During my short visit with family in Arizona before Christmas, a sense of calm and mental clarity surrounded me like I hadn’t felt in many months. The starter medications my rheumatologist prescribed in November did exactly what he expected, so the daily chronic pain was not as intense...thank God! It was refreshing to feel somewhat …
The gravity of my alternate universe manically yanked me from the secure and comfortable life I was effortlessly living.  I was not at all prepared for the level of misery and pain it had to offer.  Fixed between two worlds, my mind constantly battled the “fight or flight” mentality. In the daylight hours, I wanted …
As a coping mechanism, I began honing my skill in the art of invisibility.  I began shutting out the people I love and trust the most. Seclusion was becoming more and more attractive.  I hated living in my own little world, but at the same time,  I also loved living in my own little world.  My … Continue reading A Light at the End of the Tunnel (Part II)
I will be posting the conclusion of “A Light at the End of the Tunnel” very soon. As I was writing, it suddenly took on a personality of its own.  Editing and piecing Part II together has taken much longer than I originally expected.  I feel this was for a very good reason.  The …
Continue reading "Just So You Know…That Light? It Wasn’t the Train!"
I JUST HOPE IT’S NOT THE TRAIN!  The MRI of my cervical and thoracic spine revealed minor arthritic changes on one spinal disc.  My family doctor and I were now at an impasse.  He said there was no way this minor issue was causing such intense pain in my entire body.  I was …
Gerry and I are what many may call an “old fashioned” couple.  I truly wouldn’t have it any other way because that’s what totally works for us!  I am more than pleased with our thirty-one year marriage.  We are both blessed with full time jobs.  We graciously split responsibilities of owning our home.  When I …
It was October, 2016... After a somewhat uneventful flight back to South Carolina, I walked into my house regretting not giving it a good cleaning before our departure to Arizona. Â I had never NOT cleaned my house before any vacation, except for this one trip. I am what most people would refer to as a …
“I doubt that very seriously Honey, but thanks for calling to let me know...” So there I was...laying on my daughter’s living room floor nearly 2000 miles from home.  My phone was “silent” on the floor beside me.  My Apple Watch alerted me of the incoming call.  It was my doctor’s office in South Carolina. …
It was September 8, 2016, and excitement started building in my very being. It had been quite some time since I was excited about anything, so it felt strangely foreign to me. With a very important flight planned to Arizona USA just ten days away, it was difficult not to be excited. You see? My …
Since I was typically a healthy person, I had never googled anything as far as my health was concerned.  Before June of 2016, there was no need to do this.  I always imagined if I did, I would certainly be six feet under in a matter of days.  I would eventually toss that thought aside.  Curiosity …
For this post, I need to take a quick trip back to my high school days.  If any of my high school friends are reading this, don’t worry...I won’t tell on us! This quick trip immediately brings to mind that great divide between the popular kids and unpopular ones.  I personally hung out with a …
It’s so funny how I plan to write about one thing, and it suddenly turns into a story about MANY things.  Some may call it chasing rabbits, I say, “SQUIRREL!”  Bear with me! It was August 19, 2016 and I didn’t say a word to my periodontist about the horrendous joint pain I had …
Who doesn’t love surprises?  I did, but at this point, living in an alternate little universe, I’d have to say I really hated them!  I get it!  Hate is a strong word, and yes, my sweet mama taught me better than to use such harsh language, but I had incredibly strong pain to match exactly …
It was painful trying to lie still after moving around, but equally painful to move around after lying still.  I was living my life in a paradox. My body was screaming for help and my brain didn’t seem to be firing on all cylinders.  Where was a flux capacitor when you needed one?  I couldn’t …
Who doesn’t love a great roller coaster ride?  I understand they are not for everyone, but I love them!  It’s been awhile, but I would hop on one in a second if I could, even at the tender, young age of fifty. (Haha!) The adrenaline rush I get is exhilarating!  The more twists, turns, dips, …
My alternate universe made me feel as though I was living inside a glass bubble. My real, and very normal life was just out of reach on the outside of this crystal clear glass.  My new reality, on the other hand, is now taking place inside my bubble. I felt as though my forehead was …
God has so intricately designed the human body for everything to cohesively work together.  We are all so beautifully and wonderfully made. When one thing is amiss, it could potentially wreak havoc beyond belief, as in my mysterious case. My symptoms began with no warning and quickly created a vicious domino effect inside of my body. …
It was 4:00 a.m., well before my clock was set to alarm. I instantly woke from a dead sleep to fully awake. I thought I was having a bad dream! I sat straight up holding both of my hands in front of my eyes, just like what you’d imagine happening in the movies. The room …
This chain of events, and how they unfold, convey my story as a weird, twisted fairy tale.  I wouldn’t believe it for a moment if I had not been cast as the main character. I had a “stranger” knocking at my proverbial front door. This stranger was persistent and I really had no choice.  It …
I was editing my next article when suddenly, some new thoughts emerged. I felt a nudge to change course and write this one instead. I know many people are dealing with their own personal battles. There is no one, including loved ones, friends, acquaintances, and even the strangers we pass by on a daily basis, …
My Alternate Universe 