Dear Readers,

The unrelenting back spasms have not let up over the past week, though I am able to get up and move around, albeit slowly. Apart from that, it is icepacks, Netflix, and pills. This current flare up started on Thursday the 3^rd, so I ended up being unable to attend the fully vaccinated outdoor reunion that was planned for the following day. Truthfully, I’m not much fun at social events anyway, especially when I am in the middle of writing a book, so I’m sure everyone had plenty of fun without me.

Yesterday I had a doctor appointment for an issue unrelated to the spasms. I had to drive an hour for an hour long appointment, and then drive an hour home. And, of course, since I was driving, I couldn’t take any medication. So yesterday evening and this morning are pretty rough to say the least. They did some (painful) testing to see if I would potentially benefit from another surgery. I “passed” the tests, and so it looks like another operation in the future. I’ve had so many now that they all kind of run together, but I’m not really looking forward to another one. This won’t address any of the extreme pain from my spinal injuries, but it will address a quality of life issue with a good chance of improvement. That said, I’m not a hundred percent sure that I will go through with it. Next month, on July 7^th, my wife and I are going to meet with the surgeon again to go over all the pros and cons of the operation to make sure that we are making an informed decision.

My two online summer courses started this past week and so that takes up a few hours each day with emails, etc. I’m starting to genuinely worry about going back in person in August. Not because of the Rona, really, since I’m vaccinated and as protected as I can be. It’s because over the course of the past eighteen months, my bad pain spells come more frequently, and when they do come, they stick around for longer than they did in the past. Once upon a time, I had more good days than bad. Now, I rarely have a good day. They range from average to bad. It is possible though that a more active schedule will actually help me feel better, so I’m hoping that turns out to be the case.

I do not have anything exciting on tap for next week. I’m hoping to be more mobile by the time that Monday roles around. The spasms have prevented me from working on Molly’s sequel and I really need to get back to it. If I’m not careful, August will get here, and I won’t be finished with it. And that, Dear Readers, just won’t do. I’m sure I’ll be able to suck it up and get back to work.  

Until next time, friends, take care of yourselves. And each other.

L.H.