Tuesday, March 29
I hesitate to write anything, today, for fear that it will sound either redundant, ridiculous, or will be something I have to retract or qualify in a few weeks’ time. Well, had I applied those restrictions six months ago nothing would have been written at all, so I guess I’ll take my chances – but keep it simple.
Maria Rosaria changed my ugly feet into less ugly ones through the use of scrapers and wheels and other tools that looked like they belong in a dentist’s office. Her work reduced pain caused by callouses and other dead-skin phenomena.
I slept a lot, and always soundly and with great pleasure.
I’m redirecting my efforts at being open to energy from the medulla (base of skull) to energizing the pericardium (heart).
Wednesday, March 30
Walked as usual, slept a lot and well.
Through music, meditation, and simply paying attention, I can feel the heart energy opening up. Every therapist of any kind that I’ve ever been to has emphasized the need to open my heart. It takes a particular kind of courage. And today I’ve had episodes of energy pouring through the medulla oblongata without any conscious effort on my part, so attention to the pericardium pays dividends!
During the evening walk, one lap involved the swaying and swinging that is typical of a healthy gait. It happened spontaneously and I could not summon it back.
Thursday, March 31
It seems like I slept more than I was awake.
A woman who keeps a shop on Piazza del Duomo greeted us and made sure to note that my walk was improving. I have an audience!
Friday, April 1
I walked, I slept, I slept some more.
Saturday, April 2
Repeat. Except…
While watching television I usually spend a lot of attention trying to comfortably position my right arm, and except for a few minutes now and then, I fail. Last night the arm gave me no grief at all. That, to me, is pretty major. I hope it’s a new norm.
Sunday, April 3
Did some street-walking before the garage, this morning. Umm, I mean…
Spent the rest of the day doodling at the computer (I now know a bunch about Diocletian’s Palace in Split, Croatia including the factoid that much of the stone that went into its construction was quarried on the island my paternal grandmother was from), and wishing with my aching thighs that I were able to take a brisk and spritely stroll at will and at length.
I got my wish, sort of. Maybe the stroll was neither brisk nor spritely, and I held on to Natalia the whole time, but we walked to San Giovenale and back without any real rests, so good. Wore me out, it did, so I’m thinking I ought to take that route more often than once a week.
For the second night in a row, I was up for three hours after sleeping one, and my body felt impossibly heavy.
Monday, April 4
The last few weeks have been characterized by needing lots of sleep. That phase is taking a break.
And after yesterday’s stroll to San Giovenale, this morning’s walk was with lead feet. This evening’s was better, and my legs (although sore from the exercise) feel stronger and more stable.
I am also studying Italian again with Yabla.com, and am cleaning things computational, neither of which I have felt like doing for almost two years.
Janice has said that recovery often begins inwardly, and that the physical symptoms can be among the last things to go. So much has changed internally in the last year or so, I can’t begin to describe it all. When I write my book I’ll let you know; all the changes will be in there, encoded.