Almost six weeks after the tobogganing incident my brain is still scrambled. It doesn’t like fast movement, bright lights, loud voices and noise and if I am not consciously focused on a task, it no longer exists. Take for instance a pot on the stove. If I’m not staring directly at it, my mind, followed by my body, wanders off until the smell of burnt whatever alerts me. I lose words all the time (more than usual) and still feel like I’m in a rubber life raft riding the waves on the open sea when I’m on my feet for ridiculously short periods of time. But my ribs no longer bring tears to my eyes if I need to cough or sneeze and I’ll take that win!
The concussion symptoms have grown old but funny as it sounds, the days I have spent sequestered at home have not. With no choice I have leaned into a slower pace as I sort through papers, organize shelves and purge junk. Things I normally don’t take the time to do and my house and mental health are better for it. Around the same time as the toboggan fall, I was working through some emotional adjustments and the organizing and purging cleared my headspace so I could process better. I have never been one to buy new things very often, I have mostly pieced together a life with bits and scraps and sorting through the stuff reminded me that life is a rotation of change and adjustment from the time we exit the womb until we draw our last breath. The ability to accept ‘what is’ is essential for well-being, and so, with all the grace I can muster, that’s what I’m doing. My daughter Sabrina said I should journal. I think I will.
But it’s time for a revised healing plan. I have rented a private little casita on a dirt road off the beaten track in the Mexican Yucatan for a month. I know the ‘getting there’ part with my broken head will be grim. Between the airport with its loud announcements, the plane to Cancun, a four hour bus ride to Merida, followed by another bus to Izamal, and a 30 minute walk out of town to my casita, I will be done in. Just writing it makes me wither inside, but once there, I think the warmth and sunshine will do wonders for me. My son Colin will drive me to the airport in the wee hours this Sunday morning.
At the moment there are raging fires across central and southern Chile about 500 miles south of Santiago. Thousands of acres of forest and hundreds of homes have been destroyed and people have died. My original plan to fly into Santiago and start riding my bike south from there would have put me in exactly that region. Who knows why events unfold as they do, but my dear friend Sue said she thanks God for my broken ribs.
I will be laying low in Mexico as my goal is to heal. Walking to town to get groceries will likely be my most exciting outing. Spending time in a lovely little casita simply reading and writing will be a new experience for me. It’s a far cry from adventures around every corner like my other winter forays into parts unknown but I am looking forward to it regardless. And I will still post… even if the posts put you to sleep. Here’s to good nights rest for all and restored health.
The Flip Side of Fifty 
God for you Arlene. Having been down your road to better health I urge you forward. My concussion symptoms plague me daily and it has been a full year since my fall. Couple that with Dianes health issues and my trip to the Heart Institute, you get the picture. Take good care of your health as it is all we really have, that and good friends.
Via con Deus
Gary XO
It helps hearing so many stories of people who have been dealing with concussion symptoms for so much longer. My brother was the same. I hope you feel better soon . The doctor told me the symptoms are super unpredictable. We do the best we can. Take good care. Hugs!💜
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Arlene, have a safe trip to the casita. I hope this time helps you heal. Concussions and other vestibular issues are horrible. Pierre has suffered for about 15 years now. He was recently diagnosed by neurologists at the Dizziness Clinic in Ottawa with PPPD (Persistent Postural-Perceptual Dizziness) and vestibular migraines. He is having vestibular physio now, which I think is helping him. He did amazing on our trip, so I will think the best for you. Looking forward to stories. Ps maybe forgo cooking much!
Arlene, have a safe trip to the casita. I hope this time helps you heal. Concussions and other vestibular issues are horrible. Pierre has suffered for about 15 years now. He was recently diagnosed by neurologists at the Dizziness Clinic in Ottawa with PPPD (Persistent Postural-Perceptual Dizziness) and vestibular migraines. He is having vestibular physio now, which I think is helping him. He did amazing on our trip, so I will think the best for you. Looking forward to stories. Ps maybe forgo cooking much!
Thanks Sherri. I have never even heard of PPPD but I’m so glad Pierre is doing better! It’s been such a long haul for him. And I’m super glad he did good on your trip. It looked amazing. Hope all continues to improve. 💜
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Arlene, have a safe trip to the casita. I hope this time helps you heal. Concussions and other vestibular issues are horrible. Pierre has suffered for about 15 years now. He was recently diagnosed by neurologists at the Dizziness Clinic in Ottawa with PPPD (Persistent Postural-Perceptual Dizziness) and vestibular migraines. He is having vestibular physio now, which I think is helping him. He did amazing on our trip, so I will think the best for you. Looking forward to stories. Ps maybe forgo cooking much!
The casita looks very sweet, Arlene and I know in no time, you will make it feel like your home. Make sure you take whatever meds your uneasy head might appreciate especially for the first few days until you get over the travel weariness.
Kxx
Thanks Karen. I will for sure. You have a wonderful trip and we will reconnect when we are both home.
🤗
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One of my favourite quotes.
To love someone long-time is to attend a thousand funerals of the people they used to be.
The people that they are too exhausted to be anymore. the people that they do not recognize in themselves anymore. The people that they grew out of, the people that they never ended up growing into. We so badly want the people we love to get their spark back and when it burns out, and to become speedily found when they are lost.
But it is not our job to hold anyone accountable to the people that they used to be. It is our job to travel with them between each version and to honour what emerges along the way.
Sometimes it is to be an even more luminescent flame.
Sometimes it will be a flicker and disappears and temporarily floods the room with a perfect and necessary darkness.
Heidi Priebe
That is a powerful quote! We sure do go through lots of stages. Would love to get together and catch up when I’m home. 🥰
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You go for a well deserved rest. Time to chill and as they say smell the roses.All the best Unc
Thanks Unc! I will do my best! 💖
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Arlene, Did you arrive safe and sound. Is there anyone else living nearby? Just when you could use a portable scooter to come and go. Please be safe !
?? Shelley
Get Outlook for Androidhttps://aka.ms/AAb9ysg ________________________________
Hi Shelley.
I did arrive safe and mostly sound haha. I’m not as isolated as I thought I would be (the host lives next door) but it’s still totally private and secluded. The host also offered to lend me a bicycle but my noggin couldn’t handle that yet haha. Im planning on posting an update with some pics tomorrow
Hugs and love. ❤️
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