There is no way I can communicate at any length, with openness, without mentioning my medical issues.
Today I am off to the physiatrists office for a spinal epidural. Last year I had lumbar spine facet joint injections twice. So at least I know the doctor.
At the moment, I am procrastinating, and won’t make it to the appointment on time unless I leave now. Footnote: I was on time. The physician was not….
Some phrases I love in Portuguese and Spanish:
“Estou atrasada, como sempre”⏰
“Un ratito. Estoy casi lista” ⏰
We have devastating weather on top of devastating news. The pathetic fallacy often appears to hold true. The tragedy of World Central Kitchen aid workers killed while delivering food is disabling. Please read Chef José Andrés guest New York Times Opinion essay. He looks for, and calls upon, the best in everyone.
One of our son’s friends from his WCK weeks in Poland was one of the seven aid workers killed yesterday. Our son is planning to sing at a local friend’s funeral this weekend. He will doubtless also hold his Polish friend in his heart as he sings.
In the photos below, I look back upon the time just before Covid. Just typical photos of two tourists in Mexico in March 2020. We stayed at a wonderful Airbnb, but strolled down to a hotel one afternoon.
Circespeaks 
I need to see the orthopedics people – as soon as I have time and energy. SOMETHING needs to be done – but the prospect of facing tests and appointments and then treatments has kept me from doing it for YEARS – years I haven’t been able to walk (not that I could anyway with such limited energy).
Frustrating dealing with bodies.
You look lovely.
It’s all very frustrating and never ending! I have even had (hugely expensive) stem cell transplants in New York City. One helped a lot, the second not much. I’m mainly back to procedures covered by insurance. I was an athlete with an athletic family, so it’s especially hard for me from that perspective. Thank you! My ACL brace is probably hidden under my dress because it’s very steep in that suburb of Oaxaca!
I had a year of injections for the SI joint – the doctor kept telling me (Princeton Spine and Joint) that it could take up to a year – zero real effect, but at least covered by insurance.
I keep feeling that if I found the RIGHT doctor, it could be fixed without surgery, permanently – at whatever cost in exercise or injections. I’m probably wrong, and medicine is fuzzy, but I’m the one in pain who can’t walk, and that gets tiring.
Surgery always seems to only work partially, even when I had no choice, and comes with aftereffects that require… more surgery – I’m so tired of this model.
Meanwhile, billions are finally being spent on long covid, etc., and still NO understanding of post-viral illnesses, and no relief for those with them. Though I still have a small hope in that direction (otherwise there is NO hope, and I’m an optimist).
Gets to you, after all these years.