We are meeting early today for a pre-workday coffee date. The fog hangs over the river and the grass and tree branches are wet with dew. It is rather chilly. We zip up our outdoor jackets, hug our hot beverages close and start meandering along the way. While we are watching the world waking up, the birds chirping louder and the sun creeping higher we chat away.
If you and I had coffee…
…I first of want to share a few snippets of our family reunion at the beginning of the month. It was a wonderful but exhausting weekend. It started out with a dinner at my aunts house and lots of talk. The kids played outside.
On Saturday we had the 100. Opalympischen Spiele. In honor of my grandpa who would have turned 100 this year and who was qualified to go to the Olympics in 1940 (which didn’t happen for obvious reasons) in kayaking we had some sportive entertainment. The disciplines were: bobby car racing down a ramp (I did that!), jump rope hopping ( I had hoped to do better here), a game of soccer (I scored two goals), and a game of boccia (which my aunt and I won). A few of us played badminton. Of course everyone won something and we continuously received applause and candy prizes. It was really really fun. We all had numbers taped on the back, a megaphone was in constant use to comment each activity. So much so that people stopped and watched us.
After a short lunch break we were supposed to go into the woods but were surprised by a thunderstorm. So we immediately skipped having cake and coffee under the outdoor roof. While the kids played in the rain (best rain dancer was one of the prizes). All that morphed into a BBQ.
On Sunday we met at our favorite restaurant for lunch for all of us who didn’t have long travel times.
It was a wonderful weekend. We usually have two people from different families who are in charge of organizing the event. This time it was my sister and my cousin. Before it was me and my other cousin. We failed to elect the next organizing team and I fear it will again end in chaos – last year was skipped because no one was responsible.
I can only share this one photo with you without any of my family.
For transparency KI removed my mom in the race photo.
If you and I had coffee…
…I want to point out that I survived all the athletic activities during the family reunion only to take one bad step while on a photo job a few days later. I was on a small wall around a flower bed and step down and the moment my foot it the ground I felt (and heard?) something snap like a elastic in my right thigh. I couldn’t put weight on my leg. I finished the job, hopped around on one leg for 30 minutes and then walked it off. It was okays but hurt and I knew something was torn. But I had a long day ahead of me. With a few more appointments that had me running around the city.
When I was finally home for an hour around 5pm I asked Chat GPT to be an orthopedic and do an anamnesis with me. The result middle grade torn muscle. Therapy: don’t do anything and cool it. I cooled a bit and then hopped on my bike for the next appointment figuring I can use my left leg and figured it be better than walking 2km – twice.
Anyway I had some pain at night and the next morning when sitting so I called a ton of orthopedics in order have it checked. I reached no one with a holiday coming up. The only praxis I did reach were closing and going on vacation and they said I should go to the emergency room. I thought that might be over the top as it never crossed my mind. So I called a number we have in Germany that helps you define if you should go to the emergency room or not and find you the best place to go. And that lady also said I need to get it checked with in the next 24 hours and since there is in all of Berlin not one orthopedic available I should go to the emergency room. And so I went.
After being there and waiting for two hours I had to go to the bathroom. Take a guess… when I started walking there is hardly any pain. I waited another two hour before I finally saw a doctor. He did all the checks with poking and moving and pressuring and while I did feel some pain it was almost nothing compared two a few hours ago. Great. I felt so stupid. But he could eliminate a torn tendon. And he was not believing in any fracture. He offered a xray but I said I don’t think it’s a fracture and he agreed. So I did not take the xray (and another 3 hour wait) he said I should just rest for 1-2 weeks and then see an orthopedic if it’s not going away and get an MRT. I did make an appointment for that but let me tell you. There is no more pain. Unless I do some exercise and it starts to prickle. So its not nothing either.
I have no idea what happened and how my body developed such rapid self healing powers. I feel like I can do everything again. And a therapist at my hospital job told me to not stretch under any circumstances and best practice would be standing on one leg to strengthen the muscle. I have been doing that the past days. Otherwise I took a ten day rest for my legs but tonight my Zumba course starts. So we see how that goes. Have you ever experience such a phenomenon of surprise healing? ?
If you and I had coffee…
…I need to talk about books. Obviously. I went to the book flea market at my old library. I gave myself a budget of 5€ meaning 5 new books. It was really really hard to stick to it but I managed. It is not that I do need new books – on the contrary – but I wanted them. Can you guess how many unread books a gathering on my shelves?
If you and I had coffee…
…I mentioned that our pastor asked me to join the parish church council. I was a bit surprised but would be lying if not also a bit flattered. This thought had crossed my mind a few times too but I was just quietly inquiring what that position entailed. I guess not that quietly. I am however not sure if I want to sign up for that volunteering position for the next 6 years. I am interested. I always thought I would do this one time in my life but I am not sure if it is the right timing. On the other hand I would get to be more involved in the community – which might be good since we are so far away from all civilization (ha slightly exaggerated). And I love learning new things. And I really don’t do much else besides work and read and my new developing exercise habit. So I guess I’d have the time. I have about 4-6 more weeks to decide. Has anyone had this kind of commitment? Anyone part of a church council? I know I rarely speak about this part of my life here and it’s not gonna be a focus but right now it is on my mind so I wanted to share.
If you and I had coffee…
…I quickly share, that I had the analysis talk from my in-house sleep study from January. The result is somewhat frustrating though. My apnea is – thank goodness – mild and usually they would not recommend a CPAP machine. However since my symptoms are so severe and I have done almost everything regarding sleep hygiene the doctor wants me to try the machine. So I have another night in the clinic. I am not looking forward to it after that horrible night in January. But I really want to get better sleep. The doc also said that with some people who have a very sensitive sleep – I wake up from my own heartbeat – sometimes there is just not a real solution. I have a feeling she sees me in that category. Sigh. I fear I do too. For now I do the CPAP therapy and well see what happens there. I have the appointment on June 22nd. And a consultation June 25th. I am torn if I want this to be the solution or not. I really don’t care of having the machine in my bedroom, traveling with and taking care of it. If its not working pills are moving up in therapy land… I might prefer that to a machine? I don’t know. Such a hard topic.
The fog has lifted, the sun is up it is time to hug good bye. And as we are both heading our separate ways I quickly swing by this view by the river to snap my monthly photo. It is spring in my neck of the woods. The days are getting warmer.
Any experience with spontaneous healing? Do you have a family reunion planned? And how do you go about it? Anyone wanting to guess my unread books? How many are on your shelves? Can you advise on a church council or any other volunteering position?
11 comments
The volunteer term is SIX YEARS?! That’s crazy. I would not do that. What if you hate it and then you’re stuck doing it for more than half a decade?
My husband’s family does a reunion every Labor Day. It’s really fun and there are competitive sports there, too. Softball (I do not participate), as well as ladder golf and bags tournaments. So fun!
I know the six year things is really an issue. It’s mainly because the entire churches of Germany are selecting their councils and the organization cost are high so they want to do it longer term. Everyone knows it will not work and there will always be a handful of replacements in line. So it’s not really strict and if I wanted to get out I could but it’s still a commitment.
I love that you do a family reunion every year. You’ve shared about it. And the games are fun. I wonder if we should repeat that. Maybe change up the disciplines over time…
I’m glad that your injury didn’t turn out to be anything too major, and how nice that the pain has eased up. I can’t say I’ve ever experienced a sudden healing like that. My knees are prone to injury, and they heal faster if I get ice on them right away. But it always takes a few days. We don’t have family reunions very often. I think the last one was before 2020’s Covid lockdown. Yours looks like it was fun! I’m guessing you have 25 unread books! I’ll be interested to know your actual number! I don’t have any unread books on my shelves, but I have 14 on my ereader! A six-year term is a big commitment. You probably know in your heart if it’s right for you or not.
I am very happy too that it wasn’t a serious injury. I did feel my leg after 30 minutes of Zumba so it’s not healed and I need to be patient. It is hard but I want to enjoy my arctic expedition and not jeopardize that. So slowly slowly. I put ice on in the second I was home. Which was like 6 hours later. sooner would have probably been better.
I am sorry you suffer from weak news. Probably not helpful when being around cattle and a farm every day.
25 books. You are being kind. it is way more. I’ll be sharing the real number later that month when I do my wrap up of the 101 goals in 1000 days which comes to an end next week. I am hoping to lower that number a bit before then.
Six years is long. My heart is tugging in a certain way. Not fully decided yet.
I can relate to using ChatGPT as my doctor. I have used it for so many things lately to help me figure out if I should be worried about what’s going on with me, ha. It asks some really good questions, though!
I have 158 unread books on my shelf! Can you top that? ;)
Your family reunion is so fun! I love that you guys played games and such. My family has become very disjointed and we rarely see each other. It’s sad.
I’m not sure if I can help with the volunteering position. But 6 years seems like a LONG time if you’re not sure if you would like it.
I can NOT top that Stephany. I feel so much better now. It’s 95 so far.
The reunion was fun. More fun than I had imagined. No quibbles like past years which was nice.
ChatPT and I are growing together more each day. Right now I heavily rely on it for more coaching in exercising and nutrition. Gives me some pause and reflection before I snack away and make choices. For that alone I am glad.
Six years is really really long. Everyone knows though that it is too long and no one will force it. But it is still a commitment.
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Your family reunion sounds like a great time. I absolutely love the photos of you! 6 years is a long time for a volunteering position. Our church council positions are usually 1 or 2 years minimum, but you can do longer, which is good because each year, there is a little bit of turnover but some continuity. I have always been more involved in the ministry team side of things rather than the council, which is more on the governance side. G and I are in our second year on the ministry team at our church. I’m presuming, though that it shouldn’t be a massive hourly commitment per month? Say a meeting and then a small amount of work that arises from the meeting. Do they want you in a particular position or just as a general council member?
Haha thank you. I feel so misshapen in that photo but for now that is the reality.
Six years is a long time. But you are right the time invest would be a meeting per month (up to 3 hours) and a weekend in January and then more or less what I can contribute. The wish is that each member is taking on one or two of the councils. Since I am already involved in all publicity happening there wouldn’t much change here. I am a bit interested in the building/construction and maybe even finance council. Not so much with all the kids/youth/music/ministry stuff. I enjoy it but can’t contribute much here.
So yes… its a tough choice because who know what is going on in 2 or 4 years from now. But then you never know and should that keep me from contributing for two years? Arghhhh
I have had miraculous healing before. Years ago I kicked a mug of tea I had put on the floor – it was scalding hot and burned my foot. The pain was absolutely unreal. I was sure I would have scarring and it would blister. I couldn’t get to sleep because of the pain and ended up taking a strong pain pill. In the morning it was completely healed. I have never had something like that happen before. I have zero explanation for it. At the very least my foot should have had blisters but there was zero pain the following morning and it never blistered!
I love that bright pink shirt on you. Such a fun, lovely colour.
Oh wow… that is spontaneous healing indeed. How fortunate. Burn injuries and scars can be so tough. I am happy for you. But so strange. Right?
I love that shirt too. Bold colors are my jam when I feel good in my body and mind.
I am really behind on reading and commenting, sorry! I love your coffee dates though, so I picked this post to start.
I think if you have always kind of wanted to try this church council gig, you should give it a try. I mean, if you say no, does that mean you have to wait 6 years for the next term? You know you have time in your life right now, but you don’t know what life will be like then. I say go for it, and bail if you need to.
I’m glad your leg is improving, and I hope you get a solution to your sleep issues. Sleep is so important!