by Sharon O | Jul 30, 2022 | Uncategorized
My recent experience with the medical system, was a lesson and a new awareness.
First of all, with all the virus stuff around there are a lot of questions that are being asked before they see you.
Do you feel nauseated, do you have a fever, do you test positive for covid? do you have chills, so many questions.
I said to the provider, NO I think I have bronchitis and I need an antibiotic.
The first discussion was in my chart, the provider said, if it is bronchial that is bacterial and won’t respond to antibiotics.
Now I have to say, there are very few of them that I can take without getting secondary issues like hives all over my body.
So, there is one called Azithromycin or Z-pac, I have had it many times and it helps.
I finally decided to go to immediate care and see what they would tell me.
The provider listened to me. Really listened.
I said, “I am using my inhaler, I am using homeopathic cold and calm tabs. I just feel I need something a bit stronger.”
This provider actually LISTENED, and I felt validated and heard. That’s a big win.
I was told I might not need to fill a prescription, but I could have one anyway.
YES, the only way this will go away is to treat it.
I have had it many times and I know how I respond.
My lungs were clear, ears are fine, the doctor just diagnosed me having bronchitis, which I already knew.
So, I left the clinic feeling heard, and carrying my paper RX to drop off at the pharmacy.
I am not a drug seeker, when I worked at the pharmacy there were many calls for ‘drug’ choices.
I am not doing that; I just want to feel better and needed to get what I needed.
I am old enough to remember the old-time doctor who actually knew you and your family.
Those days are gone now.
It is not the same. Masks, face shields, and distance is what it is all about now.
How sad, what a world we have become, less personal and more ‘fearful of being sued’.
My recent experience with the medical system, was a lesson and a new awareness of many things.
by Sharon O | Jul 14, 2022 | Uncategorized
The beach is our happy place. Although my husband loves to go to central Oregon too.
Every Thursday he goes down to a camp at the coast to help do maintenance it is a kind of relaxing workday for him.
We used to live closer, then we moved thirty minutes more from the drive, so it adds a little bit longer.
I often go with him. It is peaceful and relaxing but today it was not a good choice.
When they have kid’s camps there, I am very limited as to where I can walk or hang out.
For safety reasons and for camp rules.
When we take our trailer, it is easy for me to set up a chair and read or do whatever outside the trailer.
Up on the hill stands three crosses, because it’s a Christian camp.
There is a bench, and I told my husband when the time comes for me to leave here,
I want to be scattered near the bench so anyone can sit and remember me while watching the ocean.
I remember one day walking on the beach with our little granddaughter who was almost 3 maybe 4, we were talking, and she was picking up shells.
Then all of a sudden, she looked up and said, “OH MY GOSH, three people died.”
It was quite the funny moment for sure.
I was remembering when an accident happens sometimes there is a cross left on the side of the road, and I guess she thought three people died up there.
You just have to laugh at these little kids, they can be really funny. And it became a time for teaching the truth of the cross to her.
I will always love the beach. It is relaxing, and centering for my spirit.
The beach is our happy place.
Where do you like to go for a favorite ‘relaxing’ spot?
by Sharon O | Jun 29, 2022 | Uncategorized
Another month is flying by us and my goodness it seems like time is moving fast.
The end of June and soon the fourth of July and activities like picnics and watermelon will be on the calendar.
We had graduation parties and watched as the 18-year old’s moved out of ‘teen years’ to adult hood.
One of our granddaughter’s actually said, “I’m an adult now.”
Yep, and the responsibility to do right is very present.
These young adults are amazing. I am so proud of who they have become.
Grandpa and grandma couldn’t even imagine it when we were holding those tiny little ones.
The future is theirs and they all have very different plans.
I think it is awesome.
When I was that age, I was ending high school and planning a wedding.
It will be really exciting to see what all takes place in the new season of college for all of them.
Moving away and living in a changed [world] will take some adjusting.
I think they will be just fine.
Life is pretty good right now. I have little to complain about.
Oh, some pains that come with growing older, follow me throughout the weeks.
I am working on the solution. Just sometimes hard to manage.
I have a high pain tolerance so when I am complaining, it is real and uncomfortable.
I always tell myself it could always be worse.
The cooler weather has changed into hot.
Not like last year when we had 116 scorching days, and we don’t have the fires.
But it has been in the 90’s, today is only 70 something and I am enjoying it.
By nature, I am a fall person.
I do have summer clothes and sandles but give me warm pants and a sweater any day, for comfort.
That’s probably why I live in the pacific northwest, the weather is mostly cool and comfortable.
Another month is flying by us, and time will tell how it all takes place for these young graduates.
by Sharon O | Jun 8, 2022 | Uncategorized
Remembering a sister.
June 8th, 2019 my sister passed away.
She was the middle sister, and she had many strikes against her from day one.
When I heard about her death I could not let myself feel it.
We had just moved to a new home leaving our old one after 35 plus years.
We finalized the paper work in April and it was a lot of adjusting to a new place and new neighbors.
She passed away in June and life changed forever.
The year ended with a diagnosis of breast cancer for me, which led to surgery and radiation.
Still not really processing all the stress and changes that stirred within me.
Then quarantine arrived and changes took place again.
There was no closure between us when she died.
It was a difficult time of her sickness and the ability to visit with her wasn’t possible.
We had some really good memories throughout the years and I will hold on to those in my heart.
I know we helped her stay alive much longer than she should have..
She was on hospice in 2006 for the first time and she was very near death.
It was a rough season for us, my husband and I and my other sister and her husband worked around the clock.
Keeping her alive.
When you work with an alcoholic the only thing on their minds is ‘where is my drink?’
It did not matter if she shouldn’t have it, in fact part of her ‘prescription’ was a glass of alcohol.
It is not a good thing to totally take away the ‘drug’ choice when working with an addict.
It has to be monitored and carefully given especially in the amount that she was consuming.
She was able to live in an assisted living center and it helped her to stay stable, although she would often find someone to give her a bottle sometimes.
I’m not exactly sure what she died of, I am guessing her liver finally gave up.
She had Copd from years of smoking, she had serious health issues but still managed to defy death many times.’
I used to tease her about the ever ready battery she plugged into at night.
She had a life that was wild and crazy and she ‘danced’ to her own drumbeat throughout out the years.
Never did she fit into the ‘normal’ way, she tried, her husband tried with her.
But in the end her ‘wild’ ways won.
Today I remember a sister who was just little over a year older than me.
I will remember good times and her laughter and her humor and allow myself to grieve.
Who she was as a sister, and friend.
by Sharon O | May 28, 2022 | Uncategorized
Sometimes there are no words.
When I think of the events in the last few weeks and the devastating deaths in many states.
It is hard to know what to say. How to process. What to do.
The latest where little children inside a school were shot down with no warning.
I see the sorrow on the news, and I can hardly deal with the incredible sorrow.
What is happening? I do think and agree with many who say the home has been the reason.
When the homes, and society as a whole, give minimal consequences.
This will continue.
It has continued over and over, and it is not the fault of the guns or the weapons of choice.
In my opinion it is a heart issue.
Years ago, there was a fear of authority, and the discipline was swift and firm.
I don’t have much to say about all this.
Words are not adequate to use when this type of thing happens.
We weep with those who weep. We pray with those who pray.
We hold our loved ones a little closer in our hearts just because.
I cannot imagine what took place on that day or any other day these things have taken place.
I cannot imagine the fear, the terror, the horrific scenes, it is too much.
The emergency vehicles and the workers, trauma scenes filling their days.
The police trying to figure it all out when there is chaos and tragic circumstances.
Someone made the choice to hurt and wound and kill just because opportunity let him.
I pray for the families who are broken and in deep grief.
I pray for the teachers who are left behind.
I pray for the city who is broken.
The Friday word prompt that was given this week was HEAL.
Is it possible to heal after something like this?
Weeping and wailing like Rachel in the Old Testament who wept for her children.
Someday the word HEAL will be back in the lives of those left behind.
But not now. Not any time in the future.
It is too hard. Too raw and too intense.
Sometimes there are no words and that is the reason why silence is important.
(I’m not sure where I found the heart, but it is appropriate for this writing,)
