the curse of the rummage sale

Perhaps it is just a coincidence, but the last time I planned to hold a large rummage sale (tag sale, garage sale, yard sale-whatever term you prefer!), I hurt my back and after four weeks of bed rest ended up having surgery.  That was five years ago, so you can imagine the amount of things I have accumulated since then....

Friday morning I woke to the sound of the cardinal that has a nest in the tree right outside my window.  The sun was shining, and I knew I had a table full of junk treasures that still needed marking, and boxes full and ready to be hauled out to the car.  I have been going through my attic and basement and china hutches for the last several weeks to reduce my collections of 'good things', and was so looking forward to the giant sale I was having with my friend Joanne on Saturday at her coffee shop in S. Mpls. Not only would I make more room in my home, I would have some money in my pocket.

Those of you who know me, already know that I have had back issues for years-I just recently went to the Sister Kenny Institute here in St. Paul and my new (wonderful!) doctor ordered an MRI, we discovered that three of my herniated discs have slipped out a bit more, and are pressing on the nerve that goes down into my right leg.  THAT would explain why it occasionally hurts, and often goes completely numb.  Since I wish to avoid surgery again, at all costs, we decided on a physical therapy program I am to start next week.  She also prescribed a new medication for me, in combination with my narcotics, to help with the pain.

Feeling that I was on the right track, I had a goal in mind of being able to ride my bike by the end of the summer.  I have a wonderful bike, but have been unable to ride it in several years.

Back to Friday's sunny morning.  I decided to throw in a load of laundry before I started on my long list of chores for the day, and as I bent to throw it in my back let me know it was not happy with that position.  By the time I climbed to the top of the stairs, the pain was searing up and down my spine and into my legs and I knew, immediately, that I was going to have a bad day.  And I regretted purchasing a front load washing machine....

Long story short (although it doesn't really feel like it, if you have already stuck with me this far...) I attempted to have a normal day.  I marked more rummage, watered my flowers, and drove to the vet's to pick up Claude's meds (thanks for your help Tracy, and for sending dinner down too us!)  By late afternoon, I surrendered to the pain, and ended the day in bed.  I have clearly done some more damage to my herniated discs, and I am hoping that by resting and applying ice off and on I can get them back to where they were when I started my day on Friday.  When the sun was shining brightly, and the birds were singing...

I called my dear friend Joanne, to let her know I would NOT be having a rummage sale with her, and I had the guys haul all of my stuff back downstairs.  CLEARLY, the curse of the rummage sale.

I am currently holding court from the hide a bed in our living room, as climbing the stairs to our bedroom is just too painful.  On top of that, Claude can jump up on this bed and hang out with me, our upstairs bed is too high!

They have brought me my lap top, my drugs, an assortment of books, my knitting, the tv remotes, and my cell phone-I am ready for my weekend of bed rest, and I pray that it is only for the weekend.  I recorded the "Hatfields and McCoys", so I can watch that, and I have lots of choices on Instant Netflix.

My guys are heading to Huntersville, for their first enduro race of the year.  It is Charlie's first ever adult enduro, of course they offered to stay home with me but there is NO WAY they are missing it because of a series of unfortunate events.

You just never know what life is going to throw your way, do you?  Has life thrown YOU a curve ball?  I would love to hear your stories, as now I will have plenty of time to read them!