Back in early October, our two little boys, Zane and Jake, received their first H1N1 shot. We were told then that, because of their young age, they would need two shots each, the second one to follow the first by four weeks,

What they didn’t tell us was that, after the first shot and until several weeks after their second shot, they were not protected at all, were in fact at greater risk. So, of course, within a few days of getting their shots, both boys became sick with high fevers, with the H1N1 flu itself.

Aspen and I were next, although we’ve been through many flu seasons in our lives and were not at great risk. Our symptoms were less severe, although the stuffy head and the dry cough are still with us now, almost five weeks later,

Then, just as the rest of us were beginning to recover, Callahan came down with a high fever and the rest of the symptoms. His high fever lasted seven days before it broke. We were worried.

Today we are all recovering.
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Then last Tuesday, finally feeling strong enough, I went in for minor surgery, repairing two hernias in my groin. It wasn’t that big a deal, but it has laid me out since. At my age, I have less reserves of energy and my recovery time is slower, especially after having had the flu, even a relatively mild dose of it.
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Last night, talking with Aspen, I realized that my focus this year has been healing body. Last June, I had a tooth pulled that had been a problem for years. With the ensuing dry socket and serious pain lasting for over five weeks, I was barely back on my feet, feeling full of energy again, when fall came around. Callahan and I never even had a chance to hike to Blue Lake or any of the other high mountain lakes.

Last night, still talking with Aspen, I looked ahead and realized that my body is as healthy as I can make it for now. This year, I have taken care of all the unfinished body business that I had been putting off for so long. I’m as healthy as I can be at 76. With all this healing work that I have done this year, I have freed myself for Wanderer’s next adventure, hopefully beginning early next spring.