Each Day Already is a Challenge

Feeling old...and cold

I have always hated cold and snow. One of my earliest memories is of being a 3 year old stuffed in a red snow suit and hating every minute of it. I hated throwing snowballs. I hated making snowmen. I hated making snow angels. And once I was in elementary school, I hated having to wear red boots, leggings under my dress, a heavy coat, gloves and a scarf as I walked the mile to the bus stop with my friends. I also hated having to wait 30 minutes past when the school bus was due before we could go back home. If the bus did come, I hated how hot we all got inside the bus with all of our layers on.

I rarely have driven in the snow, even though I have lived in PA, MI, MO and OH.

And now I'm old. Having that latest snowstorm hit wasn't pleasant.

We have 3 adults in our house unable to shovel snow. Hubby has to use a cane. Son is scheduled for hip surgery in February. And I would have to use oxygen while trying to ignore my fibromyalgia and arthritis pains.

We did have some wonderful neighbors who shoveled for us. Our next door neighbor arrived without anyone asking, to clear our sidewalks and porch. He knows that we rely on delivery services.

Another neighbor cleared off my car. (That made me feel bad, because she has been fighting pancreatic cancer for 3 years.) Another neighbor shoveled around both of our cars so we could get out.

And then it snowed again and undid everything that they had done.

My son braved the snow, struggling not to fall on his bad hip. And I was able to get to the three pharmacies that we use. Yes, since we all have different insurance, we all have to use different pharmacies.

After warming up my car, I was off on those errands. But, uh oh. I have an electrical problem that my car refuses to show to my mechanic.

As I drove down the street, my dome light blinked on and off. The doors unlocked and locked again. The heat shut off then on again. And the turn signals stopped working, then worked again.

Since none of us have any doctor appointments between now and somewhere about the 29th, I will definitely be calling the mechanic to report my electrical problems again.

The meds that I take that are helping to shrink my breast cancer tumor makes my body think that I'm going through menopause again. I have horrible night sweats, which then make me cold because the room is either 68 degrees or 73. With 73, I'm too hot. With 68, I'm freezing.

But...in spite of everything, we are praising God for our wonderful neighbors and that we are all waking up each day still ready to face whatever is before us because we know that God is with us.

My tumor continues to shrink, although more slowly now. Thank you all for your prayers.