The Healing Garden

Hi to friends unknown!

I am going to write a little bit about "The Healing Garden."  Hopefully, this venture, which is the result of Tammy's brainstorming (*As I AM) will turn out to be a way for many of us to become friends and feel closer.  Perhaps we can reach out to some of you who need a friend.  If just one person is helped, it will be a great thing!

I am Merry, I am 62, but I think I act and think younger than I am. I have a good sense of humor, sometimes I am silly, sometimes I am sad.  I guess I am just plain emotinal.  But I would like to describe myself as passionate. I am usually energetic,  enthusiastic, loyal, generous, (sometimes to a fault,) and I love my friends as much as I love anything in life other than my family. 

I love dogs, but understand that other people love other animals and I "get" that connection.  I think they make our lives so much better.  We are never alone, when we have a dog (or a cat, etc.)  We have had 2 collies, 4 Bichon (number 4 still being alive, his name is TeddyBear, and he is 8 yr. old. We also have a Maltese named Kaycee Kay, who is 6 1/2. 

I am married to my childhood sweetheart, Dave and have been for 44 years. We have a 43 year old son, Tim, who lives just three hours away.  He just got engaged (for the first time) and will be married sometime by the end of this year. This is a time of celebration and excitement for our family!  It is Tim's first marriage, and Patti's second.  She is the first girl he ever brought home, to meet "Mom."

I want to welcome you to my Journal and to my world. It is a crazy world sometimes.  If you need someone to talk to about pain or other problems, I could be your "person."  I love to write letters and I am a good letter writer.  I find words and excellent way for us to express ourselves.  If we can connect with someone, just one person who we feel truly understands us, we have found a real treasure.  I know this because I have a friend like this.  I met her through reading her AOL Journal. I am not giving away anymore than that, but she is the best thing that ever happened to me. (If you are reading this, (my best friend) you will know I am talking of YOU!)  If it hadn't been for the Internet, we would not know each other. We are as close as sisters.  I also have many good online pals, some new, and some I have had for 12 years,    But I want to tell you that if you want to talk and I listen, and I answer, it will be a good thing for both of us.  If I don't think I can be of help to you, I will tell you that too, and I will try to steer you in the right direction.

I use to be a fitness freak.  I ran 40-50 miles a week. I did aerobics daily.  I swam 2 miles a day.  I have spent a lot of my time keeping the outside of my body looking good. But the inside is not so good anymore.  This is a little bit about me.
 Merry: Degenerative Disk Disease, Nerve Damage, Scoliosis (back & neck), Raynauds Syndrome, Friberg's Disease, Arthritis, Sciatica, Chronic Anxiety, Insomnia

I spent years going to college after my son left home.  I think I've taken a little bit of everything. About the time I got myself all educated, I became a chronic pain patient.  I am not on disability for technical reasons, but I am disabled.  I cannot work.  Of all the things I am passionate about, school is definitely one of them.  I have several degrees and I am a Certified Medical Assistant. 

In 1994, I moved my Mom from Florida back to Iowa so I could be of more help to her.  She had her own little apartment just 1/2 mile from me.  She was happy there.  She was 80 years old.  She became very ill within the next two years, so it's a good thing she was close enough for me to be able to help her. She spent the last 2 + years of her life in a Care Faciitiy on with Emphasema, on Oxygen, blind, I think she died of a form of some kind of internal cancer.  She did not want further tests, so she was under Hospice care.  I loved my Mom and I still miss her.  I am so glad I was able to help her.

So, now you that you know a little about me, how about telling me a little about you?  I'm here if you need and or want me.  Let me hear from you!

Merry