Anyone Needled You Lately?

      Do your children ever needle you?  Well, to be honest, my son Craig needles me on a regular basis.  Don't get me wrong, I know his intentions are good. You see, he is an acupuncturist.  In his youth, he was quite good in all kinds of sports so I thought he would probably pursue a career in  athletics like coaching or something similar.  Little did I know, his life focus as an adult would become helping people get well, stay healthy, and active as long as possible by integrating traditional Chinese medicine with Western philosophies.

      Truth be known, I was supportive but a bit skeptical when he first decided to venture into the realm of  Chinese medicine by enrolling at the Atlantic University of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Asheville, NC. However, he was already a certified massage therapist so I guess it was only natural for him to pursue additional training in finding ways to direct the body's natural blood flow and energy (Qi) to achieve optimal results.  In Eastern medicine this is done through acupuncture, herbal remedies, and positive lifestyle changes.

     Okay, I'll admit it.  I was good with the massages he was already doing for me (who wouldn't be?).  I was fine with herbal remedies.  Heck, I had been drinking herb tea for years.  Positive lifestyle changes, i.e. healthy diet, exercise---you got it! BUT, I was scared of the needle thing. Yes they're tiny little things but...


Yes, this is Craig placing
the itty bitty needles in my knee.

      One day I had a stinking sinus headache.  I mentioned it to Craig and he offered acupuncture as a better alternative to all the over the counter remedies.  I bucked up, let him treat me, and 45 minutes later my headache was completely gone.   After the initial small pricks, I didn't even feel the needles while I was relaxing on the table.  Amazing! 

     That was over seven years ago when he first established his Tallahassee Chinese Medicine practice. He made a believer out of me.  The skeptic in me shut up.  Since then I have received acupuncture and herbal treatments several times per year for other ailments including insomnia, plantar fasciitis, colds, arthritis in my knees, and other leg pain.

  Craig expanded this year.  Another acupuncturist, Rachel Kelley, has joined his clinic.  In addition, he includes a "community acupuncture" concept as a part of his services.  This concept allows the patient to make the choice of receiving private or the same individualized treatment in a group environment for a reduced amount.  The patients actually determine what they will pay on a sliding scale.  This provides an affordable option for people to receive acupuncture treatment.  Quite innovative, don't you think?

     As for me, Craig can keep on needling me.  I believe we'll both benefit in the long run.

    

    

Tell Your children...

       Back in the 1960s, a group named "The Animals" did a song entitled "House of the Rising Sun."   Other groups have done it since but their version was very popular for a number of years.  A line from the song has been on my mind a lot lately.  It goes, "Oh mother, tell your children not to do what I have done."     

        I have been a sun "worshiper" for most of my life.  I used to lather on baby oil and lay out in the sun on a lounge chair for hours just so I could get a premier tan.  When in my twenties I first became interested in writing, I can vividly remember setting my typewriter (this was before computers) up on a table on my patio.  I put on my swim suit, wrote to my heart's content, and absorbed the sun.  Now, I garden, do yard chores, and walk for exercise so I am still out in the sun almost daily.  I started using sunscreen a couple of decades ago even though I really didn't like how it made my skin feel and the way beach sand stuck to it.

       About a year or so ago, I developed a small spot on the crease of my nose.  No big deal...treat with peroxide, antibiotic ointment...you know the drill.  It seemed to crust over, get better and, just when I thought it was gone, it would come back - bleed, scab, crust - over and over again.  During my annual checkup last December, my doctor thought it was basil cell cancer and did a biopsy.  According to the nurse who called me, the biopsy came back negative but there were atypical cells. She said the recommendation was to either use Efudex, a prescription cream that targets precancerous lesions,  or go to a dermatologist.  I figured using Efudex for a couple of weeks was easier so I chose that path.  Besides, Ron had done Efudex multiple times in the last several years and it seemed to work.

       A few weeks later, the lesion came back, and the same pattern of crusting, scabbing, and bleeding resumed.  By late Spring, I was tired of dealing with it  and a bit perplexed.  It also didn't look too cool and makeup didn't cover it.  Finally,  I called my doctor's office and asked them to send me a copy of the December biopsy report.  I guess I should have done this initially because when I got the report, I discovered the recommendation on the report was to have additional biopsies to examine deeper levels.  Either I went brain dead when she said the word "negative" or the nurse never told me the report said this when she called with the results back in January.  At any rate, I became proactive at this point and set up an appointment with a dermatologist.

       Another biopsy was done and it came back positive basal cell carcinoma.  Fortunately, if you have to have skin cancer, this is a "good kind" because it is slow growing, usually not as wide spread, and does not cause as much tissue damage. The dermatologist recommended MOHS Micrographic Surgery which is suppose to provide the highest cure rate (up to 99%) for basal and squamous cell carcinomas.  The goal is to only remove as much tissue as is absolutely necessary.  This is accomplished by first removing tissue at the biopsy and peripheral areas.  The surgeon sends it to the lab where it each section is microscopically examined for evidence of remaining cancer.  This step takes about 30 minutes.  In the meantime, you hang out and wait.   If there is more cancer, the surgeon takes another slice and the same procedure occurs. Potentially, these steps can be repeated several times and it can take all day.

Day After Surgery


        For me, it only took one cut to get rid of those nasty cells.  Yahoo!  Next a plastic surgeon closed it up by pulling some skin from above the area over the hole.  Ron had me back home in about two hours.  Although, they gave me pain pills, I only ended up taking a few Extra Strength Tylenol in the first 24 hours.  The healing process has been relatively quick.  The body has the amazing ability to send the troops to a wound and immediately go about the task of repairing.

One Week After Surgery

      
       After the whole thing was over, the dermatologist completely checked me over for any other suspicious areas.  There were none.  The last thing he said to me as he left the room was, "This was probably from sun damage twenty-five years ago.  Wear sunscreen."

        Like the song says, "Tell your children..."  They probably won't heed the warning but tell them anyway.






    

Making Memories

       Even though we traveled a lot this summer, we were still able to spend some time with our three grandchildren, Cole, 11, Anna Jewell, 9, and Nathan, 5 years old, hopefully making some happy memories.  Memory...now that's a fascinating and perplexing topic.  What, if anything, will the children remember about this summer 5, 10, 20 or 30 years from now?

       Each summer, when we are in town, we do "Philly and Ronnie Camp" a couple of days a week.  It gives us a chance to spend time with the kids and it gives their mommy, Paige, a break.  This year we had them the entire last week before school because Paige had to go back to work earlier then normal for teacher planning.   For their last summer hurrah, we decided to rent a beach house. In addition to the children, we took our two dogs, Molly and Annie. We spent time on the beach, paddled a paddle boat, played games one rainy morning, walked/chased the dogs, and basically hung out.  It was a lot of fun and we had the opportunity to enjoy many special moments with each child. 

       Now don't get me wrong, every minute was not a Hallmark moment.  In reality, it often resembled a mixture of episodes from the Little Rascals, Dennis the Menace, iCarly, and the Ninja Turtles with a few rounds of World-wide Wrestling thrown in.  They really loved the loft feature of the house. After all, it provided great sport.  One or two of them would sneak upstairs when no one was paying attention and throw pillows and other objects over the loft wall to see who they could hit.  We soon put a stop (at least when we were looking) to this game to avoid injury to people and property.   They took our authority in stride and moved on to something else...body slamming one another.  As you might imagine, this activity could never turn out well, especially with their difference in height and weight.  Another attraction at the house was the outdoor shower.  It was great for washing all the beach sand off and keeping it out of the house.  Who knew that it would inspire exhibitionism with the younger two?  After showering, they ran around the lower and upper decks butt naked, laughing and squealing with me hollering "put your clothes on!  The neighbors can see you!"  These are just a few examples of what I like to refer to as "teaching" opportunities.

       But...there were other opportunities, like the lightning flashing through the glass doors in the wee hours of the morning on our first night in the house.  None one else seemed to notice it but Nathan and me.  About 4 a.m., I felt his touch and looked up to see him standing next to where I was sleeping.  He said, "Philly, it's lightning, I'm scared."  I pulled him up beside me and we cuddled the rest of the night.  He soon went back to sleep.  I never did, but I was very aware that just being able to comfort him was a blessing.

       Another time, Anna Jewell privately confided in me that she was worried about how the upcoming school year would go. She shared her specific concerns.  I felt privileged to hear them and have the chance to reassure her it would all work out.  Plus, she gave me multiple hugs and kisses after the "talk."

       Cole was  on the cusp of starting middle school, had very little use for the annoyances of his younger siblings, at least on the surface.   Yet, we watched him play endlessly in the surf with Anna Jewell and Nathan, holding hands, protecting them from the undertow.    He also was fascinated by the magic of the annual "Super Moon" when the moon is brightest and closest to earth.   He watched as it changed positions and shone brightly through the glass doors on the deck.  Although by the last night it was beginning to wane, Cole woke me to stand out on the upper deck to bask in the awesomeness with him. Yes, he did lose some sleep, but he was truly happy to experience this phenomena.

       The question is.  What will the children remember about summer 2014 in 5, 10, 20 or 30 years?  For that matter, what will Ron and I?

    

   

    




      





   

Somebody Talk Me Out of This!

     A few years ago I was introduced to the Camino de Santiago trail in Spain.  We were visiting Ron's sister, June, and her hubby, Chuck, in Raleigh, North Carolina.  It was a rainy day.  Ron and Chuck went to Bass Pro to kill time.  June and I watched the movie The Way with Martin Sheen and his son, Emilio Estevez.  This was the first time I had ever heard about this spiritual trek to visit the burial of Saint James.  It was very, very inspiring.   At the end of the movie, June and I vowed to do the trail some day.  I even printed out the 500 mile trail map and put it on my refrigerator.  After about a year, I threw the map away, thinking it was just a fantasy.  

     Recently, my inspiration has been renewed.   A local sixty year old couple is half way through the trail now.  Gregg writes a blog about their daily experience, including candid descriptions of the scenery, the people from all over the world they meet, the hostels they sleep in,  and their  aches, pains, and blisters from walking 15-20 miles per day.  They've been on the trail for about five weeks.

   A week or so ago, Ron and I went to see the documentary entitled, "Walking the Camino" at a small local theater. This film tracked six "pilgrims" from around the world who risked blisters and exhaustion to do the 500 mile hike. The ages ranged from a young woman who pushed her 3 year-old son in a stroller to a couple of 70 and 80 years young men.  A retired army officer who had completed the trek was at the theater to introduce the screening.  Once again I am encouraged to take on this humongous challenge!

Photo from Walking the Camino documentary

     So what is this trail about?  It is a Christian pilgrimage to visit the burial location of Saint James, one of Jesus' apostles. There are two stories that tell how his body got there.  One of the legends holds his remains were carried by boat from Jerusalem to northern Spain where he was buried on what is now the city of  Santiago de Compostela, Spain.  Traditionally, the Way of Saint James began at one's home and ended at the pilgrimage site with the goal to feel the spiritual influence. The main routes were highly traveled during the Middle Ages. Today, thousands of "pilgrims"  set out to make their way to Santiago de Compostela.  The majority are hikers who walk the route for non-religious reasons: travel, sport, or simply the challenge of weeks of walking in a foreign land. No matter the driving force, many ultimately consider the experience a spiritual adventure of self reflection and renewal.

Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela

      I want to think I can do this---maybe next June when the weather is accommodating.  I have ordered two books.  One is entitled, A Pilgrim's Guide to the Camino de Santiago: St. Jean • Roncesvalles • Santiago (Camino Guides),’'which includes maps and more detailed information about preparation, costs, the daily itinerary, etc., and is written by someone who has done it.  I also ordered A Million Steps by Kurt Koontz who documents his experiences and how it affected him physically and emotionally.

      Ron is supportive of this crazy idea and says he will meet me at the end with a bottle of wine to celebrate my completion.  My son, Craig, is considering meeting me some where a long the way to walk with me (and provide acupuncture treatments).  A friend says she might do a hundred miles with me. 

      To be honest, I'm a little intimidated. I don't have the answers to my fears yet. I vacillate daily from "you can do it!" to "are you crazy!" 

      I am an ambivert which means I like to be around people but also am quite comfortable with solitude.  Will I adjust to sleeping in hostels with complete strangers---men and women---from all over the world?  Past hikers indicate, in addition to the awesome spiritual and scenic experience, meeting so many different "pilgrims" is a highlight of the adventure.

      I guess the biggest concern is my endurance.    Can I meet the physical challenges of walking 15-20 miles per day from one hostel to another for 40 or so days?  After all, I will be nearly 68 by the time I begin. I've also had occasional bouts of arthritis in my legs and knees in the past few years.  This always gets better with acupuncture, drinking tart cherry juice, and physical therapy.  Although, I have not received my books yet to guide me, common sense tells me I have to increase my walking now.  Consequently, in the last five days, I've gone from my normal average 2-3 miles of walking, 3-4 times per week to 5-6 miles every day.  Each day, for the first four days, my legs ached.  At the end of the day I was really tired.   For some reason, walking was not as strenuous today and my legs feel better.  Is my body beginning to adapt or did the hour long yoga class before I started walking make the difference?  Time will tell.  I plan to gradually increase the distance every week or so.

       Maybe I'll feel more confident by Christmas.  This should give me ample time to make travel arrangements.  Unless of course, somebody talks me out of it before then.

Deserts and Canyons and Mountains, OH MY!

     We just returned from a 12-day tour, which included five American national parks---Grand Canyon, Bryce, Zion, Grand Teton, Yellowstone---and many attractions along the way.  All lodging, most meals, and  the driving were all provided.  It was great to let someone else worry about the details.

      At the end of May, we flew out to Phoenix, AZ, and were transported from the airport to our hotel in Scottsdale where we  met our tour manager, bus driver, and the other 43 people we would spend the next 12 days with.  We soon realized this was a very friendly and positive-thinking group that came from various areas in the U.S., Canada and the UK. 

     Each day we all put our bags outside our hotel doors by 7:00 (6:30 a couple of times) so they could be loaded on the bus. We departed for the destinations of the day by 7:30 or 8:00.  Even though as retirees we had grown accustomed to "sleeping in," we got into the groove very quickly, especially since somebody else cooked our breakfast and did the driving.  We saw and learned enough about so many places that each could be a blog on its own and may be in the future.  For now, these are just the highlights.


Saguaro Cacti, AZ

     Our journey started with 110 degrees in Scottsdale, AZ and desert scenes with saguaro cacti.  These cacti can grow to 40 feet and live between 100 to 200 years. The bloom is Arizona's state flower. 

Sedona, AZ

 








     As we traveled on to our next morning destination to see the unique rock formations of Sedona, our elevation gradually increased and we left the saguaro behind.  In the afternoon, we passed through the Navajo's reservations and saw some of their traditional circular and six-sided dwellings with dome-shaped roofs called hogans.

Ron & I on a Lake Powell Breakfast Cruise, AZ

     We spent the night at the Lake Powell Resort and were treated to an early morning breakfast cruise to get a closer look of this beautiful reservoir lake created by the Glen Canyon Dam on the Colorado River and its surrounding canyons.



Grand Canyon North Rim at Sunrise, AZ

      After the cruise we boarded the bus and continued to the Grand Canyon North Rim, AZ.  Words cannot express the beauty of this natural wonder.  The multiple layers of  the sandstone and rock that had formed over millions of years reflected the light of the


moment and changed as the day progressed.  We spent the night in rustic cabins at the Grand Canyon Lodge.  Quite a contrast to Scottsdale, it was so cool at night the cabins were not even air conditioned.  We relished the cooler temperatures, kept our windows open all night, and slept very comfortably.  A pre-breakfast hike with astounding views was invigorating!

Meatloaf Extraordinaire at Zion Park Inn, UT

Next destination was Zion National Park.  This time, instead of looking down into a canyon, our tour bus took us down to the bottom of the canyon.  We all applauded our driver as he expertly navigated all the switchbacks on the way down.  At the bottom, we boarded a tram driven by a local guide.  We were able to stretch our legs by taking a hike along the Virgin River to see a small waterfall, and rapids.  We spent the night at the Zion Park Inn where we had quite the dinner with some of our new friends.  Ron and I had meatloaf but it was such an artistic creation one of our fellow travelers just had to take a picture.

Bryce Canyon hoodoos, UT

     One of my favorite stops after leaving Zion was the Bryce Canyon with its amazing "hoodoo" formations.  They are formed by a process called frost-wedging as snow and ice melts, and refreezes due to the freezing nights and warm afternoons 180 days per year.  Each hoodoo looks like a sculpture of something or somebody, depending on your own individual interpretation.

Mormon Temple, UT

      Salt Lake City was a deviation from seeing the natural wonders.  The Mormon history of the area was quite interesting.  We had a local tour guide that took us through Temple Square and we were able to watch  the Mormon Tabernacle Choir rehearse in the evening.  Awesome!



A Selfie on the Chair Lift

       We moved on to Jackson Hole, WY  and cowboy country.  We were entertained over dinner by the Bar J Wranglers.  Hee-haw!   The next day we had a free day to do some optional add-on activities with the group or do whatever we wanted.  Ron and I chose the latter.   First, we decided to ignore our senior citizen status, rode a chair lift up the mountain behind our lodge, and then slid all the way back down on a giant slide. It was a blast!  After that burst of bravery, we just wandered around the town, had lunch at the famous Million Dollar Cowboy Bar, and played miniature golf. 

Grand Tetons,  WY

           The following morning we drove through the magnificent snow covered mountains of the Grand Tetons. No foothills  obstructed the view of the peaks and canyons that rise abruptly from the flat valley of Jackson Hole.  We were told the Tetons were formed over millions of years of earthquake movement which caused the mountains to rise while the valley floor actually dropped.

      Next on our agenda was the spectacular Yellowstone National Park.  It's everything you have ever imagined.  Unforgettable scenery and wildlife.  We arrived just in time to see Old Faithful erupt.  Funny, we all cheered it on as if it could hear us!.  Since it performs approximately every 90 minutes, we were able to catch another awe inspiring show shortly before sunset from the deck of the historic Old Faithful Lodge.  We enjoyed waking up to below freezing temperatures in Yellowstone and continuing our journey. 

Yellowstone River Falls



Old Faithful, Yellowstone



Bison



Big Horn Sheep

     Our sightseeing tour ended with visits to  the Crazy Horse Monument, the world's largest mountain carving, which is still in progress, and the patriotic Mount Rushmore Monument nestled in the Black Hills of South Dakota. 

       

Crazy Horse Monument,

    
Our last night was spent at the Bar S Lodge in Keystone, SD where we could see the lighted Mt. Rushmore monument from our window. 

Mount Rushmore, SD

   

    The farewell dinner with our new found friends and traveling companions was bittersweet. We vowed to keep in touch, and, who knows, maybe we'll connect again on future tours. 

      It is on my bucket list to see as many of the 58 National Parks as possible. With this trip, I have seen 10.  Guess I better kick it up a notch!!!.