Avalon

  Usually about once a year I pick up one of my favorite books to read. It's called Avalon by Stephen Lawhead and it's about a young man who becomes king of England only he is called by the same duty and certitude that young Arthur was called.  This modern themed book is about how the monarchy of England has fallen into moral decay and the entire country is on the verge of voting out the monarchy system. 
  It plays on my sense of civility, how our society needs to get back to being nice to each other, to helping serve each other and our country. 
  In this year of elections again, I wish and pray so hard we could all get a better sense of the moral value of being polite and civil to each other.  Why do we tweet terrible things to people? Why do we shame others on social media?  What do we think we were put here on earth to be? Nasty talking selfish self centered sentient beings? 
  I think we were put here to help each other.  To look for the good in both people and this earth we call home and to take care of both.  To stop making war on each other both world wide and in our own homes.  We were called to something so much more divine, to love beyond reason and to give up our selfish ways to help others in need.
  The Legend of King Arthur has always struck a nerve with me in wanting to right the wrongs in the world, to help those who are hurting, to expect all of us to be better people if not by performing wondrous deeds then by at least being nice and kind to each other. 
  Could we not put down our swords of nasty words, rolling eyes and spite and try saying things with kindness for a while?
  Four years ago during the elections I wrote about of year of trying to be civil myself.  I think it's time to do that again and revisit something that still hasn't taken off in our society.  Let's be Civil.

Getting Back To Life

  Well to say it's been an interesting month would really be an understatement for me this new year!  Back on December 30 I had surgery for a brand new knee. Arthritis had eaten away at all of the cartilage in my knee and after trying shots, meds and exercises it was down to needing a brand new knee.
  I really wasn't looking forward to surgery. The last time I had surgery was the C-section of our youngest child almost thirty years ago.  And this time I wouldn't be getting something wonderful out of the deal like a baby!
  My family was amazing through my whole journey of surgery and post surgery.  My husband luckily works at a university and we scheduled the surgery to happen between semesters so he would be home to help pamper, I mean take care of me!!
  But with all that being said, good golly... I never imagined I could be such a baby with pain!  For heaven's sake I've been walking all over the place with no cartilage in my knee for over a year so you think that pain would have tested me to kingdom come and honestly it did. I was taking ibuprophen every day and hot baths at night just to relax.  But now I am still doing those things because the muscles in my knee are still not happy getting used to a new device inside my knee space!
  I can walk easier and stand better than before so that is wonderful, but I have to admit I have had several moments I am embarrassed to say I have broken down and cried because I am tired of hurting post surgery!
  I write this now, but I want to be able to look back in a few months and see how things are better than they are right now. I know they will be...right?  Everyone keeps telling me they will be.
 I want to get out and walk and ride my bicycle, go on hikes with my hubby and play with my grandkids.  In the mean time I am trying to get back to writing.  It has been hard to put sentences together since all this began, but it is a good exercise much like my physical therapy is for my leg, to try to write something, anything for my brain.  So there you go...I completed an article for my blog.   Gosh this hurts!