Words Matter

Garrison Institute
Garrison, NY

I got invited by my friend/neighbor/Friday morning artist meet-up Amy to be part of a project called "Words Matter". Here's the blurb:
As part of Brookline First Light join us next Thursday evening November 29th and create your own beautiful luminary! All ages are welcome to help light up Brookline Village! On display at the 45 Harvard Street window will be eleven artists exhibiting glass luminaries with proceeds going to Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh. Don't miss your opportunity to own one of these beautiful jars. Exhibit traveling to Post-Cubicle Gallery in Kenmore Square on December 6th.

Last night I picked up my 3 pint Ball jar. And am up super early this morning to work on it. The whole project came together just a few days ago so it's a tight turn-around. I feel so honored to be invited to participate. Glenn and I answered the social media call #ShowUpForShabbat a few weeks ago and joined a tiny congregation in Woodbury, CT for their Saturday service. I so admire Amy who responds actively to tragedies. 

Yes, words do matter.

Monday I finally got in to see the sports medicine team. And I have classic hip flexor tendonitis. She gave me some initial PT exercises which I have done - and also said to start Tylenol. The miracle drug! I have always dismissed that kind of thing - but wow, what a difference. For the first time in months I feel relatively comfortable. She said that I'm very strong on quads and hamstrings from all the biking, but not stable on the inner and outer thighs. So I need to strengthen some areas and stretch others. Today I will see PT for the first time. Can't wait.

Lesson learned is that doing one sport only and intensely and at this age - is not good. So going forward I'll have to cross-train in some way. She didn't say I can't do centuries anymore, but need to work with my body in a more balanced way. Noted!! I never want to go through this again.

I'm an athlete!

Garrison Institute
Garrison, NY

I got scanned a few weeks ago but the pain in my left hip continues to plague me, so I went to see PCP today. Lo and behold, I have a sports injury! She thinks that I over-trained this season on the bike and injured by IT band. It's getting better - slowly - but still hurts a lot in the morning. These kinds of injuries hurt when you are not weight-bearing so that explains why it hurts during sleep and feels better after I move around in the morning. So she has decided to refer me to a sports medicine clinic which is staffed by a MD and a PT.

I am relieved! And find it funny that I am an "athlete". I don't think of myself that way! My sister was on the 1992 Olympic rowing team - my nephew was an olympic hopeful a few years in the decathlon. And most everyone pays tennis, golf, skis or whatever much better than me. My grandmother was a tennis teacher.

First available appointment is 2 weeks but in the meantime I'm really scaling back on physical activity.

Otherwise all good.