(no subject)

[rivka]

I am really, really, really sore today.

The paint continued to kick our asses for another eight hours yesterday. We're taking today off, but tomorrow it'll be back to the salt mines again - not for a full day, though, even if it is a holiday.

As crazy as it sounds, there's a part of this that feels very good to me. I spent sixteen hours this weekend doing hard physical labor. I put in as much time as curiousangel did, and as far as I can tell, I was about as effective as he was. And then I went out last night and did the shopping and brought home eight bags of groceries, by myself. What I'm saying is: all weekend I performed like someone who is physically strong and capable.

I joked on Saturday that no one would expect me to strip paint if I were a girly girl, but the real thing of it is that no one would expect me to strip paint if I were as disabled as I've been for most of my life. It's incredibly cool that I've been able to do an equal share of this job. It's cool that Michael could work on his statistics test last night and count on me to handle the shopping without needing him to carry the bags for me.

There are times that my hip still hurts, and times that I still need help with physical tasks. There always will be. I'm okay with asking for help when I need it, and the people in my life are very good about supplying help cheerfully. But oh, how very very cool it is to be able to pull my own weight physically, not just mentally and emotionally.

Comments

[fairoriana.livejournal.com]

That is really neat, Rivka. Physical labor can be really liberating (if you don't have to do it day in and day out). I'm really glad that your body cooperated. And I appreciate, as someone who has always been able-bodied, the perspective that I should be grateful for such gifts.

[ailbhe]

This kind of thing makes me want to cry.

[kightp.livejournal.com]

It makes me want to laugh - out loud, from sheer, shared joy.

[thbeatnik.livejournal.com]

Or both at the same time. :)

[johnpalmer.livejournal.com]

Both at the same time is good for me :-)

[ailbhe]

I think I want to cry from shared relief.

[wldrose.livejournal.com]

it is amazing how much Joy we can get from being able to do simple things. Congrats on getting this far and being able to see and know your getting better

ash

[trinker.livejournal.com]

So happy for you...

[mittelbar.livejournal.com]

La!

I was wondering how that was going for you. I didn't know you were shopping, too!

Wahoo!

[elisem.livejournal.com]

Rivka, I do believe I know precisely what you mean.
*nodding, too full of words jammed together*

But oh, how very very cool it is to be able to pull my own weight physically, not just mentally and emotionally.

Yeah. That. That thing there. Yup.

Also, few years back, when I was having a very difficult time with some stuff, I did a huge amount of garden work, sod turning, brick placing, stuff planting, heavy awkward dirty digging work. I referred to it as my Redneck Anti-Depressant. It helped. It really is amazing sometimes what useful emotional freight working hard (physically) can help unload.

You go, ungirly girl! (Which sounds like an interesting superhero, actually. Hmm. Have you got a cape?)

[wcg.livejournal.com]

You go, ungirly girl! (Which sounds like an interesting superhero, actually. Hmm. Have you got a cape?)

Whenever she wants one. SmashingStereotypeLad here is pretty quick with a sewing machine.

[lisajulie.livejournal.com]

(the reality check for this bounced, but...)

I envision black leather with silver lame gores that would only show when she moved and a high, stiff, mandarin collar. The fastening at the neck would be one of those silver latch closings like they use on heavy sweaters. Possibly lead weights in the hem to turn it into a weapon as she does a turn single (of +5 puissance).

[patgreene.livejournal.com]

This is neat, Rivka.

*hugs!*