I Can't Believe It's So Close

Less than two weeks. That's all the time I have left to get ready. I have to consolidate all the STUFF that's lying on my dresser into some kind of organized chaos, so that I can stuff it into my pack and/or my carry on. I have to call bank and c.c. company to let them know I will be out of the country and not to block my debit/credit card if I try to use them. I tried today to get in to see my new doctor at the Health Department, but of course, she's booked, and, of course, I let too much time pass before trying, so that's really my fault. I am walking approximately 4 miles per day in the morning. It's getting easier, even with the pack; however, I did have kind of a scare on Sunday.

Sunday, I walked the 4 miles (mas o menos) to our favorite coffee shop. I actually arrived before it opened, having given myself an hour and a half to get there, so felt good about that. After I arrived, I called G. to come and meet me. She did, and brought a basket of tomatoes, as seen above, to donate to the coffee shop. We are keeping the entire town in tomatoes these days! Anyway, we had coffee, I had a breakfast bagel sandwich with egg and cheese, perfect for what I had been doing, and I told G. that I was going to attempt to walk the 4 miles back, since it was still not too hot.

Off I went. Now, the way to the coffee shop is mostly on a slight downhill slope, so that means, going back, I'm heading uphill all the way. No serious incline except for a hill or two, but still, it's uphill. I have to say, I did pretty darn well until I got right by the hospital that is only about 7 blocks from our house. I stopped to check my boots because I thought I had a rock in my shoe. I sat down on the curb, took off my boots and socks, drank some water, wiped my face, rested for a few minutes. I was feeling good. A little tired, but good. I was fully expecting to get home in just a bit. Well, then I made my fatal mistake. When I put my boots on at any time, I always stand up and bend over to tie them. This is to make sure the socks are not wrinkled, the tongue of the boot is out, etc. So, I did then. Then I put on my pack--right now it's maybe 15 lb? THEN, since my hat, my walking stick, and my water bottle were still on the ground, I bent over to pick them up.

When I stood up again--WHAMMO! I was hit with the biggest, yuckiest head rush ever. I literally had to lean up against the building to keep from falling over. It was horrible. So, I leaned there for a while, drank a little more water, and it started to calm down a bit. I thought, I better move on. I had actually stopped at a closed down sub shop behind the hospital to do all this, so I got up another 2 blocks to where I was right at the hospital...right by the ER in fact. They have recently built on a new driveway for the ambulances to drive up to the ER, and there was a stone retaining wall there by the sidewalk. I was still feeling pretty woozy, so I sat there and took off my pack again. I kind of leaned over to put it on the ground, and nearly passed out on top of it! Again, the head rush. God, it was horrible. After a minute, I manage to get to my phone (which I DO carry while walking around town), and called G. She came right away and picked me up. When I told her what had happened, she said I should NEVER have bent over and put my head lower than my heart while I was walking like that. NOW, they tell me! But it made sense, because as soon as I put my head BACK on the headrest in the car, I felt fine--it was an immediate thing, and I felt fine all the rest of the day, and walked 4 miles this morning.

But, BOY, did I learn a very important lesson! Thanks for teaching me now, and not on the road.

Blessings to you all,

Crone