Experience is what you get when you didn't get what you wanted.

Everytime I post a blog, I use some bumpersticker of t-shirt I've seen for the title. I think these things are funny, they make me smile, and I wonder if they'll do the same for you. You see, over the last 9 months or so, this blog has become a big part of my life. My doctor doesn't like for me to go out in public much, says to limit my exposure to people as much as possible, wear a mask when I go places like the clinic or the hospital, and avoid places where there are lots of kids. So I've become a recluse. I never thought it would happen, but I'm in my warehome, out of a 7 day-week, about 24 hours 5 of those days. I might leave to go get something to eat, and some days we go to the store, or Target, or Ikea, or Home Depot. If we go somewhere and I've got to be on my feet for more than twenty minutes, we have to go somewhere that has a wheelchair. I'll probably eventually get a wheelchair so this doesn't become a hassle. But this is my life. I paint almost everyday. Somedays I paint a couple of pictures. I don't watch tv. I don't talk on the phone much. I walk my dog outside twice a day, and sometimes take pictures of things in my neighborhood. Sometimes I walk to the store and window shop by myself. Most days I work on the house and don't leave until it's almost dark. I have become a level 5 recluse.

What does this mean to you? I don't know. What I want it to mean is this: understanding. I have a wonderful life. There's nothing about this life I would change. Nothing. If you wonder why my posts can be so boring, that's why. If you wonder why I talk about home improvements so much, that's why. But I'd change nothing about this year. Nothing. Just like it is, today, everyday for the last 9 months, I'm okay with. I don't want to live this way forever; I want to go out and get a job and have a normal life again. But as of today, I'm okay. I'm perfectly content with what I have to do to get better, and I don't think anyone should feel sorry for me or anyone in this situation. It is what you make it, and I feel like I'm doing as much with it as I can. I'm totally valuing this year for what it is and what it has taught me.

I don't know where that all came from, but I wanted you all to know. I am truly blessed in my life, and a huge part of that is all my friends, all of you, that are with me everytime I blog.

How completely cheesy I am.

-L