I broke my left foot in two places last July and I have to say my PTSD kicked in on reading this one! It happened in my 100 year old house with the bathroom on the second floor so I am feeling you all the way.
I have lived in Italian villas in summer and hear—the thought of combining the two… whew! You have my prayers and I would say hugs but it’s probably too hot for those.
Thankfully on this front we are similar but not the ‘same’ in timing. My foot is well healed this year. You are reminding me how thankful we must be for our health and mobility!
Be sure to take bone building supplements and food to create a speedy recovery and better strength in our vital infrastructure—At our ages it’s so necessary! I got into a real kick with them also adding yogurt to my diet (in spite of not really liking it) and now feel more solid, plus my hair is growing at twice the pace! I cannot complain at having mermaid hair in one year as compensation for my crummy time last summer with the foot. Indeed, lemonade out of lemons 🍋😃
Hi Monica…wow…And ha. You made me laugh. Just the thing I need now! It is so wild. I’m a 71 year old woman scooting around on my pretty bony ass (ouch) with my hands in my husband’s Ugg slippers to protect my palms from nerve damage from the weight they have to lift during the scoot!. It’s crazy. Of course this is only on the 2nd floor. on the first I have my wheelchair. I am VERY interested in any tips on the supplements. I’m taking D3, liquid minerals, 10 min of sun (without sunscreen) to the extent I can stand it (so freaking burning the Tuscan sun!) and yogurt for breakfast and glass of delicious Tuscan milk before bed. But, I welcome any particular supplements. I could use thicker hair! You are sweet to read and to write. Thank you, LaMonica!
As a woman who married only once and failed very early in my life, I find your marriage to be simply lovely and a true partnership. Am I envious? Yes but wonder how in the world I could ever accept another person into my very eccentric life.
Laurel, This i so personal and touching. Thank you. I don't share my life to create any envy. But it is brave of you to talk about this. What you might not know is I failed miserably at one first marriage (I was just turning 20! 19 on the day I walked down the aisle.) Just nuts. Then, I failed to keep the vows of my second marriage, to the father of my children , when I met Lee. We are all broken . and maybe the language of failure could be turned on its head to mean, literally, a turning point, an awakening pointing us to our true selves. Of course...then one doesn't want to waste the opportunity of "failure" but we all go through it. Thanks again, Laurel. Stay eccentric!!!!
Yes! Lots of imagination and visions about marriage! Essay will be out in September, I just learned this week!!! Thanks for another beautiful piece of writing and reflection. ❤️
I live in the mindset of mountains. Some days are about getting through an uphill situation and others are staying at camp and working on rest and preparation. Some days are beautiful and others just getting through the “weather”.
Alecia I admire both of you for managing your circumstances in the heat. Your injury reminds me of when my husband had an accident some years back breaking his femur. He was on crutches for five months. I do wonder how I stayed sane during that period as I was working full-time in academia and commuting every day (3 hour round trip). And he was trying to run the farm, from the couch. But we had family and friends to support us in the really busy times on the farm. There were lots of choices words between us at times! But it actually brought us closer, talking more about how we could cope and get through it. That's life 🥰
It is really hard when one person is no longer able to live the familiar life and do the things one enjoys. I miss taking a train trip to have lunch with my kids. Now they come here. I can’t honestly imagine 5 months!!!! We are sometimes really frustrated and short with each other and im not used to that. But we are finding our way. I wish I knew when i could expect to be truly better. I .e travel to the U s comfortably with a suitcase to go to the US. Hoping to see my 95-year old mom this summer…..But I guess we’ll see! Thanks for sharing your story and experience! So helpful. Xo
Ah! I love that you not only named your wheelchair but that you also turned to Greek myth for inspiration. Yes, I use myth all the time (to be fair, that's basically my PhD). It is so important to consider our stories, our narratives, the myths under which we live, and whether or not they are working for us or need tweaking, as in, maybe we need a new story or myth to identify with as our lives change. Since you identify w/ Aphrodite, here is something for you to consider: Aphrodite is also the goddess of alchemy and transformation. Her love is transformative. She is also playful and very much in the moment. Perhaps channeling more of this aspect of her would be helpful.
Sorry to hear about the broken ankle. Our home in Selinunte has stairs as well (one glorious set of old travertine that I adore) and, admittedly, I do occasionally worry about what I would do if I encounter a challenge such as yours. At the moment, my best response to this concern is to focus on planning the new bathroom on the ground floor and keep enjoying the house. ;)
It just occurred to me that Lee and I may have attended the same graduate school - Pacifica. His degree is in depth psychology, yes? Mine is mythological studies with an emphasis in depth psychology. Like Lee, I ran off to do my grad work (was in Idaho at the time) but a few years earlier (age-wise, at least) than him. Alas, just a few interesting parallels!
Jan! All of this is so interesting! I just read this to him! How fascinating....well ...we do find our pack, right? So, yes, he went to Pacifica and it was so much because of Joseph Campbell's work. He kind of changed the direction of our lives - along with Clarissa Pinkola Estes. Giving away our age! 😂 Thanks so much for reading and comenting - means the world to me. And I so love that you point out about Aphrodite being the goddess of alchemy and transformation - that her love is transformative. Because she has been that for me since I was a child. Even though I write about her in the story at a shallow level, I can barely speak of the power of her influence on me without weeping. I had a kind of vision once that when I was born, a few weeks old, my mother went to a circle of women / goddesses and Aphrodite was at the center of it. All in their glorious white gauze gowns. My dear, loving mother handed me to Aphrodite and I was baptized with Aphrodite's tears. She then handed me back to my mother who would shepherd me through my childhood, but I always belonged, in some way, to Aphrodite. She has never ever forsaken me, whether at 20, 30, 40, 50, 60 and now, at 71. I know this is a bit wacky. But, I don't know how else to tell the story of my life. And I am grateful to know of someone who understands. (Where do you live???? And is Mythology a central part of your life now - work or other?) Thank you! alecia
You would be the best Nurse Lori. 🙏🫶
I broke my left foot in two places last July and I have to say my PTSD kicked in on reading this one! It happened in my 100 year old house with the bathroom on the second floor so I am feeling you all the way.
I have lived in Italian villas in summer and hear—the thought of combining the two… whew! You have my prayers and I would say hugs but it’s probably too hot for those.
Thankfully on this front we are similar but not the ‘same’ in timing. My foot is well healed this year. You are reminding me how thankful we must be for our health and mobility!
Be sure to take bone building supplements and food to create a speedy recovery and better strength in our vital infrastructure—At our ages it’s so necessary! I got into a real kick with them also adding yogurt to my diet (in spite of not really liking it) and now feel more solid, plus my hair is growing at twice the pace! I cannot complain at having mermaid hair in one year as compensation for my crummy time last summer with the foot. Indeed, lemonade out of lemons 🍋😃
Hi Monica…wow…And ha. You made me laugh. Just the thing I need now! It is so wild. I’m a 71 year old woman scooting around on my pretty bony ass (ouch) with my hands in my husband’s Ugg slippers to protect my palms from nerve damage from the weight they have to lift during the scoot!. It’s crazy. Of course this is only on the 2nd floor. on the first I have my wheelchair. I am VERY interested in any tips on the supplements. I’m taking D3, liquid minerals, 10 min of sun (without sunscreen) to the extent I can stand it (so freaking burning the Tuscan sun!) and yogurt for breakfast and glass of delicious Tuscan milk before bed. But, I welcome any particular supplements. I could use thicker hair! You are sweet to read and to write. Thank you, LaMonica!
❤️
As a woman who married only once and failed very early in my life, I find your marriage to be simply lovely and a true partnership. Am I envious? Yes but wonder how in the world I could ever accept another person into my very eccentric life.
Its the best to be able to interact like this . Sweet dreams from Italy 🇮🇹
How lovely of you to respond to my comment with this. I am just fine most of the time and I do possibly share too much. Your understanding
is a bonus because I admire you!
Laurel, This i so personal and touching. Thank you. I don't share my life to create any envy. But it is brave of you to talk about this. What you might not know is I failed miserably at one first marriage (I was just turning 20! 19 on the day I walked down the aisle.) Just nuts. Then, I failed to keep the vows of my second marriage, to the father of my children , when I met Lee. We are all broken . and maybe the language of failure could be turned on its head to mean, literally, a turning point, an awakening pointing us to our true selves. Of course...then one doesn't want to waste the opportunity of "failure" but we all go through it. Thanks again, Laurel. Stay eccentric!!!!
Yes! Lots of imagination and visions about marriage! Essay will be out in September, I just learned this week!!! Thanks for another beautiful piece of writing and reflection. ❤️
Well now you have me curious! I love the topic of marriage. It's HUGE! 🤩 Hope you are enjoying summer and looking forward to reading you, always. xxoo
Happy Fourth of July in Italy! That’s a great place to spend it…
I live in the mindset of mountains. Some days are about getting through an uphill situation and others are staying at camp and working on rest and preparation. Some days are beautiful and others just getting through the “weather”.
Oh!!!!!! That works!!!!! Thank you. For reading and this note. Needed it today. 😘
Alecia I admire both of you for managing your circumstances in the heat. Your injury reminds me of when my husband had an accident some years back breaking his femur. He was on crutches for five months. I do wonder how I stayed sane during that period as I was working full-time in academia and commuting every day (3 hour round trip). And he was trying to run the farm, from the couch. But we had family and friends to support us in the really busy times on the farm. There were lots of choices words between us at times! But it actually brought us closer, talking more about how we could cope and get through it. That's life 🥰
It is really hard when one person is no longer able to live the familiar life and do the things one enjoys. I miss taking a train trip to have lunch with my kids. Now they come here. I can’t honestly imagine 5 months!!!! We are sometimes really frustrated and short with each other and im not used to that. But we are finding our way. I wish I knew when i could expect to be truly better. I .e travel to the U s comfortably with a suitcase to go to the US. Hoping to see my 95-year old mom this summer…..But I guess we’ll see! Thanks for sharing your story and experience! So helpful. Xo
Look forward to reading a little later…
Ah! I love that you not only named your wheelchair but that you also turned to Greek myth for inspiration. Yes, I use myth all the time (to be fair, that's basically my PhD). It is so important to consider our stories, our narratives, the myths under which we live, and whether or not they are working for us or need tweaking, as in, maybe we need a new story or myth to identify with as our lives change. Since you identify w/ Aphrodite, here is something for you to consider: Aphrodite is also the goddess of alchemy and transformation. Her love is transformative. She is also playful and very much in the moment. Perhaps channeling more of this aspect of her would be helpful.
Sorry to hear about the broken ankle. Our home in Selinunte has stairs as well (one glorious set of old travertine that I adore) and, admittedly, I do occasionally worry about what I would do if I encounter a challenge such as yours. At the moment, my best response to this concern is to focus on planning the new bathroom on the ground floor and keep enjoying the house. ;)
It just occurred to me that Lee and I may have attended the same graduate school - Pacifica. His degree is in depth psychology, yes? Mine is mythological studies with an emphasis in depth psychology. Like Lee, I ran off to do my grad work (was in Idaho at the time) but a few years earlier (age-wise, at least) than him. Alas, just a few interesting parallels!
Jan! All of this is so interesting! I just read this to him! How fascinating....well ...we do find our pack, right? So, yes, he went to Pacifica and it was so much because of Joseph Campbell's work. He kind of changed the direction of our lives - along with Clarissa Pinkola Estes. Giving away our age! 😂 Thanks so much for reading and comenting - means the world to me. And I so love that you point out about Aphrodite being the goddess of alchemy and transformation - that her love is transformative. Because she has been that for me since I was a child. Even though I write about her in the story at a shallow level, I can barely speak of the power of her influence on me without weeping. I had a kind of vision once that when I was born, a few weeks old, my mother went to a circle of women / goddesses and Aphrodite was at the center of it. All in their glorious white gauze gowns. My dear, loving mother handed me to Aphrodite and I was baptized with Aphrodite's tears. She then handed me back to my mother who would shepherd me through my childhood, but I always belonged, in some way, to Aphrodite. She has never ever forsaken me, whether at 20, 30, 40, 50, 60 and now, at 71. I know this is a bit wacky. But, I don't know how else to tell the story of my life. And I am grateful to know of someone who understands. (Where do you live???? And is Mythology a central part of your life now - work or other?) Thank you! alecia
What a Fascinating solution to what both of you are up against. I'll be interested to hear how it goes.
I love the result of the energies "is magnetic, elevated and deeply human". What a great motivation!
Since dust isn't human, if it happens to be a couple more days until it's temporarily taken care of, it's OK👍