“Not in Assisted Living (Yet): Dispatches from the Edge of Independence!

Welcome to my World---Woman, widow, senior citizen seeking to live out my days with a sense of whimsy as I search for inner peace and friendships. Jeez, that sounds like a profile on a dating app and I have zero interest in them, having lost my soul mate of 42 years. Life was good until it wasn't when my husband had a massive stroke and I spent the next 12 1/2 years as his caregiver. This blog has documented the pain and heartache of loss, my dark humor, my sweetest memories and, yes, even my pity parties and finally, moving past it all. And now I’m ready for a new start, in a new location---a continuum care campus in West Michigan, U.S.A. Some people say I have a quirky sense of humor that shows up from time to time in this blog. Others say I make some keen observations about life and growing older. Stick around, read a while. I'm sure we'll have things in common. Your comments are welcome and encouraged. Jean
Showing posts with label massages. Show all posts
Showing posts with label massages. Show all posts

Friday, August 8, 2014

C Week: Chiropractors, Cement, Choices and Classes



It was an exciting day around here. First and foremost I saw my chiropractor about my painful shoulder and neck and things are better in the pain department here on Widowhood Lane. I may have to go back on Monday, but she doesn’t really think it will take more than that to get my bones back to where they belong. Knock on wood, soon I might start sleeping through the night instead of waking up whenever I turn over.

After seeing the doctor, I came home to a driveway full of hunky guys who were bare-chested (in my imagination) and breaking up the concrete in half of my driveway. Darn Michigan weather got too cool for construction workers to strip down to their six packs. A month ago they were here to raise some of the better slabs, but today they were replacing slabs that were too damaged to do anything but remove and start from scratch. I signed the contract back the end of May and I'm so happy to finally get the money for this project out of my checkbook and for the right reason. Seeing it there for so long was making me feel like I could follow my lust and buy a tablet and a bunch of girlie stuff that I really don’t need. These young guys were so personable, down-to-earth and friendly it made me feel good to have them around. They wouldn’t know how to give an elderly woman the you-only-have-half-your-beans-upstairs treatment if they tried. They’ll be back tomorrow before breakfast to pour the new cement. My house cleaner comes tomorrow, too, so I’ll have plenty of conversation that doesn’t involve canine-to-human mind reading.

Yesterday I went for tea with my Red Hat Society sisters which we should call a coffee since we were all drinking Starbucks. For some strange reason that lacks common sense they scheduled another walk-about for September and in the same week as one that was already on the calendar---we usually do just one a month. Normally I wouldn’t care but it felt like there was an undercurrent of politics involved that I wasn't understanding. And the two walk-abouts also fall in the same week that: A) My Senior Hall mystery day trip takes place; B) The dog has to be dropped off and picked up at the kennel the day before and after the trip; C) My Movie and Lunch Club meets, and D) A class I may take at a local college takes place. I can’t do all that in one week and live to tell about it, so I had to make a choice. I stressed my brain out so much deciding you’d think I was making a Sophia’s Choice kind of decision. What to do---the Farmer’s Market followed by omelets at a fancy-do downtown restaurant or the Deer and Elk Park out in the boondocks? Jeez, Jean, just decide and live with it regardless of the politics or power struggle that may be involved! Even with my self-imposed news block out still in place, politics are still finding a way to squirm into my life, even if it's just on this micro-mini level.

The catalog for the senior enrichment classes at the local college came in the mail this week and I’m debating between five classes: 1) Vulnerabilities of Aging: Laughter amid the Tears; 2) World Music Sampler; 3) The Never Ending Frontier (about the North American Cahokia); 4) The Humor of Jean de La Fontaine; and 5) Fun with Metaphors. The one I’m leaning towards is the Metaphors class even though the idea of creating metaphors in a class setting scares me to death. My second choice is the music class. I wish one or the other was in the afternoon to make my choice easier but both are 9:30 to 11:30 and last for four weeks. They also have a drawing class but I’m saving that one for the Fall II semester so I can slide that hobby right into winter when I'll be stuck at home more often than not.

Monday this week I got my first ever massage. I sent a text to my niece afterward, who loves getting full body massages, and I told her she’s going to be sorry she recommended massages after I burn up all her inheritance at the mind/body center. I’d like to try the hot stone & matrix massage next but the therapist who did my back massage said they didn’t do anything for her that a normal massage can't do and they cost a lot more. Keep an eye on me, kids. I just downloaded a free book to my Kindle called Essential Oils for Beginners The Guide to Get Started with Essential Oils and Aromatherapy. When you see a yoga mat and a Hoyer Patient Lift in the house (to help get me off the floor after a yoga session) you’ll know I’ve gone overboard with the holistic healing thing. In the meantime, my plan for getting my mojo back seems to be working. ©


Saturday, July 12, 2014

Google, Headbands and Acupressure


I love Google. If they’d been around when I was a kid I probably never would have left my room…well, kind of like I am now with the kitchen where my computer wardrobe resides. (I do have a laptop I could take anywhere but I like my ergonomic keyboard too much for that,) Today I was off on a mission to find out why I imagine that I feel better when I’m wearing a headband. There is something about the pressure behind my ears that says, “Hey, Lady, be happy! Smile and don’t eat the chocolate brownies.” Too bad they went out of style for anyone but those under sixteen, brides and Red Hat Society ladies who attach floppy flowers to them and pretend they’re hats in hot weather.

Did you know that you can find directions for acupressure you can do with your fingers at the front of your ears to suppressor your appetite? I guess I should start wearing headbands in front of my ears instead of having those silly little plastic pieces end behind them. As warped as I am I wonder what would happen if you only apply acupressure to one ear and not the other, would you only smell with one nostril, taste with only one side of your tongue? If you apply the pressure to your right ear and not your left would you only suppress half of your appetite?

As intriguing as the topic of ear acupressure for weight loss is it doesn’t answer my original question of why pressure behind my ears makes me feel good and I found an explanation. Okay, so here’s the low down. There are six pressure points around the ear—four in back and two in the front and they are all along what is known as the “Triple Warmer Meridians.” My headbands ends at the pressure point that is supposed to help relieve headaches, anxiety, neck tension and tinnitus. Who knew! But I got that from a website that also talks about Shaman Healing and Tibetan Rites….I’m just sayin’ take it with a grain of salt. Oh, crap! Now I want to Google ‘taken with a grain of salt’ and find out when that first came into use. Another day, Jean. Another day you will be bored enough to google salt.

But I realized, today, as I googled way that I come by my new-found interest in acupressure honestly. Growing up my dad had a Foot Reflexology Map and a special tool and every night he proceeded to find the pressure points to relieve whatever problem he believed he was helping with his nightly ritual. In my distant past I also remember buying a special pair of sandals with bumps inside that were supposed to hit your acupressure points. They were the most uncomfortable pair of shoes I ever owned. Oh course, you’re only supposed to wear them for 10-15 minutes, not all day but who reads the directions when you’re twenty-something?

After my Google search all I know for sure is that I’m glad the holistic care center is way across town because I’d be over there getting hot stone treatments, cucumber facials and acupressure massages and I don’t think I can afford to fall down that rabbit hole. I’d probably like it too much and they’d keep selling me treatments until I drained my bank accounts and I was so relaxed and happy that I’d get mistaken for a bowl rainbow Jell-O----layers of happy piled one color on top of the other.

Seriously, though, since my husband died I’ve had a burning desire to go to a spa---I've never been to one---maybe even go to on a weekend Spa retreat but I can’t find single person is who willing to go with me which means I’ll just have to keep wearing headbands around the house and pretend some big Swedish woman just gave me a massage. ©