Happy Thanksgiving

I am thankful for all of the traditional reasons.  My two daughters are healthy.  They have satistying marriages with spouses that they love.  Their children are healthy and quite bright, all personal bias aside.  I have a most generous, considerate and loving brother.  I don't know what I would do without his constant, humorous support.  He brings a lot of balanced thought into my life.  Since he lives hundreds of miles apart and also deals with chronic back issues, we go for years without seeing eachother.  I am so thankful that I can pick up the phone and call him any hour and not worry about a huge long distance bill.   

I can't start to express how thankful I am that I do not live in an area that was damaged by Sandy.  I wonder what the people with chronic illnesses are doing to get their very real needs met.  Doctors have lost their offices and have had to relocate.  Some of their patients won't be able to get to them due to transportation issues.  Pharmacies have been destroyed and patients have had to try to find a new pharmcist.  This can be a painful process for the chronicly ill with serious pain issues.  It takes a while to establish a mutual trust relationship with a pharmacy when you take a boatload of serious pain meds, even when the scripts are written by a pain specialist.  Your best bet is to try to get established with a "Mom and Pop" pharmacy rather than the large chain pharmacies.  The pharmacist gets to know all of his/her customers and knows their needs.  When I call in my refills, he always asks if I have a good supply of all of my over the counter meds ie vitamins, stool softners etc.  They provide free delivery.  Can you imagine that kind of service from Walmart?  

I wonder about the victims of Sandy who have chronic pain issues and no warm place to live.  The cold weather must be hell.  While isloation is not good for one's mental health, I am glad I have a nice warm little apartment where I can hybernate all winter.  I only stick my nose out when I have a doctor's appt.  While physically alone most of the time, I do have a home health aid who comes in three times a week to assist with bathing,cleaning and running errands.  What a blessing.  Then there is the internet.  I remain in near daily contact with fellow spinal patients that I have chatted with, off and on, since 1995. 

Today is a very quiet day.  I live in a sercurity building for seniors and the handicapped.  Most of my neighbors have been picked up by family members for the day.  Since we had our feast last week, I hung a do not disturb sign on my door and plan on sleeping as much as possible.   

What are you thankful for?  Have a great day, full of blessings.