Keeping you posted

I know this isn't a regular assignment entry, but as it pertains to what we are learning, studying and (hopefully) practicing in this class, I thought I'd blog just to keep you all informed. As many of you know, I have had some serious, chronic low back pain problems. I have had two hernia operations, and have taken 5 different drugs, four times a day, for over 6 and 1/2 years. Yesterday was my first visit to the pain management specialist, who determined that I could probably be OK with the steroid epidural shot in my spine. And boy, let me tell you, I am glad that I did. Yesterday at 10 am Arizona time, was my last handful of pills; I had the procedure done at 11am. The idea was to take it easy throughout the day, not just up and run a marathon or anything, so I chilled. When it came time to go to bed 11pm, or so, I could not sleep. Not because I was in pain, but due to the lack of it.
    It is like I'm an addict coming off of his drugs - I could feel everything again, smell scents I couldn't smell, and breathe deeper than I have for years. Because of this re-awakening, I was hot, I was cold, I got maybe 20-25 minutes per hour of sleep last night. I knew the big test, however, was going to be getting out of bed. My lady let me sleep because she knew what I was going through (since she was up with me most of the night); I finally slept somewhere between 6am and 11:30 when I had to get up to relieve myself. She noticed that I was out of bed without the grunting and groaning, pissing and moaning that she'd heard from me these past many months. She says I am holding myself taller, my eyes are clearer, and I don't seem to be letting every little mosquito fart and kid interruption bother me like it previously had. I am elated. I may have mentioned this early on in class, but to remind ya, I have only been back in my desert (AZ) since September of last year. I left Nebraska after raising my daughter Zen, and seeing her married off and away with her Navy man - and I had spent almost 6 years in Scotland, where I got my injuries working with a quadriplegic man in a wheelchair. Never the less, I always told myself if I could come back to the land of my birth, Phoenix, then I would be able to start setting things aright again. And in less that a year - from last Sept. - I have met the love of my life, I have been giving a new lease on my body, free from pain, and I graduate with my four year degree in Psychology in just about 4 weeks. This has been intentional, this following of that voice inside my head that said, "If you go there, it will come"; this has been me getting into this class, to remind me of long-forgotten practices that I needed to be reminded of, of knowing how to meditate, of remembering living integrally, and it couldn't have happened without effort from me. So I just wanted to share this with y'all, and thank you for being part of this marvelous journey that has gotten me, back to me. Namaste'

Chris