Wilderness

When Moses left Israel for the promised land he traveled through the wilderness. He had never been that way before nor had he traveled that way before. They ate manna and gathered only enough for one day and were filled. They walked in the hot and traveled and fought, battled with the enemy. They worshiped in new places.
I feel sort of like Moses as I begin the travel of retirement. Each week is an adventure where i have never lived the seven days in front of ME, and I will never live them again.
God would like to guide me as I learn from my experience in the wilderness. He wants to change my appetite, habits, style, and, my entire life. So I will set goals and build stamina and make changes.

Building stamina

When you are recuperating you are building stamina for every thing (except being in bed.) At first I couldn't even read very long. Then I couldn't sit very long or even walk very long. It is hard to build stamina. I should set daily goals I suppose. Like walk one mile or one block or 1/2 a block and do it until I think I can go longer. But I do better with dates than with goals. I think.
Here is how I am building stamina without goals- go out on alternate days and walk to get the mail and walk to the end of the block and back. Sunday walked from the car into the library. I did not take the stairs. Monday go Krogering and only get veges and fruit while Lita gets the rest.
My students build stamina for reading and math so they can take the OAA tests. It takes stamina to run and play other sports too.
I have not so much stamina right now for sitting so I will stop chatting/writing.

OPERATION

Ten days ago I came home from the hospital. I had an operation. The last thing I remember before the whole thing was Marlene giving me a blue cap to put on. this is the advantage to knowing the nurses in the hospital. The first thing I remember after it is a need to drink water and no way to focus on anything. I still feel dizzy when I get up off the bed and I can barely walk down the street to the corner and back but it is getting better.
Things I have learned
1. Operations hurt.
2. I also learned more than I ever wanted to know about the Foley catheter.
3. I am not someone who should live alone. (This is a previous lesson learned at an earlier date!)
4. Recovery like the wheels of justice moves slowly.
5. A person can only watch so much tv.
6. There should be branch of the library by Krogers or even the Senior Citizen's center.
7. I think I would like to visit sunny California.

It Ain't Happening

To quote a famous USDA advisor who was published in the National Geographic "I believe that with your surgery and recovery period as well as the covert aspect of the visit; that we should postpone the event. There will certainly be other opportunities and you really need the time to get well and enjoy the end of the school year and your retirement. My visiting will complicate all of those important things you need to do and enjoy."
I highlight the covert aspect phrase because it is so so so... any way All that stressing and worrying for nothing. It ain't happenin' at lest not now.
Surgery is coming up on Tuesday and I am nervous. Then there is the hospital and other stays coming up.I am nervous about that stuff too, but the Lord will be with me. I need to remember that I have done harder things in my life. Many of them!