Being Realistic & Letting Go

 

We had such great plans for gardening this summer—2-4 by 12’ plots, pots in our backyard on a cart that is moved to follow the sun. But life happens, so this year we have decided to be practical and realistic (for a change) and let our two community garden plots go.

 

Our son, Dan, dislocated his foot a couple of weeks ago, so there went our heavy maintenance, spring yard cleaner, mulcher and garden prepper for the most important part of the garden calendar. I’m in the middle of a humdinger of a flare, so between moving very slowly & gingerly & scratching constantly, I do not venture down two flights of stairs to go outside much.

 

My husband, Bob, has to fix the several violations on our house or the town will cite & fine us—nothing major, just putting a fence around our second floor porch, repairing the garage doors and repainting the garage. He can only be stretched so thin, a lesson he has yet to learn.

 

Our alternative to growing our own—taking lovely Saturday road trips with our dogs, Callie & Lily, out to Amish country and buying the fruits of their labor, keeping up with our philosophy of buying local. We did this last year in addition to gardening and filled our freezer with all sorts of fruits, vegetable, free-range meats & eggs (love the mental image of all those eggs rolling around in the fields.) In the evenings we can, dehydrate, and freeze the produce.

 

But, it’s the decision to give yourself permission to let go, to realize that the physical stamina is not what it used to be, that it’s OK to just say no to yourself and enjoy what you can that helps to age with aplomb.

 

 

(c)2011 Kathleen McGuire “Canning on Our 1929 Tappan Stove”

Loving Summer But Not the Sun

Summer’s almost here and for those of us with autoimmune diseases, it’s time to break out the sunscreen and prepare for battle. The summer of 2010 was when I first discovered that the sun was not my friend. One day, while working in the garden, I foolishly stayed in the sun for all of thirty minutes. I suddenly felt weak, nauseated and dizzy. When I returned to the house, cooled down, I discovered a lovely rash over all the exposed parts of my skin. It would be a few months before I got the diagnosis of dermatomyositis.

 

How do I prepare for the annual battle? Well, I live in Northeast Ohio which is probably the cheapest way to avoid the sun, since it doesn’t seem to like our part of the country. But when it does appear, I slather myself with 45 SPF lotion whenever I go out. Actually, I use lotion year-round, 15 SPF in the winter or when I know I’ll be under fluorescent lights.

 

When I started to learn about blue-spectrum lighting and its dangers for those of us with macular degeneration, I began taking precautions by wearing protective eyeglasses and broad-rimmed hats. But now the battle was on, and I was the general preparing for war. How could I safely negotiate the treacherous path from car to house to doctor’s office to shady tree in my front yard or a longer mission like a walk around the park?

 

First, the uniform—Several companies offer sun-protection directly in their clothing (usually 50+ UVB/UVA.) I tried several, LL Bean, Coolibar, Outdoor Research, REI. One of the most useful items are sleeves purchased from Coolibar. They fit to about mid-arm and work well with short-sleeved shirts. They have a hand flap that covers the upper part of the hand. I also use them in winter, loosely fitted at the wrist over long-sleeved shirts or jackets. Has saved me from the inevitable rash I used to get during doctor’s visits. Several camp-style long sleeve shirts in several colors can be worn over tank or short sleeve shirts. A plain white long sleeve jacket was a great addition to my “sun war” uniform.  (Note: it’s hard wearing long-sleeves and long pants in summer, but the material in these clothes tends to cool & wick away moisture in the short run.)

 

Swimming seems an area where extra caution is needed. The water’s cool, you swim under to avoid the rays. Nope. They pass right through so precautions should be taken. Slather up with lotion every half hour and wear protective swimsuits. I wear a long sleeve top over my suit and wrap-around skirt to cover up with after getting out of the water. There’s also swim shorts or ¾ pants to choose. Another good weapon for your arsenal is a “sunbrella” that reflects the sun beating down and absorbs the rays reflected off the sand, It has a silver metallic surface topside and dark green material underside.

 

Finally, always wear a hat, preferably with 50+ UVB/UVA. Several companies offer a wide variety of broad-rimmed hats, both stylish and functional. Outdoor Research and Coolibar are two companies that I found carry several styles and wear well.

 

It’s a challenge fighting the photosensitivity that comes from our autoimmune diseases and the medications used to fight them. Knowing that you can build an arsenal to lighten these issues is one more way to gain control.

The Vision Garden

Since mine fades seems an appropriate name
For the garden evolving in my mind
And with hope onto my front yard in the coming Spring
A tranquil spot full of fragrance and color.
In the morning abuzz with bees
Butterflies that help the garden flourish.
Hummingbirds sip nectar from flowers,
Robins cardinals and goldfinches bathe is cool shaded bowls,
And graze in feeders set high in the aging oak.

In the evening mosquito-repelling plants
Emit their pleasant fragrance.
And the garden transforms itself
Into a softly glowing night haven.
Its soft emerald leaves and creamy white blossoms
Illuminated by solar-powered lanterns
A wicker rocker, wooden bench and wrought iron table,
Pitcher of ice cold lemonade
Invite neighbors to visit.

No, my vision isn’t fading–
Merely changing.

Copyright 2003 Kathleen W. McGuire
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