The Walking Stick

"The longer I live the more beautiful life becomes.~~Frank Lloyd Wright

May 24, 2013

Happy Memorial Day Weekend!  Let's put out our flags, fire up the grill, and enjoy a fun-filled weekend.  I wonder if they are still having a parade in Glenwood, Minnesota and a program at the cemetery?  I hope so...

I remember and admire the soldiers who fought for our country in my family.  I am filling out paperwork for The Daughters of the American Revolution and am excited to learn about Nathaniel Hall.  Who knew that I would be researching his life in 2013!!  Like my faith, I think it's important to pass on the knowledge that my mother's family can be traced back to the Mayflower and includes a list of prominent adventuresome folks.  It helps me understand myself and my quest for adventure and blazing new trails.  I come from a long line of strong patriots!  I like that!!

Along with my lineage of strength has come a struggle with degenerative disk disease, arthritis, and Fibromyalgia (brought on by my many surgeries since 2004).  The past couple months have been particularly challenging.  I keep fighting and it keeps overtaking me.  It is particularly difficult (physically) for me to get out of bed in the morning so I am thinking that a cane might be helpful to lean on.  I also have difficulty getting up from a sitting position and it would be good to help pull me up.  I know Burke's has some canes so I will get one of those plain wood ones in hopes I can find a more colorful one as I am breezing through antique shops.

It makes me sad to think that I might need to use a (gulp) walking stick.  Then, I started remembering paintings and photos of men AND WOMEN who used canes not only out of necessity but as an accessory.  Michelle Prima wrote a wonderful article about the history of walking sticks which you might want to check out on the Internet.  I am going to choose to say that my walking stick will be used as a weapon on walks as well as a decorative appendage.  I have to think about my cane in a positive way rather than dwell on my health issues.  Once I get rollin', I walk fine ... my git up just needs a bit of help to get movin'!!  I'll just consider this another round in my life's path of adventures!!

"Beautiful young people are accidents of nature, 

but beautiful old people are works of art."~~Eleanor Roosevelt

Michael and I shared our plans for the weekend as well as my reasons for wanting a walking stick.  After my many pleadings for, "Help me get up," he agreed that it would be worth a try.  We laughed at the thought of Dottie the Energizer Bunny needing a cane ~~ can't you just see me zipping around waving my cane?!  It'll come in handy too when I am digging in my garden and need something to help me get up.  Ah yes...  Dare I say I am looking forward to stop yelling for help and might be able to get movin' and groovin' on my own?  I think so...

"You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream."

~~CS Lewis

I have prayed til I am blue in the face for a healing of my Fibromyalgia and arthritis.  As of this morning, that miracle hasn't happened.  That being said, it's just a thorn in my side and I must keep moving forward doing the most I can do with what I have and who I am.

Always remember you are loved and prayed for ... each and every day!!

Miss Dottie

PS  "Grow old with me the best is yet to come."~~Robert Browning  Mr. Browning, I believe that with all my heart!