THE LADY OF SHALOTT SPEAKS TO ME!

The Lady of Shalott by Alfred, Lord Tennyson is a poem based on the Arthurian legend of a noble lady imprisoned in a tower where even the brave knight Lancelot cannot save her.  

You may read the entire poem here: 

https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/45359/the-lady-of-shalott-1832

So imprisoned, the Lady of Shalott spent her days weaving tapestries, inspired by what she could see using a mirror from her small tower window, prompting these lines: 

But in her web she still delights 

To weave the mirror's magic sights, 

For often thro' the silent nights 

A funeral, with plumes and lights 

       And music, came from Camelot: 

Or when the moon was overhead 

Came two young lovers lately wed; 

'I am half sick of shadows,' said 

       The Lady of Shalott. 

As I lie here, mostly confined to my house, in part by  the current COVID-19 epidemic, but mainly by the disabling pain from my Prolia-associated fractures, my primary link with the outside world is television. 

And what is TV but shadows?  

I too am half sick of shadows!

Read more about the Lady of Shalott here: 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Lady_of_Shalott

     

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DEALING WITH SOLITUDE -- W. H. AUDEN SAYS IT ALL!

I manage.  That's about it!  Between the COVID-19 epidemic and the vertebral fractures I don't go out, I don't see people, meet friends, etc.  E-mail helps.  Phone calls are nice too but sometimes exhausting and sometimes at bad times.  

I am so in mind of Auden's poem, Night Mail.   

I've posted about it elsewhere as well: 

http://joansgoodstuff.blogspot.com/2022/01/night-mail-by-whauden.html

Especially these lines: 

Asleep in working Glasgow, asleep in well-set Edinburgh,
Asleep in granite Aberdeen,
They continue their dreams,
But shall wake soon and hope for letters,
And none will hear the postman's knock
Without a quickening of the heart,
For who can bear to feel himself forgotten?

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A DILEMMA

Here’s the dilemma of Timothy Flood,

A genius with needles, for advice he’s a dud!  

I asked him why I needed shots in the eye.

“Because you’re on Prolia” was his reply!

It sounded so simple, but it wasn’t rue — 

And that’s why I must now explain it to you!

Here’s where I sadly was terribly dumb —

And it should have prepared me for worse things to come!

It’s when Dr. Flood said “You’re a lawyer” (that’s true)

And wanted assurance that I wouldn’t sue!

Why in the world was he looking for that?

Just by his statement I should have smelled RAT!

Plus Prolia never should have been the main focus;

My eyes were affected by osteoporosis!

I learned that much later when when another doc said, 

The problem wasn’t Prolia, but osteoporosis instead!  

But I hadn’t known that, and this is no joke — 

I was frightened, skipped Prolia, and vertebrae broke!

I  haven’t the language to tell of the pain, 

Each day I bear it again and again! 

If a court could award me a writ of repleven, 

To bring back my broken bones, I’d be in heaven. 

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I CAN NO LONGER HANDLE BOOKS!

An unfortunate part of my life as I deal with the painful effects of osteoporosis and the Prolia that was supposed to treat it, not make it worse, is that managing books is just too painful.   

I've given a lot of them away!  Here are some of the categories!

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LOOKING EASTWARD FOR ANSWERS

The Hindu deity Shiva, often described as the Destroyer and Transformer, was considered necessary in order for new life to emerge.  

                           

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shiva 

Now that Prolia and/or its medical mismanagement have pretty much destroyed my active and relatively pain-free body and life, I wonder how this will be transformed and what will emerge? 

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WHAT MY VERTEBRAL XRAYS LOOK LIKE

Here's what my vertebral xrays look like.  It's hard to read the xrays in this medium, but this picture gives a good idea!

 

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SPICE FOR BONES

 See Dr. Susan Brown's great article on Spices for Bones in Women's Health Network.

https://www.womenshealthnetwork.com/bone-health/best-spices-for-your-bone-health/

The spices she discusses are: Cinnamon, Cloves, Garlic, Ginger and Turmeric.

Well worth reading the article!

                                                               

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WHY I TRY TO KEEP ACTIVE DESPITE THE PAIN

The multiple vertebral fractures I suffered in connection with the medical mismanagement of the osteoporosis drug Prolia at the University of Chicago affects much more than my bones!

The pain I deal with each day makes it very hard -- and very painful -- to stay active!   

But active I must be, because what's left of my health -- especially my cardiovascular health -- demand it!

I was saddened to learn of the recent passing of one of my favorite writers, the great Stephen Sondheim, on November 26, 2021.    

https://youtu.be/gjNWFqWU5Co

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Dr. Gabe Mirkin, whose common-sense columns I've found helpful over the years, wrote this article, which I strongly suggest reading! 

https://www.drmirkin.com/histories-and-mysteries/stephen-sondheim-and-sudden-death-in-older-people.html

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Dr. Mirkin's recommendation: KEEP MOVING!

Here is the reason he gives:  

"A key to prolonging your life and preventing disease is to keep on moving. Lying in bed for many hours each day is a certain way eventually to kill yourself. Each day that you spend not moving your muscles weakens your heart until eventually you can die of heart failure."

And keeping moving -- despite the pain from the fractures -- is what I'm trying my best to do!

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