I encourage you to read forward in this blog but also to read backward.

There are a few themes that are going to be present for a while, specifically (1) my stroke and (2) the loss of my cat. But in each case, both events, especially the loss of my cat, continue to affect me deeply. If you are new and if you don’t read backward you may not know about my stroke and the loss of my cat. And these two items are VERY important to me. Yet I must keep moving and “forward” seems to be the best direction. Life is what happens while you’re making other plans.

I am in the process of recovery. You see, I have had a stroke. Fortunately, it was a teeny tiny one (which is kind of like saying that the nuclear bomb was just a small one). I had the “event” on a Sunday night then forced myself to work thru the week eventually going into the hospital on Friday.

Please, please, please, if this happens to you do NOT do what I did. When you think you are having a stroke immediately go to the emergency room. There are some things they can do if you get there fast enough. Within the first couple hours they can apply some therapies and treatments that make a difference. Do NOT do what I did. Do NOT wait.

I was very lucky. I entered on Friday. They admitted me and tested me. I had a CAT Scan (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cat_scan ) and eventually an MRI (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mri). The CAT Scan was easy. The MRI was terrible. A full hour inside a teeny tiny tube, loud as blue blazes and tiny. Good thing my claustrophobia is not severe. I left the hospital on Saturday and I’m doing pretty well.

I’m making changes in my life … those changes we’ve all thought about but haven’t made yet. Eating more healthy. Committed to gentle exercise. I’m joining a local gym. Gold’s Gym (http://www.goldsgym.com) has a great deal for AARP members. Not an AARP member? Just join. It’s cheap.

This is just a tiny start. But it is a start. Wish me luck