Bitey Bite Bite

So I was chatting with a guy online, and expressing how I wished I was in Palm Springs. I told him how we have a place down there now and try to spend as much time as possible there. He responded, "Oh, you have a house here and there. I don't even have one house :-(" I explained that this was our retirement house, and that we'd eventually sell the San Francisco house and relocate. He responded with a WASPish "How nice for you."

This left me a little peeved. I grew up in a working-class family. My father was a meat cutter in a supermarket and my mother worked in a sandpaper factory. We had litte money to support five kids, but we did-- we didn't have a lot, seldom ate out (and then it was McDonalds) and I wore hand-me-downs. My parents always told us, and set the example, that you had to work hard in this life to get anything.

I and my younger brother worked our way through college. I have worked continuously since I was 16. For a 10-month period in my mid-twenties, I was unemployed, but did odd jobs and helped fix up my parents' house until I got a job. I finished my bachelors degree while working full-time.

I've had my share of financial setbacks and consumer debt, but by working hard I've achieved a level of financial security my parents never had, but wished for all their children. I've tried to be wise about saving, investing and giving back and as a result am pretty well positioned for retirement. I'm 55 years old and
ready. I refuse to feel guilty for being successful (on the relatively small scale that I am) because what I've done anyone can do if you work hard and try to give back a little.

It also helps that our needs are fairly simple--a comfortable house, not too big but with room for guests and entertaining, low maintenance, broadband, the occasional dinner out or simple vacation. But I'm content cooking dinner, watching TV and crocheting a new afghan.

Anyway, we do count our blessings every day and are so grateful for our success, our friends and family, and for each other. As a wise teacher once told me, "The Universe wants you to be happy.". Go with the flow, work hard and trust in the power of love and you'll be fine. At least that's what I've learned so far, and it works.

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Waiting for the wheelchair to bring me to the lobby. Last view out my window:

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First off, many thanks from the bottom of my heart for all the good wishes, thoughts and prayers you've all been sending my way. I'm incredibly cheered by them, and so thankful for my many blessings, most important of which is the love and support of my family, friends and caregivers.

As a recap, I saw my doctor on Monday after getting very winded just making the bed that morning. He examined me, and since my heart was A-OK he sent me to the nearby CPMC ER so they could run some tests. Long story short, they found pulmonary embolisms (blood clots) in both lungs. Serious if left unattended, but very treatable with anti-coagulants to help the body naturally absorb the clots. But it takes several days (like 4-6) for the meds to reach the proper levels, and they need to monitor all that, so I'm in a lovely room with a panoramic view from the Golden Gate Bridge to the ocean, cooling my heels till I can go home and start the oral meds. PEs aren't uncommon, and usually caused by long period of sitting, like on a plane or a long car ride. We suspect possible one of the 8-hour drives to and from Palm Springs. So kiddies, on a long drive stop often and literally stretch your legs!

This is my first hospitalization and emotionally I've been feeling kind of low, even though everything is under control. Steve spent the day with me in the room, and as he was leaving around 9 PM I broke down a little. He left and I settled in for bed, reading something or other on my phone. Anoint an hour later Steve comes back in the room with a bag of his stuff--he brought the car home and had his BFF Carl from work, who is a major sweetheart, drive him back so he could spend the night with me in the room.

For all the conservative twats out there who oppose gay marriage, this is what it's about--love and support, for better, for worse, in sickness and in health. We said those vows and we meant them. When this is over, I may get on my soapbox and tell all the people who have seen us get married over and over on TV (cause we are stock footage) that this is the reality of marriage, no matter the sex of the spouses.

Here's the view from my bed:

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L

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L

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You are The Sun

Happiness, Content, Joy.

The meanings for the Sun are fairly simple and consistent.

Young, healthy, new, fresh. The brain is working, things that were muddled come clear, everything falls into place, and everything seems to go your way.

The Sun is ruled by the Sun, of course. This is the light that comes after the long dark night, Apollo to the Moon's Diana. A positive card, it promises you your day in the sun. Glory, gain, triumph, pleasure, truth, success. As the moon symbolized inspiration from the unconscious, from dreams, this card symbolizes discoveries made fully consciousness and wide awake. You have an understanding and enjoyment of science and math, beautifully constructed music, carefully reasoned philosophy. It is a card of intellect, clarity of mind, and feelings of youthful energy.

What Tarot Card are You?
Take the Test to Find Out.

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rootbeer1

Steve picked up our fixed car today---well, the mirror is still off but we'll bring it back on Monday to get it. We celebrated with a trip to Costco, of course.

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