Catching Up – Doing Better!

It seems like forever since my last post. Oh… that’s because it has been darn near forever!

I’ve been working especially hard on the walking. For the past month I have been getting in 4 to 5 miles almost every day. I have only missed days with dangerous weather conditions, averaging getting my walk in 6 days a week. I’ve finally adapted. I no longer hurt for hours after the walks, I’m no longer sore, and I no longer feel exhausted all the time. In fact, I feel better and have more energy than I have had in years! Yesterday was hard. We are having a very unseasonable warm spell. It was 80 degrees yesterday, unheard of for March. Previously, the highest temperature ever recorded in the month of March was 70! The previous record high for March 21 was only 53! I should have started my walk earlier to beat the heat. I learned my lesson. It is forecast to reach 80 again today, and I’m heading out right after I finish this post.

Not only that, but I have become comfortable taking the backpack. The first few trips were among the most difficult things I have ever successfully done. I was extremely anxious bordering on panic the whole time, hyperventilating, staggering and falling down often. Just as I feared, many people stopped to ask if I needed a ride. It was horrible! But I survived, and it has gotten easier. Very rarely does anyone ask if I need a ride any more. I suppose most people who travel these roads at the times I’m out there know by now that I am doing this partly for exercise. There are a few who yell various insults and obscenities at me, but that’s always the way it is here… no matter what you do. I try to remember to pity them, rather than hate them. They are either mentally deficient, or (more likely) don’t know any better because they didn’t have a proper upbringing.

At least once a week, usually twice, I go into one of the small stores. You know, the ones I could never force myself into for the first 47 years of my life! Yes, those ones. There are two in my home town now that I’m more or less OK with and another 7 miles away which I get to on rare occasions now. The latest addition is just one mile up the road from me. That could be very convenient. Something unexpected is happening. I can envision myself getting to a point where I would be able to go into any small store, even one I had never been in before. It will take more work to get there, but it “feels” possible!

After some delays due to scheduling difficulties, the process of getting fitted for dentures is proceeding well. There are 4 more appointments, all of which are scheduled at this point. Barring any delays I should be getting them April 20.

Overall my attitude is much better. I’m excited about life and taking on some projects I had put on hold long ago. I will write more about that later. I can feel the mercury rising! Time to walk!