i knew that navigating retirement would require a stretch in other areas of my life. here are two examples from the last week.
1. i laughed while on a traction machine. it seems i have a bulging disc which is being expressed in a number of symptoms throughout my body. cortisone shots and traction are being tried first. a stabilizer holds my neck in place while the traction device stretches my spine in the hope that the disc will move back into place. yesterday, as i was hooked to a device that was adding 3 inches to my height, three thoughts fueled my laughter:
"ok, stephen, you wanted to be stretched by new post-retirement challenges. here you go!!"
"how many laughs does this device usually generate?"
"now you know how gumby feels."
it was quite the one-person party.
2. i just received a letter from my doctor at the cleveland clinic. jeff chapman, who is my pulmonologist, is leaving the cleveland clinic for a position in abu dhabi. i cried, realizing how much i rely on him. after all, he has been with me from the beginning of this disease. but travelling to abu dhabi for my quarterly check-up probably would be out of the question.
frequently after the initial shock of a ended relationship, a person will do something to feel more in control...
an indulgent purchase..
a different hair style...
a new hobby...
reconnecting with an old friend...
so on the recommendation of a friend who has a similar disease, i have contacted his physician at the university of cincinnati. for me, this is a huge deal. many times i have felt controlled by the whims of this disease. and now one of my mainstays is gone. so contacting the physician gave me some sense of control. no one will take the place of jeff, but building a new relationship with this doctor will be very important.
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