Then, almost all at once, my battery drained and I needed to find my bed. Stumbling tired, which surprised even me. I guess it was a busy day, beginning at 4:30 instead of the usual 5 a.m. Plowed through the day, arthritis hanging on like a nasty bulldog on my sleeve, but not having an exceptionally restrictive impact. Walked to school, and when walking my dogs I met a really nice woman who had a gigantic long legged hound that wanted to meet my brood. Turns out I taught her children a longtime ago. Turns out also that she has multiple autoimmune diseases and sees the same rheumatologist I do. We made a warm connection through illness, in a "takes one to know one" sort of way. She had similar experiences to my own and has been severely impacted by having multiple illnesses. So hard!
Just read on another board that Thomas Jefferson had "rheumatism" -- could have been osteoarthritis, but his descriptions sound very much like RA, too. Go figure...I can't imagine having this without the anti-inflammatory / RA meds we have now...and he still did a lot with his life. I suppose my Dad got through his life with only naprosyn (Aleve), which most likely destroyed his gut, but might have addressed a little of the pain. He had a poor quality of life and every day I remind myself of the choice I have to make -- to give in, or get over it. If I truly listened to my body I would never leave my bed, would weigh a million pounds, and would sleep all day. So, I don't listen!
Today after school I have my new activity called "Stitch Club." A gaggle of kids who are learning how to embroider. It is a blast and I feel so happy to be passing on my passion to eager kids that might be able to benefit from the skills in a life-long way. So fun! Can't wait to see what they do for projects!
Art is a process and a way of life as much as it is a bunch of objects. I am grateful to have ART in my life as well as ARThritis. Art will win, or at least make the ride more bearable. I don't know how Jefferson did it. Cheers.