Imagine being aware of your hands and feet, every minute of every day, awake or asleep. Imagine picking up a fork or pencil and having it flip out of your hand because your fingers feel too stiff to hold it. Imagine walking and feeling like your foot is leaning in instead of being flat - having to think about picking up your foot and not chip your toe on the ground. Oh my goodness, I am not complaining, but it's difficult to explain that even though I look fine and make all efforts to BE fine - I'm still recovering.
I don't know if anyone (aside from my family and friends) know folks who have had a stroke, but I hadn't and this is opening up a whole new world to me. Finding ways to do the things I want - listening to my body (which I am still having trouble with) - accepting help when offered - accepting consideration when offered. I was the one who always thought of others, I was the one who was aware - I thought. Man, was I ever mistaken. Not that I didn't think of others, but that I didn't realize fully how it felt to be on the receiving end when you are used to giving. Being sensitive to the loss. Being able to help the receiver accept without feeling bad.
Some days it is all I can do to pick up the wire for the jewelry and smooth it out. And today, typing this is a process in type, backspace, type again because my right hand fingers do not touch the keys I think they are touching or in the order I think they are touching.
Being able to make jewelry is such a balm to my soul, to be creative and able to execute helps so much to keep my spirits up - more than writing, more than typing, more than walking - creating is key.
I did fix a bracelet for my daughter, a multi-strand bead one that one of the strands broke. I don't have a picture of it, but she seemed pleased with the repair.
I've only made 2 things in the past week but it's enough.
This also is for my daughter. She and the Bean were in a shell shop recently and she bought this sea urchin spine. She showed it to me and she said I had a gleam in my eye that said I had an idea of how to wrap it. And I did. I also made this sliding knot anchored with 2 shells to adjust the length.
Last weekend I went to the Wagon Wheel and Mustang Flea Market in Seminole with a friend. A vendor there had drilled coral so I bought a few, 1 green, 2 red and a white. This was the only one I've wrapped so far. I really like the swirls on it versus the hardness and vertical nature of the coral. I hope you do too.
Yesterday, the Bean, the Duke, their Mom and I went to the FAE (Fairy and Earth) Festival at Sacred Lands (http://sacredlandspreservationandeducation.org/) in St Petersburg. We had a grand time seeing all the FAE folk, participating in shows and listening to music. Sacred Lands is a beautiful place and I want to go back when its quieter.
(Left) The Duke as human between an Ogre and a Pixie (who loves to cause mischief).
(Right) Our Bean in full on butterfly mode.
Well, folks, that's all for now. I hope you all are well. And don't worry, I am better each day, really. Thanks for checking my blog out!
