ouch

Buddy is taking care of my foot.

When your first few steps out of bed in the morning cause severe pain in the heel of your foot, you may have plantar fasciitis (fashee-EYE-tiss).


It's an overuse injury affecting the sole or flexor surface (plantar) of the foot. A diagnosis of plantar fasciitis means you have inflamed the tough, fibrous band of tissue (fascia) connecting your heel bone to the base of your toes.

You're more likely to get the condition if you're a woman, if you're overweight, or if you have a job that requires a lot of walking or standing on hard surfaces. You're also at risk if you walk or run for exercise, especially if you have tight calf muscles that limit how far you can flex your ankles. People with very flat feet or very high arches are also more prone to plantar fasciitis.
The condition starts gradually with mild pain at the heel bone often referred to as a stone bruise. You're more likely to feel it after (not during) exercise.


Well, let me tell you, it's not mild pain and feels like a stone is in the heel. I accidentally stepped on the door jam last week, and i saw stars. So today, i went to see the doctor. I diagnosed myself with the Internet, but he confirmed it. Plantar fasciitis. He numbed my foot up and gave me some sort of injection.

I have been fitted for an orthotic device like a rubber heel pad. My foot is taped into a specific position. At night, i have to wear a positional splint when i sleep. Finally, it's best to wear high healed shoes. That should be interesting teaching kindergarten and being on my feet the whole time.

Hopefully all of these things will prevent surgery to correct it and prevent a spur from appearing. So, for now, no treadmill.


But the best part of all this was the experience with the doctor. Unfortunately, medical care isn't like it use to be. We call doctors and get machines that answer....we have to push lots of button, and then wait for a call back. We wait and wait. Well, I have found a fabulous podiatrist, if you need one i will gladly give you his name and number This doctor and his office staff were so pleasant, it was an experience like "the good old days". From the time i made my appt, the doctor visit, the x-ray and ultrasound tech, the person who wrapped my foot, the person who made the foot impressions, the billing dept, etc......one was nicer then the next. I told the doctor how much i appreciated being treated so well. Everyone in that office seemed to love their job. They were all so happy and kind. Thank you dr. W.

lost friend

Yesterday was Yom Kippur, the day of atonement. It is customary to ask for forgiveness from anyone you may have insulted or hurt.

Four years ago, a very very good friend of mine divorced, left town, and started a new life, leaving her past behind. Four years went by, and not a week went by that i didn't think of her. I respected her choice and gave her space. But i missed my friend. Over and over again, i wrote a letter to her in my head, but never seemed to get it on paper......until Friday.

I kept it simple, wrote from the heart, wished her a happy new year, and asked her to forgive me if I had hurt or offended her in some way. I didn't know why she cut all ties from her past, including me, but i knew that it was time to open the door to our friendship.

Tonight, we spent 2 treasured hours on the phone together. Life is just too short not to go after the things we want and need. I wanted my friend again and I got her back.

Day of Atonement

Yom Kippur is a Jewish holiday, known as the Day of Atonement. It is considered to be one of the holiest and most solemn days of the year. Its central theme is atonement and repentance for sins against both God and one's fellow man.

The Torah calls the day Yom HaKippurim (יוֹם הַכִּפּוּרִים, "The Day of Atonements") and decrees a strict prohibition of work and affliction of the soul.

Yom Kippur starts (at sundown friday ) and ends 24 hours later (at sundown, Saturday).

Although outside of the Land of Israel other biblical festivals are observed for two days because of doubt over the correct beginning of the month, Yom Kippur was not rabbinically extended to two days due to the difficulty of fasting for 48 hours.

Five prohibitions are traditionally observed:
Eating and drinking (maybe i'll loose a pound or two)
Wearing leather shoes (good, i can wear comfortable shoes)
Bathing/washing (gotta brush my teeth, but i won't swallow the water)
Anointing oneself with perfumes or lotions (ok, no lotion, but i will need powder and blush))

Wishing everyone an easy fast.
sharon

The photographer

This is my son eric. He is a photographer. Not by profession, just as a hobby. Though he has earned the title of "professional" because he has sold many of his pieces in different exhibits. If you look closely, you can see the henna painted on his left middle finger. Actually, his whole palm is painted, another of his hobbies.

Eric and his wife, Heather, have been planning a year long trip. In this picture, he is trying out a friend's camera....very important for the trip. November is just around the corner, they will spend the first part of their journey in Africa and India. Yes, I'm very nervous about it. Yes, a part of me doesn't want them to go( that's the mom part of me that worries). Yes, if I had the opportunity to do it at his age, I'd go in a minute. Yes, i'm jealous. Yes, I know, it's an experience of a lifetime. Yes, they should go, and finally, yes, they are going.

L'shana Tova, Happy New Year

Dear friends and family,

Wishing you a healthy, happy, and prosperous new year.

Love, sharon

In memory of 911

To Kill an American

You probably missed this in the rush of news, but there was actually a report that someone in Pakistan had published in a newspaper, an offer of a reward to anyone who killed an American, any American. So an Australian dentist wrote an editorial the following day to let everyone know what an American is . So they would know when they found one. (Good one, mate!!!!)

"An American is English, or French, or Italian, Irish, German, Spanish, Polish, Russian or Greek. An American may also be Canadian, Mexican, African, Indian, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Australian, Iranian, Asian, or Arab, or Pakistani or Afghan. An American may also be a Comanche, Cherokee, Osage, Blackfoot, Navaho, Apache, Seminole or one of the many other tribes known as native Americans.

An American is Christian , or he could be Jewish, or Buddhist, or Muslim. In fact, there are more Muslims in America than in AfghanistanThe only difference is that in America they are free to worship as each of them chooses.

An American is also free to believe in no religion. For that he will answer only to God, not to the government, or to armed thugs claiming to speak for the government and for God.

An American lives in the most prosperous land in the history of the world.

The root of that prosperity can be found in the Declaration of Independence , which recognizes the God given right of each person to the pursuit of happiness.

An American is generous. Americans have helped out just about every other nation in the world in their time of need, never as king a thing in return.

When Afghanistan was over-run by the Soviet army 20 years ago, Americans came with arms and supplies to enable the people to win back their country!

As of the mornin g of September 11, Americans had given more than any other nation to the poor in Afghanistan Americans welcome the best of everything...the best products, the best books, the best music, the best food, the best services. But they also welcome the least.

The national symbol of America , The Statue of Liberty , welcomes your tired and your poor, the wretched refuse of your teeming shores, the homeless, tempest tossed. These in fact are the people who built America. Some of them were working in the Twin Towers the morning of September 11, 2001 earning a better life for their families. It's been told that the World Trade Center victims were from at least 30 different countries, cultures, and first languages, including those that aided and abetted the terrorists.

So you can try to kill an American if you must. Hitler did. So did General Tojo , and Stalin , and Mao Tse-Tung, and other blood-thirsty tyrants in the world. But, in doing so you would just be killing yourself .

Because Americans are not a particular people from a particular place. They are the embodiment of the human spirit of freedom. Everyone who holds to that spirit, everywhere, is an American.

The "C" word

Cancer is a scary word. It weighs heavily on one's shoulders. No matter how old a person is, that "C" diagnosis will age a person overnight. Even if it goes away, you are always afraid. It's always there haunting you. Always. But what happens to the family who's life is turned around when they suddenly learn that their 18 year old son has cancer. Their life stops, their world is turned upside down. One week ago, I heard this sad news about a family I've known since my high school days. The parents of this child are my age. He (the dad, not the child) was my children's doctor, as well. Their son and my son were in a youth group together. This is what they faced until today. As suddenly as their world fell apart, their burden was suddenly lifted from their shoulders. Yes, their son was misdiagnosed. I'll say it again, because it's so hard to believe. He was misdiagnosed. You might ask how can this happen. It happens from getting second and third opinions. The tumor was rare, not commonly seen. The specialists at MD Anderson recognized it as a benign tumor.

Two things i want to bring up. 1) always get a second opinion

This goes without question.

The 2nd) This family is not angry. During the course of the week, they were faced with the details of the protocol. Very scary things. This family's attitude has much to be admired.....they question what is to be learned from this challenging experience.

For me, through my own family's experience with "C", I've learned the true value of friends and family from all the love, support, and abundance of prayers.

kings and queens

Our friends, kathy and bob from galveston, just became the proud grandparents of 5!!! Lady, who is a king charles cavalier spaniel, delivered last week. She is the sweetest dog, it's so hard to resist getting a new puppy. Aren't they adorable.