Never forget the drops of oil on the spoon

One doesn't plan for these things, Carnation Nation, but I think that the Alchemist, by Paulo Coehlo, has a bit more for us today.  (I don't have this stuff memorized; I make highlights on my Kindle of lines that I like in books, so when I remember an inkling of a something I  want to draw from I just search my highlights from a particular book to find it.  Read good books, have good highlights!)

The wise man listened attentively to the boy's explanation of why he had come, but told him that he didn't have time just then to explain the secret of happiness.  He suggested that the boy look around the palace and return in two hours.  'Meanwhile, I want to ask you to do something,' said the wise man, handing the boy a teaspoon that held two drops of oil.  'As you wander around, carry this spoon with you without allowing the oil to spill.'  The boy began climbing and descending the many stairways of the palace, keeping his eyes fixed on the spoon.  After two hours, he returned to the room where the wise man was.  'Well,' asked the wise man, 'did you see the Persian tapestries that are hanging in my dining hall?  Did you see the garden that it took the master gardener ten years to create?  Did you notice the beautiful parchments in my library?' The boy was embarrassed, and confessed that he had observed nothing.  His only concern had been not to spill the oil that the wise man had entrusted to him.  'Then go back and observe the marvels of my world,' said the wise man.  'You cannot trust a man if you don't know his house.'  Relieved, the boy picked up the spoon and returned to his exploration of the palace, this time observing all of the works of art on the ceilings and the walls.  He saw the gardens, the mountains, all around him, the beauty of the flowers, and the taste with which everything had been selected.  Upon returning to the wise man, he related in detail everything he had seen.  'But where are the drops of oil I entrusted to you?' asked the wise man.  Looking down at the spoon he held, the boy saw that the oil was gone.  'Well, there is only one piece of advice I can give you,' said the wisest of wise men.  'The secret of happiness is to see all the marvels of the world, and never forget the drops of oil on the spoon.'

Today I think I attended to the drops of oil on the spoon while I wandered around my healing palace.

Gosh darn it takes a long time to heal your guts from ileus!  Queasiness was less today, but plagued me half the night.  If yesterday was get-food-in-there day, and then today was increase-food-diversity day, as suggested by J.T., PhD.  I had oatmeal, banana, scotcharoo, (lentil-carrot-onion-celery-garlic-curry over brown rice that I made for myself), crackers, juice, cottage cheese, Auntie's pea salad, crackers, Uncle's lentil soup, bread, yogurt, applesauce, scotcharoo, and water water water.  And the Dr-recommended probiotic I'm taking is Floragen.  All food is going down easier today than yesterday, so continued gratitude for improvements!  I'm not having much colonic fermentation going on yet, but hopefully that'll start up soon.  Dr. Surgeon did tell me on Sunday that my colon had really shrunk.  These things take time to restore.  I feel bloated, but apparently my guts are working so I just need to trust my body and exhibit continued patience.  I have yet to do my yoga today (that'll come after blogging), so there's still hope to feel a little better yet before bedtime.

The 'roid step-down seems to be going well.  My brain still feels swollen (pressure behind my eyes, on my inner ear, on my teeth and jaw), but it's not any worse, so I'm sticking with the doses as suggested and haven't upped them again. 

I've decided that my fatigue battle could be as much due to muscle atrophy as due to the fatigue associated with healing my brain.  This is a complicated assessment, to be sure, but I'm pretty sure I'm right.  My legs look like yours, Grandpa Birdlegs!  So today I found a 1-mile easy in-home walk by Leslie Sansone on YouTube, and I worked out!  Wow was it hard!  I could hardly lift my legs!  But I know it was the right choice--it helped to work a bit of the steroid stiffness out of my joints, and I didn't feel terrible afterwards.  I felt great, as a matter of fact!  It was my drops of oil on the spoon. 

Then I felt the need to get horizontal, so I rested deeply for a few hours in my cosy bed.  I very much enjoy my deep rests, even if I don't quite fall asleep.  I'm normally a side sleeper, but for resting I completely relax my whole body while on my back, with a couple of pillows because that's more comfy for my swollen head.  I sink into the bed and just let my brain BE.  I let go of holding on to anything at all, and my brain just does whatever it is that it needs to be doing.  Sometimes this deep relaxation makes the pressure increase, sometimes it makes things start to creak inside my head, sometimes it gives me a draining sensation against my ear.  I have no idea what any of it means or is, I just let it happen.  I imagine that it's my healing superpower right now.  My tapestry-filled palace of brain healing.   

Thank you to the mystery friend who left a beautiful white and magenta orchid on our porch for us!  It's lovely!  I've never owned an orchid but my MIL is an orchid whisperer, so I'm sure she can help me.   

RSBB:  Thank you for the books and treats for the girls!  Very thoughtful!

Thank you so much to Auntie J for taking a day off from your full-time job to clean our house today!  The guest room is ready for my brother and his wife, your nieces are thrilled to have clean sheets on their beds, everything is vacuumed, the kitchen and bathrooms are spotless.  We appreciate you so much!  And you must be exhausted, bless your heart!  Everyone needs an Aunt Jacque!