I think I've got the entire, "For every action there is an equal reaction" ...."For every choice, there is a consequence" ...."For every white, there is an opposite black" yadayadayada concept down. Check. Point taken. I got it for the love of...............
The thing is, I always looked at that piece of reality in the foreboding light of... steal a candy bar and you'll go to jail. The... do bad, you get the direct punishment for such a choice, kind of deal. Slap me, I'll slap you concept. But recently, I'm finally realizing the choices of good things can also come back to bite you in the ass, or in my case, my head.
For example, my first case of fun filled backlash. I have epilepsy. Evidence leans directly on two possibilities of acquiring such a joyous affliction. One, was the many, many head bashing's I suffered during my growing up years. Now, those head bashing's were simple consequences to some glorious fun. Cherry drops off the high bar at school. Bucked off a few horses while galloping across beautiful fields. A few accidental slips down some rocky mountainsides. True fun, that just happened to result in several knocks to the skull. The other evidence actually resembles the first paragraphs conventional wisdom. I did drugs in my late teen years. Lots of them, a huge nasty assortment. Now, believe it or not, the drug time certainly had it's 'fun' points. I can't deny that. But anyway, it certainly could have fried an electrical highway in my brain that loves to short circuit now. Anyway.....I like to lean toward the more respectable means of getting epilepsy, skull bashing's........
Next up, I got skin cancer last year. Not the bad type, just level II, slice and dice, laser, your on your way sort. Of course, as my luck would have it, I got another one this fall, I had that little ummm, squamous a-hole eradicated and now I'm on constant vigil. Skin cancer........the direct result of frolicking in the sun and fun. The completely and totally unjust result of living a life strolling though nature and all her glory. I'm utterly disgusted by that entire situation.
And now, just to add insult to injury, the doctors (or maybe they are simply blaming, but the result is the same) are attacking my fly fishing. For the love of all things outdoors....I simply can't seem to win. Now it's this...in my eye...Pterygium. Which is a benign growth of the conjunctiva. Caused by....big shocker here....Ultraviolet rays. And UV rays bouncing off water is like staring directly in the sun~~damnit~~~It's not an unusual thang' actually, I've discovered from my doctor it's quite typical of a 60 year old farmer who spent his entire life sowing his wild oats in the fields. (That's my point, I'm 35) ....visual bonus and ick factor..in their white and red glory. P.S. the Pterygium isn't actually red, it's a swanky yellowish growth (I couldn't capture in film) that has now enflamed my entire eye into glowing red, just to make sure everyone notices :o) Again, Laser is my new buddy~
Before my entire entry falls into the coastal shores of a tidal wave pity party (to late I know) I shall try swimming. It seems, there is a lot of really good things in life that have a crummy potential result. But the truth is, I can't even fathom giving up any of my activities. The mere thought of protecting my traitorous body by staying locked up indoors seems horrific. At this rate, by the time I make it to a 60 year old non-farming, but outdoor fanatic, I won't have much of a face or eyes left.
Maybe I'm just finally realizing the body I used to take for granted, think was invincible, believed would remain as loyal and devoted as my mind likes to think it should be, indeed has it's weak points. Has a side of fragile and cracks. I've believed for quite some time now that people, ALL people, are warriors, strong and brilliant, able to leap from building to building in a single bound, but now, I think it's our minds that are resistant, and persistent, able to heal and mend despite the things that we encounter........but our vessels, our precious bodies are delicate. I just wish Ihad realized that ages and ages ago................
((If you see a person walking down the street with Hollywood Sunglasses over a full facial veil, complimented by a huge sombrero, long sleeve shirt, fancy gloves and not a speck of skin showing, yet reeking of strong sun block....yes, well, that's probably me <grin>))

21 comments:
Oh will it go away? Your eyes are too pretty for that crap. What about wearing those glasses they advertise for the rays, they have top and side thingy's so your eyes are protected. The reflection from water is bad and so is skiing the whiteness of snow. I know you love outdoors, possibly pull a Scarlet and carry a nice umbrella..providing your own shade, use #80 sunscreen and wear long sleeves etc, etc. I'm sure you have heard it all. Hope it clears up soon for you..love, Sandi
Oh... You'll still have your eyes, your face, and always your pretty smile. So, don't let these little things slow you down and make your life dull and confined. But, for god's sake, lady! Get some sunglasses.
The fish will be waiting.
-Dan
http://thewisdomofadistractedmind.blogspot.com/
Your inner strength will get you through this, Rebecca. I'm sure you will find a way somehow to ensure that nature's gift will always be yours to behold. Have you sought out a second opinion, as far as how to allow yourself the privilege of enjoying the beautiful outdoors without harm? I'm sure you've researched and questioned to the point of exhaustion, I just know how much you love to fly fish and venture out, and it just seems to me there must be some safe way to do it.
You did not do this to yourself. Many, many people (myself included) have lived a funfilled life in the sun without protecting themselves from it's harmful rays and have not gotten skin cancer. Sh!t like this happens for no damn good reason. And it sucks canal water.
Thank you for sharing this emotional experience, my friend. I've thought about what you've been going through since you first wrote of it, and yet haven't wanted to pry in any way. You still are.
::sending healing strength::
Michelle
I'm sorry to hear so much has went on... I don't have a lot of physical problems accept I get upper respitory infections on the regular basis (my fault, I smoke) but I do have a fight with anxiety and depression. I wish my mind was as strong and as determined as yours! -Missy
Ahhh....youth is truly wasted on the young isn't it! I had no idea when I was younger that the things I chose to do then with my body or didn't do with my body would have a direct impact on my body now in later life. If I had of I may have changed a few things! OH heck who am I kidding, I probably wouldn't have because as we all know the young also suffer from the "It can't happen to me" syndrome!
Marie
http://journals.aol.co.uk/mariealicejoan/MariesMuses/
I hate to hear about that
there's a Grateful Dead song that comes to mind...something about,"there once was a time when I wasn't afraid of the sunshine"....
I've had a couple of brushes with little pre cancerous things...I wouldn't; trade a minute of fun in the sun.
Neither would you...living takes a lot out of you.there are lots of people who just coast through, you've been alive all your life!
Love
Marti
I too have had skin cancer, but the dig out or die kind. I now look at things another way. Everything in moderation is fine. If we stoped doing everything we love doing, what would there be to live for?
I was told by the oncologist I can still sit in the sum but use a high sun screen which I do. No lees the 30, I'm happy, my bodies happy too.
Don't give up evrything.
Gaz xxxx
Sorry your body is betraying you in this fashion. I hope the laser can rid you completely of the pterygium. As for the fun days of yesteryear, we all had them and we are all just now finding out what the penalties are of enjoying ourselves. I wouldn't trade any of my good times or activities, either.
Sam
don't give up fishing:) at least they caught all of this early. enjoy your weekend
Deb
I repeat that mantra often, "If I knew I was going to live this long, I would have taken better care of myself!" Blech! I'm sorry you are having the medical problems, but you are dealing with them! Hang in there..... {{Hugs}}
I am not sure if I have the same eye thing but I do have a yellowing in the whites of my eyes! (from sun and inherited from my Dad) they haven't turned red yet (well not too bad) but if they do....
if it is any consellation, You have inspired me to be less of a sun worshiper this summer!
Epilepsy has many causes, Rebecca. UV rays can cause snow-blindness - so I'm not surprised at that nasty thing you showed in your eye.
When I read this entry I was reminded of a Daphne Rose Kingma statement:
Making peace with your body, accepting it as it is, nurturing it with your care, feeding it well, strengthening it with exercise, admiring its beautiful aspects, honoring it with comfortable clothes, treating it as a temple, enjoying it as a ballroom, being awed by it as a palace – all these are expressions of healthy physical self-honoring.
Being at peace with your body isn’t easy. It takes effort. At the most complex level it means coming to terms with the fact that your body both is and is not your essence. Therefore, making peace with it is a paradox. You must nurture it as though it will last forever – at the same time knowing that it will break down and that, at the end of our life, you will finally have to abandon it.
Living with the paradox is a challenging spiritual lesson, but living it out in awareness is the highest kind of love you can give to your miraculous body.
Feel Better ~ Mike
Live it and love it m'friend...everything in moderation. You have an indominable spirit Girlie...go with that..it'll help that cantankerous body. Mind over matter truly has its merits.
Say... I've been trying to recall exactly where I read this...but there is information that says how much excess metals in the system can contribute to skin AND eye malignancies (termed loosely). I'm still blank...sorry. I do recall, however; that excess metals can be contributed through water consumption in certain geographical areas. I read about it a few years ago because, my grandma turned a house key gold-ish from years of carrying it against her skin. Swear. Documented. ;) C.
Hmm, equal and opposite, eh? I wonder if that's why my left leg bounces when I'm sitting; a diametric opposite to the right-handed masturbation of my youth. Good to hear from you.
Fred
Darn I hate to hear this! Do what they say and get well. Then proceed with caution and protection, but by all means proceed!!! - Barbara
My seizures were definitely caused by my depressed skull fracture initially, since they started within 15 minutes of the injury. But the ones that came later and spontaneously? Yeah, I wonder if those were caused or facilitated by alot of the 'trips' I took in the late 80's. I had the red eyes back then too.....but it wasn't from UV rays ;)
Funny entry, considering the subject material!
{{{ Rebecca }}} That sucks. I know how much this must just piss you off. Hang in there... I KNOW that you WILL find a way to do all that you love. Just covered up with a burka and old lady glasses, but you will still do it... jst teasing... lol
Love and hugs...
be well,
Dawn
http://journals.aol.com/princesssaurora/CarpeDiem/
Rebecca, how is it that you can take something so serious and make it a-laugh-a-minute read? I really admire you and your writing talent, and I'm really bummed, too, for your "fun issues." Not fair, is it?
Many years ago a band called the Young Rascals had a hit song "How can I be Sure?" which has the thought provoking opening line
"How can I be sure in a world that is constantly changing?"
Even the things that we love the most become challanged as the world changes.
Rebecca, well, here you are...more changes added to the mix of life and now even challanging the very things you have lived for.
You have never been one, short on confidence! Despite your unenviable circumstance, breathe deeply and reaffirm your clarity for the things the love doing. They have brought you here and helped shape the lovely person you have become!
Leave the praying to us!
and don't forget to wear your sunscreen!
I wish you a speedy and complete recovery!
Peace & Hugs....Marc :)
I know this doesn't apply in a human sense....but...I'm going to use the description anyway...A friend of mine adopted a dog from a shelter. Later finding out the dog had bad hips and later on in life would no doubt rue the pain from said hips. The beautiful creature, full of love and life would jump and prance all over the place. Three or Four years later another trip to the vet determined the dogs hips were beginning to betray him and not work the way he wanted....The alternative was to leash the dog and not let him run and jump to his hearts content.
In the end my friend and the vet both decided it would indeed be cruel to do so. It's better to have lived a few short years of wonder and energetic bounty, than live a life too careful and disheartened. I'm happy to say Jake (the dogs name) is happy and content as can be still running free.....
Yes our bodies betray us (I've learned that hard lesson with the loss of my hearing). But life will ultimately present us with new joys if we continue to enjoy it and allow ourselves that small bit of pleasure however it may come. (Hugs) Indigo
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