice cream 😉
By the time the last movie ended the evening sky was
highlighted with pink clouds, backlit by a golden glow as the sun slipped over
the horizon.
I want my remaining time to be as beautiful as that sunset; I am not going to allow my physical handicaps to keep me from enjoing a life worth living 😊
