Only two days later, and my spirits have bounced back. My daughter C. firmly told me to have some perspective ("It's only been two days since surgery, Ma, give yourself a break, it will get a little better every day, geez...") -- usually my other daughter, A., performs this necessary task, but C. is quite good at it too -- and sure enough, some energy came back yesterday. I went further afield for breakfast, and actually got some teaching preparation done. And last night was the first since before surgery that I didn't have raging insomnia.
Also, I'm not in pain any longer, though the poor beaten-up breast is pinkish and swollen tight, just as when I had an infection while nursing babies. The nurse I called said this could be normal for recovery, but I must watch and see it doesn't get worse.
And I worked the phone and had the cable appointment moved up to this morning. I am now sitting here waiting for Cable Guy, who will arrive at the last minute of the designated window, or not at all, if the past is any indication. I guess you could say that's part of life returning to normal?
You know Anne Lamott, yes? Her book on writing, Bird by Bird, is wonderful, not the least for her advice to take life "bird by bird" (has to do with watching her brother try to write a term paper on birds ALL AT ONCE; her father tells him gently to take it "bird by bird.") So that's what you're doing: cable box, a block further for breakfast, teaching prep a syllabus at a time. Think about how much more inefficient you'd be if you get a cold from overdoing...so now that the cable box is fixed, just nestle in and watch a lot of stupid TV (have you gotten into "Downton Abbey" on PBS? It's not quite Upstairs Downstairs, but it's pretty engrossing...)
ReplyDeleteYes, I DO know Anne Lamott...and the Bird by Bird is good advice.
ReplyDeleteI did get into Downton Abbey, though it feels a bit manufactured. But still.