Because it is my nature, I have to share a few positive things that have happened to us in the past two days before I share the shitty stuff.
Thursday was a busy, busy day. Nick is trying a new “therapy” called the CVAC process. Basically, he sits in a little pod for 20-60 minutes while the atmospheric pressure rapidly changes. During his initial session he was taken from a pressure equal to 10,000 feet above sea level, and dropped down to sea level, over and over again. The idea is to replicate the “pulsatile nature of breathing, muscle contraction, and blood flow that occur during exercise.” It’s for healing and conditioning, making it popular with professional athletes.
Nick in the CVAC machine. Due to the constant pressure changes, he had to equalize his ears every few seconds.
We got hooked up with this therapy through our friend Paul, and Nick is receiving a very hefty discount for his treatments. Thank you CVAC!
Our new car is having some issues with the passenger-door speaker so we took it in for repair. Turns out they couldn’t duplicate the problem we’ve been experiencing and therefore couldn’t fix it, so they ended up rotating the tires and washing the car for free. We even missed the torrential rains that hit that day and still have a shiny, clean car.
And lastly for the fun news, while waiting for the car, we had lunch in Old Town Temecula at The Public House. The food was so amazing, we just couldn’t stop raving about it. Nick had the special, a pan-seared Opah fish with some delicious fruit salsa compote on it. I had grilled Romaine (sounds unassuming, but was one of the most creative, satisfying dishes I’ve ever experienced), and we shared a vegan bruschetta to start. After the meal, the chef came to meet us because he heard we loved his creations. He was genuinely flattered by our appreciation and made us a special dessert for free: bread pudding with fruit, macadamia nuts, and a cream cheese topping. Unbelievable. We both left there uncomfortably full but glowing in our hearts and spirits. Thursday was a great day!
And then… Friday happened.
I was fighting a bit of a bug on Wednesday night and Thursday, but thought I had won. When I woke on Friday, it was a totally different story. I was sick. So sick, in fact, that I was almost completely useless. My whole body hurt, bringing me to tears several times throughout the day. Dull aches and shooting pains. Nausea, sore throat, and a headache. Light headed and heavy hearted.
Poor Nick, he really picked up the slack. It was hard on him, but he rose to the challenge and became my hero. He went to the grocery store for me, chopped veggies, and helped make fresh veggie soup (that I was unable to eat after all). He was constantly getting up and down for me, fetching water, cool rags, tea, and blankets. He had a full day of what I call “applied therapy.” He didn’t ride the bike, swim, or walk on the treadmill, but he trekked all over the house in the name of love and good Partnership! He was even walking around our kitchen without the walker or crutches for the first time since the surgery.
Of course, none of that came without dramatically increased pain. I’m just grateful he was able to assist me the way he did, and that I didn’t fall ill a few weeks ago when he would have been unable to keep up.
Thankfully I’m feeling better today. The feelings of a slow, painful death have abandoned my muscles and joints, but I’m still sore, exhausted, and lightheaded. I’m capable of tending to myself again, so I sent Nick out of the house to go have some fun. There’s no use having him sitting around watching me be miserable when there’s nothing he can do to help. So, he’s down at the dropzone hanging out with friends and watching the jumpers and enjoying the afternoon.
Despite not feeling well, I’m enjoying this quiet, contemplative Saturday afternoon alone. Looking forward to the return of my radiant health, but also appreciating the contrast from yesterdays bitter flavor.
Nick Fener 