Swan Song, or, "I'm So Glad We Had This Time Together..."

Well fellow lefties, this is it. Tomorrow later afternoon I sit in traffic for 2 hours to make my way back to foggy and hopefully not looted Oakland (the basketball team won the championship and when Oakland parties, let's just say that it can become a free for all). I will be glad to have my own bed again (although I can't remember how clean I left the house...). Don't get me wrong - this Sleep Number bed has been fabulous. I wonder if I'll be lonely when I get home, just like my kids who spent a month a summer camp and came home and complained the house was too quiet and there was nothing to do. After being surrounded by people these last two weeks, I figure my house will feel a little big.

No big lecture notes today - went to Katie Mae's cooking demo in the morning and took a very long walk downtown to buy some salt free spice with another jailbird. It was lovely to escape and lovely to have a change in scenery.

My hives are pretty bad and the docs and I are speculating why. We are doing a leaky gut test as well as a blood test to see if maybe I am allergic to any contaminates on food or just around. Spending money like it is going out of style, but worth it, I think, to rule out more causes.

I will miss some of the people here and hope we keep and touch and know that the interest will wane in a while. Very interesting bunch of characters, all on their own health journeys.

Ate a stupidly big breakfast (pic below) and an equally stupidly big lunch (pic below)




shouldn't have eaten so much but it was good and I was actually hungry. I practiced eating slowly and really chewing my food thoroughly. I usually inhale my food so this is a new and difficult thing for me. And when I get home I will try to stop eating standing up in the kitchen, and will put everything more than a portion in containers in the fridge before I sit down to eat. I think that will help with overeating.

Was reminded of some other lessons.

* You know the old one, don't judge a book by it's cover? It really is true - I hope I retain that one.

* Everyone has a story and each one's story is interesting, not only to him/her, but also to me.

* Learning to really listen, not just fake it, is one of the most important things ever.

* Sleeping with a stuffed animal and homemade quilt can be more important than you know.

* This one sounds like some Hallmark card - a smile, a touch on the arm, a nod when someone is talking, compassion and empathy with your eyes - these are some of the greatest gifts you can get or give. I burst into tears while on the receiving end of that these last week. Kindness like that kills me.

Thinking of going to TN and have questions? Feel free to PM me and I am happy to set up a time to chat on the phone with you. Very worthwhile experience on many levels.

Thanks for hanging in there with me - was nice to see your Likes and Comments.

Over and Out!

Susan

P.S. I hope I reported the lectures accurately and apologize if I got things wrong!!!