Patsy Terrell

Lived fully, laughed loudly, gave generously

by

Feeling Grateful

I’m feeling a rush of gratitude at the moment. Admittedly, I feel grateful every day, but the last few weeks have demonstrated why I have so very much to be thankful for.

A few weeks ago I went in for a regular checkup and scheduled a mammogram. They called a few days later and told me to come back in for more scans, that there was something in my left breast they wanted to double check.

Everyone I spoke with was very encouraging, telling me it’s not uncommon to be called back. I was fortunate enough to get in less than 24 hours after they called, and even more blessed that they looked at it while I was still there and the radiologist allowed the technician to share with me that he saw nothing to be a cause for concern. I’ll go back in six months instead of a year, just as a caution, but there’s no reason to believe it is anything but normal.

Grateful.

We left on a trip a couple of days later, and I was able to experience so many wonderful things that will influence my writing and my other work over the next few months. Travel is always inspiring.

I was thankful to be with my best friend, and we had a fantastic time. We discovered we both love sauerbraten (who knew? certainly not us!), saw the Harley Davidson Serial Number One machine, saw amazing art, and realized Wisconsin-ites are incredibly friendly!

I also saw a town of about 10,000 people who has done such an incredible job of branding itself that I’ll be using it in future presentations as a good example. Really impressive.

Travel is always about those little unexpected things that stay with you, as well as the memorable moments you anticipate when you’re planning. This trip offered many of both.

Grateful.

We wrapped up the trip with a stop to see the Bridges of Madison County. Not only did we enjoy the bridges, but one of them included a journal so I was able to gather some wonderful handwriting samples for wordsbyhand.com. I knew there would be writing inside the bridges, but the journal was an unexpected joy.

Grateful.

At the last minute, we decided to detour to spend a day or two with my friend’s mom. While there, more wonderful medical news arrived. Even when you’re expecting good news, you’re nonetheless relieved to hear it.

Grateful.

Now I’m back at home, where everything is in great working order thanks to a very kind soul who house sits for me. That allows me to travel without worrying about what’s happening back here from wind, rain, hail or other dramas – all of which occurred during our absence.

Grateful.

I’m also so, so, so thankful to be able to do much of my work from anywhere with an internet connection. So, I was able to keep up on client needs from the road, which allowed me to be away. I’m also thankful to have wonderful clients who understand. I occasionally need to be away – it energizes me like nothing else – and it brings new things into my world, allowing me to be more creative in my work.

Grateful.

Now I’m preparing to go to tea with a friend tomorrow. Sunday will be time for a flea market. Life continues to be full of delights.

Grateful.

by

Doctor – yikes

I gave in today and went to the doctor. I rarely go to the doctor and certainly not for anything minor but the fact that I’m a mouth-breather, and not even good at that right now, prompted me to trot out to his office. Ok, I didn’t trot, I ambled slowly and then wheezed from the exhaustion of the block long walk from the car to his office.

My ears and throat are sore but the real problem is that I can’t breathe. It’s bizarre – it’s not my head stopped up and it’s not my lungs – it’s the bronchial tubes because it’s a small little area. I sound pretty nasty. It’s a good thing I’m not a radio person anymore – I’d be very bad at it right now.

But, I have some amoxicillian now and with just two pills in me I can tell it’s starting to break it up a little bit. I suck at being sick. Some people love the attention. I love feeling normal.

I did call and cancel the electrician for in the morning. I’ll reschedule next week but I just wasn’t up to it for tomorrow.

I met Susan K for breakfast today and then came home and went back to bed until my doctor’s appointment. I have been up and about since then and feeling a bit better but I’m about ready for a nap. Maybe I’ll be able to sleep tonight. I hope so.

We had Chicks tonight and I didn’t want to miss it. It was our third anniversary. I feel so blessed to be part of this group. Such a great part of my life.

It was part of the reason I started Creative Sisterhood. I had thought about something like that before, but something about Chicks and seeing it work gave me the incentive I needed to follow through on starting Creative Sisterhood.

I did some garden tour things today. I’ve lost about 2 days and I really don’t know how I’m going to get everything done. But I will just have to because it has to be done and there’s no one else to do it. So… there you go.

I think a good night’s sleep will do me some good. I hope I get one. I really want to go play in the studio a little bit but know that’s not the wise thing for me to do tonight.

by

Sick

I woke up officially SICK today. I am rarely sick and it’s a good thing because I’m not very good at it. This is an earache that started yesterday, got worse when I was in the studio last night and was full force this morning. My throat was so sore I could hardly swallow, but it all seems to be coming from the left ear.

I got up this morning and took some psuedafed and realized I’m almost out. I’m sick rarely enough that I always have to go buy more every time because the other has expired and I’ve tossed it. Well, of course, getting psuedafed is nearly impossible.

I called Walmart – they said I could get it from the pharmacy until 5. It was 5:07. Hello!?!?!? I called Target – yeah, it’s on the shelf. Well, they have something called psuedafed on the shelf, but it’s a “new formula.” I don’t want the freaking new formula. I want the crap that works.

Of course, it’s because of meth that we can’t have these simple things – like cold medicine that works. I understand all the reason. But, I’m sick and I’m grumpy and I want my damned psuedafed. The fact that law enforcement can’t do their job is not a good reason for me to not be able to buy cold medicine.

I know… grumpy, grumpy, grumpy. But it pisses me off about every 18 months or so when I go to buy some and it’s some huge ordeal to lay my hands on it. You’d think it’s the illicit drug. It’s an odd situation when I guess I need to buy the psuedafed on the street.

I just want the simple little red pills. It’s fine if you only want to sell me a dozen at a time. I’ll be well long before I use all those, but it annoys me that I can’t buy something that works wonders because other people abuse it and the system that’s supposed to stop the people who abuse it doesn’t work well. OK… I’ll shut up about that.

Greg and I went to Lone Star for dinner and I was hungry, which I take as a good sign. It was pretty funny – they had so many people working they were actually bumping into each other. Our server had someone following him that he was training. I really want two things from the server when I eat out – my drink full and my food the temperature it’s supposed to be. At one point my glass was empty and I counted 9 employees in my field of view, none of whom seemed to be doing anything. A manager visited our table three times. I don’t need you to be my friend. I need you to fill up my glass. But, you can’t help but laugh. It reminded me of going to Fazolis. I love their product, and everyone seems to be working, but no one is doing anything that is related to me getting my food.

I have felt better as the day has progressed. If my ear isn’t much better by in the morning I’ll go to the doctor – no easy decision for me to make – but it will be necessary. I don’t have time to be sick this week with the garden tour a week from today.

Of course, it’s pouring rain here today so I hope that is not the case a week from now. That will be very bad for us. The extended forecast is good but it’s hard to have confidence when we’re under a flood warning now. I’ll just hope for the best – obviously I can’t control the weather.

Well, I think it’s back upstairs for me to rest for a bit. I took my temperature – although I didn’t feel like I had any – and I don’t. It’s 96.5, which is low, as mine normally is. Norm Shealy would have something to say about that.