Overwhelmed

            Things keep happening that distract me from writing. Health issues are at the top.

I’m still struggling with long Covid, which makes me lethargic, makes my body ache, makes my limbs feel as if they are being sucked down into the earth. It freezes my brain, stealing written words before they can be written. Before they are even fully developed into thoughts.

There’s nothing that can be done that my doctor hasn’t tried. She’s constantly searching for new ideas, but no one really knows what to do to help people like me.

Then there’s my big toe. The nail decided to crumble, then had to be removed. Once the anesthetic wore off, the pain was incredible. Worse than before. It made sleep difficult. With a fuzzy brain, I had another excuse for not being able to write.

On to my knee. Getting out of my car, there was an audible pop, followed by intense pain. I’d partially torn my MCL and quad on my right knee. Once again, throbbing, while the big toe on the other foot still hurt.

Next came the pinkie on my left foot. It decided to swell up so much so that it couldn’t bend. Try walking when your toe won’t bend!

Once the toes settled down and the tears began to heal, the “hitch” I’d had in my right knee worsened. Whenever I want to straighten my leg, I have to hook my left foot under my calf and pull up.

There’s an audible pop, followed by pain. I’ve had this for a couple of years, but after the tears, things worsened. It’s now excruciatingly painful, so much so that I cry out.

This week I learned that the knee will have to be replaced, for a third time!

Then there are the pleasures.

My husband and I love going to the theater for live performances as well as to see a movie. It seems like all of our reservations popped up within the same two weeks! I’m not complaining as I got to see three amazing plays and two fantastic movies, but when I’m sitting in the theater, I’m not even thinking about writing.

Well, that’s not exactly true, but close.

Anyway, those are my excuses for falling behind on my posts!

Advice Column

Dear Martha:

My eight-year-old son got sent home early from school. Supposedly he pulled a girl’s ponytail so hard it made her cry. I don’t believe it. My son’s a kind-hearted kid.

He says the girl waves her hair in his face. That it touches his desk and gets in his way. All he was doing was moving it.

I’m angry that she didn’t get punished. It’s not fair. What can I do?

Angry Mother

 

Dear Angry Mother:

Imagine your son old enough to drive. He’s traveling close enough to the woman’s car in front of him that he can read all the stickers on her bumper. Suddenly she stops, without giving, what he thinks, is proper warning, so he smashes into her car, hurting her and damaging the car. Whose fault is that?

Instead of being angry at the girl in your son’s class and seeking to place blame elsewhere, teach your son to maintain a respectful distance, even when the hair is touching his desk.

He needs to learn alternative actions to hurting someone. For example, could he have said something to the teacher or asked to switch seats? Instead he pulled her hair which only got him in trouble.

Excusing an individual’s behavior, even at such a young age, can lead to a lifetime of excuses.

Martha