MOVED BY THE JOURNEY

I HAVE HAD A TENDENCY TO FEEL SORRY FOR MYSELF LATELY.

THESE LAST COUPLE MONTHS HAVE BEEN PAINFUL AND NOT JUST BECAUSE OF COVID. GOING OFF MEDICATION FOR ARTHRITIS HAS BEEN A BITTER PILL TO SWALLOW (TO USE A MEDICAL ANALOGY) WHILE WE TRY TO FIGURE OUT STOMACH ISSUES.

BUT TODAY I AM FEELING SO VERY GRATEFUL FOR ALL I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO COME THROUGH PHYSICALLY. HOW BLESSED AM I?

I HAD MY FIRST HIP OPERATION WHEN I WAS TWO (HIP DYSPLASIA) AND NOTHING REALLY HELD ME BACK AFTER THAT. I LEARNED TO WALK. I BECAME A DANCER AND PERFORMED IN MANY MUSICALS AND THEATRE, TELEVISION AND MOVIE PRODUCTIONS. I TOOK JAZZ, BALLET AND TAP IN UNIVERSITY AND BALLROOM DANCING LATER IN LIFE WITH TERRY TOO.

I SPENT 7 YEARS IN A WHEELCHAIR WHEN MY ARTHRITIS GOT REALLY BAD BUT TERRY (AND MY CHILDREN AND FRIENDS) JOINED TOGETHER TO MAKE SURE THAT THE LITTLE ONES LEARNED TO CARE FOR THEMSELVES AND EACH OTHER AND THAT WE STILL DID MANY FUN THINGS AS A FAMILY. (THE PHOTO ABOVE IS OF THE CHILDREN AND I IN DRUMHELLER, ALBERTA).

AND ALTHOUGH I HAVE HAD DIFFERENT OPERATIONS TO IMPROVE MOBILITY (BOTH HIPS REPLACED AND REBUILDING MY LEFT FOOT AND ANKLE FOR A COUPLE OF EXAMPLES) I AM THRILLED THAT AFTER WALKING WITH A CANE FOR OVER 35 YEARS I AM FINALLY FINALLY CANE FREE!

OUR ‘SPIRITLINE’ TOUR ACROSS CANADA …LAST YEAR AT THIS TIME…WAS AND ALWAYS WILL BE ONE OF THE HIGHLIGHTS OF MY LIFE.

SO COVID OR NO, I CAN WALK AND TODAY I AM REMEMBERING THIS SIMPLE BLESSING.

PEACE FRIENDS.