Working on Chapter Two

now eight weeks, two days post transplant....

The idea of normalcy is growing, like a plant. A plant? Yeah, the roots are there from the past, the shoot is coming out of the ground where it was dark and dirty. We are wiping our eyes of the residue and the leaves are unfurling, like a plant. Some times poetic metaphor sounds kind of dumb, like a plant or like a lotus. But it is useful when you want to convey an image. I think that is why we do it even though sometimes it seems so trite.

Anna is now transitioned into her condo. After a weekend there it did not make sense of her to move back to the apartment. She is mastering her stairs and that is making her legs stronger and her stuff is there. So there she is like a Sees candy in a box. A Sees candy in a box? Yeah, she is a sweet thing surrounded by her sweeties (cats, Milton and Jack, and her Casey) like a Sees candy in a box.

Being back there is awakening the routine of old. It was in Anna's condo that we were doing the waiting, the treatments, the O2 etc. No more and being there it does feel so strange. Now our normal is a new routine. There are times in the day when a bell goes off and you say, "time for treatment!" Wait, no, no more. And yesterday, another remnant of the past was found in the cupboard, her pill boxes with the regimen of CF gathered for the day to day. All pills were removed to their former bottle homes and the old boxes were dumped. The new pill routine has its own new box. I have not been dumped yet but I am looking forward to the day. I told Anna, "when you are making dinner for me, I am leaving. That will be our marker." We will see what week 12 will bring, hopefully more independence and Anna being able to drive.

We came back from our weekend break to this routine with other musings to think about. Anna and Casey are making plans for future adventures and Doug and I were thinking about other real estate, buying rugs, planting gardens, miniature horses to raise, and other fun things. As Anna said, "thank God we are moving on and thinking about other things!" And, early yesterday she declared, we are now in Chapter 2, "Play Hard"! OK!

Now, we all have to tone and get fit to do the Playing Hard part of chapter 2. On Tuesdays and Thursdays Anna and Steve work out together at rehab. Each time they are stronger and improving. I am trying now to get into the act and starting to stretch and care for my poor old sore muscles and bones. I am going to have to catch up to Anna who I am sure will surpass me at some point. And won't that be great like a dream come true............. (my favorite metaphor).