Pills, a Movie, and a Little Greedy

This week marked a couple of milestones in my new "normal." These will seem so trivial to you as you don't even have to think about doing them, but for me they were significant events. It had been a month since I choked on a pill, but I felt my throat passage was wider now. Mind you, these are not large multi-vitamin pills but rather a very small white pill. But I did it!! I brought the pills to the kitchen so that Diane could be prepared to "Heimlich" me but it wasn't necessary. First, I swallowed some water, then put one tiny pill on my tongue, swallowed more water, and the deed was done. Success that continues today.

Friday Dr. Diane asked if I would like to go to a movie. I am an easy sell as I have always enjoyed films. With the exception of shoot 'em ups, vampires, and slasher flicks, I will watch about anything. I didn't even ask what we would be seeing and there I was viewing Julia Roberts in Eat, Pray, Love which is the ultimate chick flick. I had been kidnapped but I didn't mind. It was uplifting and a little bit thought-provoking. I am still a long way from indulging in my favorite food group: POPCORN. My days of hiding the popcorn in tons of salt are probably over and, of course, I did not have my usual Diet Coke either. Good friend Mike Mason has suggested that maybe in my new "normal," I give up Diet Coke which clearly is not a healthy drink choice. Easy for him to say. We shall see.

Ryan was home Saturday so we took a walk, sat out a bit, watched the Cubs and the PGA. Diane a wonderful dinner and I actually sat at the table to partake in her delicious repast. Here's where the greedy comes in, and I paid for it. I had a one inch piece of grilled ribeye steak and a similar piece of chicken cut into little tiny pieces. I also had a couple slices of homegrown tomatoes, and a few bites of McDonough County sweet corn. All of this was accompanied by copious swallows of green tea. Unfortunately, there was apparently too much variety. Not too much--just too diverse. I got up from the table, looked at Diane and Ryan, and headed for the backyard where I promptly deposited what I had just eaten. Small steps, Gord, remember, small steps. I'm not a fast learner. My stomach just wasn't ready but the doctors have given their blessing for me to try anything I can. Today, I'm back on "product," milkshakes, fresh fruit smoothies, and soup.

We dropped Ryan off at the train at 7 a.m. and took an 80 minute walk on a beautiful, quiet, cool Sunday morning. Diane and her long-time friend Jill are off to Chicago on tomorrow's train at 7 a.m. until Thursday morning. One stop will be to Zion to see her parents. Diane hasn't seen her dad since the end of March. I will hold down the fort at 35 Indian Trail. I look forward to the time when I make a trip to Chicago for a couple of days, but I'm not there yet.