Saturday, November 1, 2008

Settling In

Some things are the same and some things are different. I have changed and so has the family. It is hard to put my finger on the differences but just the fact that the girls have grown makes it different. The Chickenhawk has been on red alert for months and now has to get used to me being independent in most ways yet in the house all the time.

I am just trying to settle into a sense of normalcy. I feel good most of the time but fatigue easily. I've been wanting to contribute to the home as much as possible so I've been looking for ways. Although the CH is a great an awesome chef she has taken to the easy way to keep the family fed during the last few months. Mac and cheese and hot dogs have been the fare. Since I have been home I have been cooking dinners. This evening I made a killer beef stew. Yes, I had help from the CH with a couple things but it was mostly me.

Yesterday we went to the grocery and I shopped for about four meals to make. This is a big deal for me in two ways. First, the trip to the store took hours and I was worked by the time we finished. Second, I don't cook, or at least I haven't for the last few years. In our house there are pink jobs and blue jobs (by agreement) and cooking has been a pink job for a long time. Now things are different and I am happy to do some cooking. It is actually good exercise for me. My arms get a workout from the lifting. I am on my feet for extended periods of time and my balance is improving by leaps and bounds.

I've got my first trip back to Stanford on Monday. My dear friend Janet has volunteered to drive. I am really looking forward to spending the day with her. All of the foreseeable dates for trips down to Palo Alto got filled up by volunteers after I sent out an email to the LoCo care network. I also got tons of phone calls from folks offering to drive. I can't believe how lucky I am to have so many people willing to help me out.

Lately I have been feeling a real sense of optimism. It has been a long time since I have not had to fight to feel optimism, now it just happens. Feeling better has a lot to do with it but there is more. Last time I got political on this blog some of my readers complained. Really, this is not a political blog but I have got to say that with the way that Obama seems to be doing, we are on the verge of a new era. The Bush years have been toxic for this country and it seems to me that there is a real chance for healing for everyone right now.

15 comments:

Anonymous said...

bring on the politics, baby. i can draw a parallel to your fight by repeating what i read in newsweek-this election is like waiting for the results of a biopsy. it seems like everyone is on edge, wanting and ready to know the outcome. next tuesday hopefully we will find out. it is your blog-write what you want, as long as it contains some no on 8 words :->,
i am glad you are home and look forward to my trip to stanford,
tom f.

Anonymous said...

Optimism, cooking, Obama, gaining, it's all good and you are back in the 'hood Spence!! It is SO good to see you every school morning. XOXO Noey

Anonymous said...

What Tom said--our elementary school's parent contact list was hijacked by a pro prop 8 advocate. I was more annoyed that they cut and pasted nut wing talking points than that they used school contact info. It's all a game, Spencer. So glad you're home--keep playing hard.

love,

-M

Anonymous said...

Change is HERE!
love you!
VIctory!
H

Anonymous said...

glad you are so full of optimism...

Anonymous said...

OBAMA!!!

Anonymous said...

now Obama wan take his magic wand and fix all that is wrong in the American and the world....

Anonymous said...

Hey Buddy, thinking of you, hoping the physical pain keeps fading away and that your drive to Stanford didn't take too much out of you. I have lots of image flashes of you and your fam together at home and how great it is for you, for them and the healing progress.
Big hug! Ronaldo.

bikesgonewild said...

dearest anon 8:59am...how wonderfully cynical of you to share your obviously displeased viewpoint w/ us...

...i'd suggest that there is not a person on this site who expects any "magic wand" business out of president-elect barack obama & did i say that name & title clearly enough for you ???...

...this young man has one of the toughest jobs any newly elected president has ever faced, however he has already shown that he has a deep streak of integrity, which is something that is sorely lacking under the present administration & despite his lack of experience, mr obama has also shown in the run-up to this election, that he can both think on his feet & he knows how to seek good council...

...i find it to be a telling display of your intellect, that after the last 8 years of american government policies & then the slanderous lead-in to this election, which was fortified by an extremely poor display of judgment from the mccain camp, that your exceedingly jaded political viewpoint stands out like a diamond in a coalmine...

...you, sir or madam, are a nugget of negativity, made obvious by your sparkly wit in referring to magic wand solutions...

...but then again, perhaps i've read you wrong & maybe you actually believe in the words you wrote...in which case, i'd suggest you are more delusional than i had previously expected...

...well, love n' hugs & i hope the next 4 to 8 years finds you in great spirits & wonderful economic standings...

...wishing you the best in politics & palaver...
...signed, bikesgonewild...

Anonymous said...

I second that, BGW! Wow, Spencer, I bet you're enjoying this! Looking forward to your next post and (maybe, please?) your take on this wonderful time to come...

Anonymous said...

Surely smart people in positions of power in a powerful country applying their intellect to the common good of America and the world will be an improvement over the utter disaster of the past 8 years. Go Obama and team! Go Spencer and Sarah! There is much cause for optimism everywhere.
Cathy & Ray

Anonymous said...

Welcome home!

Jesse said...

sorelegs,
Glad you're back! Who cares what the naysayers think, it's your show and you've got the mic here. Talk about what YOU need to talk about. May your recovery continue to go well.

Judi said...

OBAMA DID IT!!!

Spence - this is like, the best post I have read from you in 6 months or more. You sound like the healing has begun and is going very well. GOD BLESS YOU!!!

xxoo - Judi

Judi said...

BGW rocks.