Comment from Madeleine Mardis

Exceptional

Jesse, this is inspiring! Way to be up for the daunting task of how to best take care of yourself! You poor thing, dealing with such pain! But kudos to your inner strength and intelligence about yourself! I'm a lefty, too and can't imagine if my left hand went out on me, I'd feel like a fish out of water! About audio books, I have to give David Sedaris, his collection of works, a listen every now and then, it's one of my favorite things in the whole world!
And thanks again for the help this morning, I think the poem needed author's notes, I rewrote them a couple of times.

 Comment Written 05-Mar-2024

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reply by the author on 05-Mar-2024

Thanks, Maddy, for the six stars and the insightful review. Yes, I had the surgery already but no, I am not out of the woods yet. I somehow broke the screws in my neck's hardware and am in increasing pain every day that passes by. Fortunately I have my left hand back.
Thanks for the kind words.
As far as author's notes go sometimes they can make all the difference.
Enjoy the day.
Jesse

Comment from Lisasview

Excellent

I am so very happy to hear the news about your upcoming surgery... good for you for embracing the challenge... I admire your positive attitude.. For me attitude is what it is all about.
Take care and a very Happy Thanksgiving,
Lisa

 Comment Written 22-Nov-2023

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reply by the author on 22-Nov-2023

Thanks, Lisa. I appreciate the positive feedback. Happy Thanksgiving to you, too.
Jesse

reply by Lisasview on 22-Nov-2023

you are so welcome.
Lisa

Comment from Liz O'Neill

Excellent

This reminds me of my brother, who has tremors in right hand (right handed). He is head injured and his gf went to visit her daughter in Alaska. He had to be on his on. As with you, you both deserve credit, putting us to shame. He's one year younger than me. I checked on him frequently. I hope he realized how well he did as you did.

 Comment Written 21-Nov-2023

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reply by the author on 22-Nov-2023

Thanks for sharing about your brother and comparing his issues with mine. We both need to realize how well we are doing for ourselves.
Happy Thanksgiving, Liz.
Jesse

reply by Liz O'Neill on 22-Nov-2023

so true...he loses sight of that, It happened a week or so before his 40th birthday. He is now 75. I think his brain has slowly healed over time, but he's been struggling for a long time.

reply by the author on 22-Nov-2023

I'm sorry to hear that.

reply by Liz O'Neill on 22-Nov-2023

***Hugs***He's still brighter than me, but has trouble with sequence and memory. His personality is completely different. It's weird

Comment from Carol Hillebrenner

Excellent

Independence is never over-rated. The more you can do for yourself, the better you will feel about yourself. I got tired of being beat up in first grade and became the fastest runner even when I could not turn my head to look forward. Did once run into the flagpole however. I hope your Thanksgiving is pleasant and your surgery comes sooner rather than later.

 Comment Written 21-Nov-2023

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reply by the author on 22-Nov-2023

Thanks, Carol, for the confidence booster.
My surgery date is Monday, December 11th, at 1 pm. I am thrilled and excited to have it come so soon.
Have a Happy Thanksgiving.
Jesse

reply by Carol Hillebrenner on 22-Nov-2023

I'll pray for you. What time zone/country are you in?

reply by the author on 23-Nov-2023

Pacific Standard Time.
Thanks for the prayers.

Comment from prettybluebirds

Excellent

I can relate to your situation. In 2017, I had severe sciatic nerve pain yet was caring for my husband, who was dying of colon cancer. Two weeks after my husband passed away, I had back surgery, and the relief was amazing. I hope your surgery does the same for you. It is like having your life handed back. Good writing, and good luck with the surgery.

 Comment Written 21-Nov-2023

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reply by the author on 22-Nov-2023

Wow. I am glad you found relief from the back surgery. Let's hope it goes that well for me, too.
By the way, my surgery is on Monday, December 11th, at 1 pm.
Wish me luck.
Jesse

reply by prettybluebirds on 22-Nov-2023

Good luck, Jesse. I hope it works out for you. I will be thinking of you on December 11th.

reply by the author on 22-Nov-2023

Thank you. I appreciate your support.

Comment from Daylily

Excellent

Suffering pain 24-7 is a lot to deal with. I am glad to know you are finding pleasure in learning some things you can do without assistance. Even a little bit of independent and successful effort is motivating. I am glad you are a writer and can find both mental stimulation and emotional relief through posting creative works.

 Comment Written 21-Nov-2023

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reply by the author on 22-Nov-2023

Thanks for your encouraging review.
Writing is cathartic for me, and that helps with the pain.
Have a wonderful day.
Jesse

Comment from Goodadvicechan

Exceptional

I sympathize with your suffering. Wish you speedy recovery.

I have my own pain and can understand how hard to fight against pain.

Thank you for sharing with us how to feel to be taken care of by caregivers. Later you learn to take care of your own.

You went through a tough journey.

 Comment Written 21-Nov-2023

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reply by the author on 21-Nov-2023

I am glad this resonates with you. We all have our journey to travel. Thanks for the honor of a sixer. I wish I knew you better, yet that makes the sixer all the more mysterious.
Have a good evening.
Jesse

Comment from dragonpoet

Excellent

Hi Jesse,
Good for you. Taking this on is a brave thing. You learn that you can have independence and live on your own. What about grocery shopping and cooking. I hope your surgery is soon and that your left arm and hand get better.
Keep writing and stay healthy
Have a good day.
Joan

 Comment Written 21-Nov-2023

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reply by the author on 21-Nov-2023

Hi Joan.
Whoa, wait a minute. I didn't say I could live on my own. Only that I now enjoy my companionship more than before.
I still need caregivers to do shopping, cooking, and such, but I don't need them to hold my hand, so to speak, anymore.
I also hope my left hand and arm get better after the surgery.
Enjoy the day.
Jesse

reply by dragonpoet on 21-Nov-2023

Hi Jesse,
I was hoping for the best. But I am glad you are more
Independent.
Joan

Comment from Michele Harber

Excellent

You have such an amazing attitude, Jesse. Independence is a wonderful thing, and finding out you're capable of it despite your physical limitations is huge! Doing things on your own takes courage, and realizing there are times when you're all the company you need is a tremendous reward. Enjoy your new-found freedom. You've definitely earned it. Thanks for sharing.

 Comment Written 20-Nov-2023

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reply by the author on 21-Nov-2023

Hello Michele.
I have been looking forward to your review and now it is finally here. Am I wrong or do I sense a distance in your voice? Maybe I am overly sensitive. I am enjoying my newfound freedom as well as my companionship with myself. And you are right, I earned it. I will private message you about the date of my surgery.
I suppose it was the bland way you ended this review that bothered me just a little. Thanks for sharing. You are a special friend of mine would've been nice.
Oh well, maybe this is my pain talking.
Enjoy your day, my friend.
Jesse

reply by Michele Harber on 21-Nov-2023

Jesse, I've been working on a lot of writing projects, among other things, and am a bit behind on FanStory. I'm glad I read your message (which I'll answer separately) before I read this.

Among other things, I'd spent 10:00-11:30 p.m. helping a friend from a class I'm taking edit a story she's submitting for publication. I've also been working on submissions of my own for two publications, but I didn't want to ignore your post, and two others from people I've fanned, so I made a point of doing those reviews as well. I'm sorry if my review didn't come across as warmly as it was meant. "Thanks for sharing" was meant legitimately, because you were telling a very personal story that I felt it took courage to share with others. If it didn't sound warm enough, I'm sorry, but it was never meant to sound cold either.

"Enjoy the day, my friend," is simply not how I normally speak. If you'll notice, anytime I do respond in that way, it's just that--a response. I don't initiate terms like "my friend" because that just isn't me, but I respond in kind as a courtesy. Anything more personal I'd rather say privately in Messages anyway, as Replies are accessible to anyone.

Please don't misunderstand. I'm not angry (in large part because I did read your message first). I just hope that, in the future, you'll have more faith in me and in my friendship than this reply indicated. If my reply was "bland," it's just that I was tired after a full day of writing, editing and trying to put submissions together. I promise not to dwell on this, and I hope you won't either. Let's just go on from here. Be sure to read my reply to your Message, which I'm sure you'll prefer. Don't worry, still friends for life.

reply by the author on 22-Nov-2023

Starting fresh sounds like a good idea. I apologize for being inconsiderate.
Let's wipe the slate clean and start over.
Your friend.
Jesse

reply by Michele Harber on 22-Nov-2023

SOLD! That works for me!

Comment from Wayne Fowler

Excellent

Congratulations!
I have a tiny, tiny idea of your pain. I broke my neck diving (actually just dropping) into a swimming pool. Eventually (10 years later) surgery relieved the pain (until it began coming back).
Again congrats, and I, too, hope for a soon surgery date.

 Comment Written 20-Nov-2023

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reply by the author on 21-Nov-2023

Thanks for sharing, Wayne, about your neck pain and how it came back after surgery. Those of us who have broken our necks are extremely sensitive to pain and other feelings. I learned that from my physical therapist a while ago, and she is right. I hope both of our surgery dates come soon.
Enjoy the day.
Jesse

reply by Wayne Fowler on 21-Nov-2023

No more surgery for me.

reply by the author on 21-Nov-2023

Okay.