That Which Does Not Kill Us

My husband loves to make pies of all sorts and is very good at it. When we met decades ago he began learning to cook "Yank" food and introduced me to some of his favorite British dishes in the process. To this day, one treat he prepared known as "Spotted Dick" still makes me belly laugh. Feel free to Google that one.

Last week was my yearly checkup at the doctor and it went well until it didn't. Mind you, I have nothing life threatening but my body needs assistance due to age and mileage. My sugar was up and my Insulin Resistance has been causing me problems. The visit started with a weigh-in and I wasn't surprised when the scale jumped higher than my normal. Throughout my life I have never been a foodie, quite the opposite, nor am I big on medication. Like many I prefer to use natural  methods when possible. Being older and having an extra 60 pounds on a small frame is a  problem that causes more problems. My physical body and my mind often feel like separate entities and I'm wondering if others experience the same. Maybe its my way of dealing with situations that challenge me physically. 

The conclusion now is having spent years of trying many methods to deal with the complications of I.R., my doctor prescribed a medication that should help things along. Now we wait to see if my medical insurance will allow it, I feel defeated. My husband is 68 and wears no eye glasses nor needs any medication, he has been very lucky. Next I have to amp up my daily exercise and strength. My intake isn’t the problem because I barely clear 1200 calories a day as it is. My meal at dinner is primarily protein, vegetables, alot of water, and yet here I am looking down at the electronic scale in horror at my weight having gone up again. It makes no damn sense. 

I like walking but not so much in the middle of winter when it’s cold and slippery. The last two years my balance has played up and my body will sometimes lean left when I want to go right. Prior to going to camp this summer I hadn’t hiked much and I fell hard both visits while there. This is a wonderful time of year to be outdoors. I like the fact the leaves have recently dropped from the trees and I can see through the forest better. The air has a bite to it and the slight waft of woodsmoke is comforting. The only caution is it’s now deer hunting season and wearing orange clothing is a must for pets and walkers on trails or near wooded areas.

The day after Halloween being a weekend,  people were outdoors finishing the task of getting homes and gardens ready for winter. The last two years the snow has held off until January but the cold does more damage than precipitation. We have no insulation in our old building and we have done our best over the years renovating the interior so it stays warm. The plus of not living in the countryside is we have some fantastic neighbors close by who jump into any holiday spirit with gusto. Halloween was no exception, as of my writing houses on our street have started putting up outdoor Christmas decorations.

It's not new news that the food assistance program millions rely on in the states stopped November 1st due to the government still being shutdown. Although it isn't a need we use, we have family and friends who do, many are elderly or have children. One of them spoke to me days ago about how difficult daily life has been since Trump has imposed limits, defunded, and shut down numerous programs. The state governments and other organizations are trying to fill the gap but its time consuming, difficult, and some impossible. The only safety net we have from needing assistance as an aged couple thus far is my husband is still working and we get benefits through the employer. 

Let me be clear, we pay alot for those benefits monthly, they aren't free. The Trump imposed tarrifs are in fact directly affecting the company he works for. Seeing others in need especially the children, is all too familiar and hurts my heart. The general atmosphere in America is one of fear and uncertainty. The current authoritarian president is trying hard to separate people from one another and in essence is holding all who live here hostage. 

 "That which does not kill us makes us stronger."

 

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