Friday Wrap Up

A lot happened this week - and I'd like to wind it up by mentioning a few things that touched me.

1. Some people who touch your life are not folks you know or have ever seen in person. I feel that way about Randy Pausch.the courageous professor at Carnegie Mellon University. Randy Pausch, died Friday. About a year ago the video of his "The Last Lecture" entered the cyber world on You Tube. If you have not seen it - its a gift to his young children, advising them to enjoy their lives and live their dreams. Its a gift to all. His death touches me, like it touches everyone who met him through his lecture. He was young, 47, and yet he used his last months to have a major impact on millions of people and to show his love for his family. What a splendid legacy. My deepest sympathy to his family in their loss.

2. CNN keeps taking about the Quantas plane that nearly crashed near the Phillipines. The pictures roll over and over and over. How do you explain a hole as big as a small car that pops in the side of a 747? What do you do when a plane you are on suddenly plunges 20,000 feet? I watch. Horrified and mesmerized.
I thank God they landed the plane and no one died. I wonder it anyone on that plane will ever sleep through the night again? And what about their next flight. What about my next flight. Here is something I never thought of. Can you tell the story wakes and stirs my fears of flying? Is that why they keep talking about it and showing the pictures? Are they afraid too?

3. Knee Report. Would you believe I am walking - - without whining or screaming? For one month I have not been able to walk across the den without wincing - at the least. Today I walked into the back yard for the first time since June. And how has this happened?
I met with the miracle worker, Claudia, my artist friend who is also an Alexander Technique Therapist.
She took one look. "No wonder you can't walk - your right knee is torqued." Meaning it was very out of alignment with my hip socket - increasing the pressure on the "sick" knee. She slid her hand down my leg and showed me the skewed line of the bone structure in my leg down to my toes
She taught me a few moves to adjust my stance, to change my walk and my body posture. I walked into the Safeway and bought a few groceries on my way home. I hate grocery shopping - but this time I relished every step
I am practicing. Lifting the pressure up and off my knee. Saturday Claudia will work with me again.

Do you wonder, as I am, why the doctor never mentioned these possibilities weeks ago --


Enough of that - instead - profound gratitude for Claudia and her skills. WHEEEEE - look at me, I am walking.

5. In my blog surfing I discovered Darlene, an 83 year old widow in Arizona who, undaunted by her difficulties with the computer and the blogging program, has just started her first blog. She defies technical difficulties and adds her photos, showing you her world. She is a delight - a woman I would like to meet. For now, Darlene's Hodge Podge will have to do. Maybe you will visit her too.