posted
Being of retirement age I often hear friends discussing their "Bucket lists". In 1992 my husband and I did a low budget drive around Europe. We had such a good time that we planned another trip 2 yrs later.
I had a hard time keeping up, had to stop for 2 nights, not 1, etc. We had planned to go every 2 yrs, each time to a new place. I speak French, studied art and architecture....my husband is a history buff and great navigator. So he drove. I negotiated.
I can't do the math, but it's been many long years without a vacation of any sort. So when I hear people worrying about carrying out their bucket lists I keep silent. My bucket has a hole in it. It's called Lyme Disease.
-------------------- DOCTOR: "I don't think you are sick." PATIENT: "We are all entitled to our opinions. I don't think you are a doctor." Posts: 697 | From Northern California | Registered: Jul 2009
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hiker53
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 6046
posted
My bucket is full. Full of so many blessings even though I cannot travel far.
Today I drove across town watching the most gorgeous sunrise.
Today, one of my students beamed a huge smile when she saw her good grade on her quiz.
Today, the bagger at the grocery store offered to carry my items to the car.
Today, my neighbor shoveled my driveway and walk.
Today, I read God's promises to never leave me even in my times of struggle.
I have Lyme Disease, but my bucket is full.
Hiker53
-------------------- Hiker53
"God is light. In Him there is no darkness." 1John 1:5 Posts: 8887 | From Illinois | Registered: Aug 2004
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-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96222 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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GretaM
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 40917
posted
Bucket List (On a day like today)
1) Keep Food Down 2) Hope Hands Don't Go Numb (so I can use a gravol suppository OR just grab an apple) 3) bathe or get dressed or change my underwear 4) Eat twice so there's food for the abx 5) Be able to sit up after taking the meds 6) Stop crying
Bucket List (On an OK day)
1) Watch a soccer game in Europe 2) Go to the Smithsonian research facility in the Panama Canal and help research 3-toed sloths 3) Go to the Artic to spot an Arctic Fox 4) Survive the Drake Passage 5) Adopt a child 6) Volunteer at an orphanage oversees
There is such a disconnect between a bad day with lyme and an OK day with lyme... That is what I find the most frustrating.
I just wish the days were more even. Just when I feel things are possible, cutting and eating an avocado becomes my daily success story.
Isn't there a song, "There's a hole in my bucket dear Liza, dear Liza..."
Some days there isn't even a bottom.
Other days the bucket is reinforced with a padded handle!
Posts: 4358 | From British Columbia, Canada | Registered: Jun 2013
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posted
Everything's relative, I guess. I haven't been able to drive, cook, shop for 10+ years. I got sick suddenly in 1988, had to close my business that had been generating hundreds of jobs. I've missed the births and early yrs of first grandkids. Etc. Etc.
BUT I am blessed with an awesome spouse and we still are in our home...for now. I can now, after many years in a fog, read a book. My speech is much better.
I've been playing this game a very long time.
By Bucket List, I meant a list of things I had planned to do once in my life....goals. Right now I just want to be healthy enough to get out of bed every day. Everything else has been reduced to trivia.
-------------------- DOCTOR: "I don't think you are sick." PATIENT: "We are all entitled to our opinions. I don't think you are a doctor." Posts: 697 | From Northern California | Registered: Jul 2009
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lpkayak
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 5230
posted
I've taken a lot of things out of my bucket
Its ok
I find things most days that bring joy: a sunset, a flower, a text or call or pic from one of the kids, a chance to help someone instead of needing help...
But still in that bucket are: having regular time with horses-even if icant get on, kayaking, and having some sort of regular visits with my kids and grand kids...even if it isnt very often
-------------------- Lyme? Its complicated. Educate yourself. Posts: 13712 | From new england | Registered: Feb 2004
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posted
Oh, and thank you, Greta, I do try to remember to change my underwear! Of course, if that had been an item on my true Bucket List I'd have kicked it around the block!
-------------------- DOCTOR: "I don't think you are sick." PATIENT: "We are all entitled to our opinions. I don't think you are a doctor." Posts: 697 | From Northern California | Registered: Jul 2009
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desertwind
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 25256
posted
Yes, a hole in it but I still keep trying to re-fill it. Sometimes I actually get ahead of the curve/outflow rate.
Posts: 1671 | From Tick Infested New Jersey | Registered: Apr 2010
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map1131
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 2022
posted
lp, I just seen your quote signature. Oh my exactly what I truly believe with all my heart and soul.
If you are not your own doctor, you are a fool.
by Hippocrates-founder of Medicine.
Pam
-------------------- "Never, never, never, never, never give up" Winston Churchill Posts: 6478 | From Louisville, Ky | Registered: Jan 2002
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map1131
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posted
faraday, keep trying to plug that bucket. Don't give up. Even if you get it to just drip even every once in a while, it's worth the work.
I had a bucket list and one was to go out west. Now that g-boys are 10 & 13, my mind got to thinking how we could rent a RV and go see some of God's country out in Midwest & western states.
So time with boys and fun on the road with Papa & Nana. My husband did some searching and it would take us 10-14 days to do all of the list.
The reality is I don't know if I could actually do this for that many days at this time? Maybe next year will be better.
I just moved it down my list. Reality is a trip for 2 days later in Feb (winter snow permitting) to go 2 hrs up the interstate and watch the boys in a indoor 84 degree water park, have a great time.
This winter in the Midwest has been freezing and snow and the worst we've had in a decade or longer. 84 degrees with my Kindle in my lap sounds great. Papa and grandsons laughing and playing and me catching some pics.
It's reality.
Pam
-------------------- "Never, never, never, never, never give up" Winston Churchill Posts: 6478 | From Louisville, Ky | Registered: Jan 2002
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lax mom
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posted
Before I turn 100, I want to see Monet's Garden in France and the Pyramids in Egypt (if it wasn't so dangerous).
But right now, seeing a warm, sandy beach and a palm tree in person would do my spirit good
map1131
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 2022
posted
Now lax, why did you have to mention the sandy beach and palm trees? I was just thankful for a trip to Wolf Lodge and 84 degrees.
Now you got me thinking Caribbean vacation and no extra funds for that???? Lax!
Pam
-------------------- "Never, never, never, never, never give up" Winston Churchill Posts: 6478 | From Louisville, Ky | Registered: Jan 2002
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lax mom
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 38743
posted
Just dreaming map! no funds here either
But if supplements were gold, I'd be a billionaire
posted
I've lost everything with this horrible disease.
Now, I don't even have a bucket..... Posts: 867 | From PA | Registered: Jan 2006
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map1131
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
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posted
I've got my meds and my supps lined up on the counter this morning.... today Sunday is my fill my weekly morning, noon, dinner, night organizer up with everything.
Some days they really do get caught in my throat. I have to eat something to get them to continue the journey. OMG, unbelievable.
Pam
-------------------- "Never, never, never, never, never give up" Winston Churchill Posts: 6478 | From Louisville, Ky | Registered: Jan 2002
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kam
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 3410
posted
When I first became too sick to work or do household chores I ran across a lady on line who said she had CFS.
She explained like having a bucket of water. Every day you don't know how much water will be in the bucket.
And the goal is to end the day with a bit of water still in the bucket. Not to let it run dry as you would need to spend several days down in order to get enough water in the bucket to do something again.
I have enjoyed reading what I was able. I'll be back ro read more.
But, when I saw the subject line I was reminded of the lady in Alaska with CFS
Posts: 15927 | From Became too sick to work or do household chores in 2001. | Registered: Dec 2002
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steve1906
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posted
I lost my bucket list, and I can't remember where I put it, nor can I remember what's on it.
Maybe when I kick the bucket, my family will find the list, and they’ll go where I should have, if I hadn’t lost that damn list…
O-well, I'm thankful for what I do have, and looking forward to see what happens in the future...God only knows.
“Let's be thankful for what we have; and we'll end up having more. If we concentrate on what we don't have, we will never, ever have enough”
Steve
-------------------- Everything I say is just my opinion! Posts: 3529 | From Massachusetts Boston Area | Registered: Jul 2008
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GretaM
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posted
Well said, Steve.
I am grateful for my soft housecoat. Aside for 2 hours on Saturday, I have been in it since Wednesday night. It is the only piece of clothing that "comforts" me.
I am grateful for it.
It cost 19.99 and boy oh boy, have I ever got my money's worth!
Posts: 4358 | From British Columbia, Canada | Registered: Jun 2013
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lpkayak
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posted
Sounds like a modified "spoon theory" kam
-------------------- Lyme? Its complicated. Educate yourself. Posts: 13712 | From new england | Registered: Feb 2004
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lpkayak
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-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96222 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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kam
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
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posted
Thoughts of this thread this am when I tried to go to the grocery store this am and had to turn around and come home because hwalth wasn't doing well enough.
Instead of focusing on the can't do's...I focused on being thankful I have a caregiver coming this am so she can get the groceries fo rme.
There is lots of other things that need to be done in the hour she is here..but food is the most improtatint. Posts: 15927 | From Became too sick to work or do household chores in 2001. | Registered: Dec 2002
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kam
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
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posted
sorry my brain and hands don't always communicate the same thing
Posts: 15927 | From Became too sick to work or do household chores in 2001. | Registered: Dec 2002
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steve1906
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posted
Kam, you’re not along... This past Sunday (Super-bowl), I went food shopping, what a mistake.
I was fine when I entered the store, and then all hell broke-out about 30 minutes after that.
PANIC ATTACK!!! I was going to leave, it was pretty bad. I decided to get in line, I found one that only had one person in it, seemed simple enough.
I wanted to tear the “young girl’s face off” that was on the register. Why, she was joking and talking with two young boys, and taking her sweet time running my food through.
Somehow, I don’t know how; but I held my cool. She knew I was pissed by my expressions, but I couldn’t say a word, or I would have been in jail for awhile.
I guess you made a good choice not going food shopping today; I’ll do the same the next time
Hope you feel better.
Steve
. .
-------------------- Everything I say is just my opinion! Posts: 3529 | From Massachusetts Boston Area | Registered: Jul 2008
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lpkayak
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posted
Steve that just happenrd to me. It was a small place - i knew the manager-but i suspect she is gone...i was disgusted with help making sandwiches with hair hanging all over, not wearing gloves like they are supposed to, and one was r re ally rude-telling the other she didnt have to wait on me...that i could wait...she said it 3 times...i could hardly stand
But i needed to be there but i will call to see if it changed hands
-------------------- Lyme? Its complicated. Educate yourself. Posts: 13712 | From new england | Registered: Feb 2004
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steve1906
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posted
That disgust me too. I was in a small sandwich shop about a month ago, same thing (The hair thing & no gloves).
Even worse, the guy in front of me got his order and the sandwich maker took his money (no gloves), yep-the DIRTY money.
Next he asked me what I wanted, I told him and he proceeded to make my sandwich, you know where I'm going with this right?
He just took dirty money from someone and then he started making my sandwich and didn't wash, nor did he put gloves on, disgusting....
I'm going to start turning these people in (as of today)-we all should. We have regulations and it seems no one is following them.
By the way, I laughed at him and walked out, no sandwich for me that day!
PS. And people wonder why I don't like eating out!
Steve
-------------------- Everything I say is just my opinion! Posts: 3529 | From Massachusetts Boston Area | Registered: Jul 2008
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