Had a fantastic weekend away at the inaugural Cairns Blues Festival set under those raintrees on the esplanade ... a huge crowd of people (our age group too) .... thinking we were 18 again .. groovin and a movin to some fantastic music ... and when they played one of my all time fav's ... Mustang Sally ...well ...there was no holding me back! Might add that the ole body feels like I have run a marathon .. but it was well worth every minute!
A few wines .. did I say a few? aahhh well ... one more than a few .. and a very croaky voice today ... hmmm yes I forgot I wasn't really gifted in the line of singing but that really didn't seem to matter at the time!! Great aerobic workout .. haha.. I just can't sit still with that music pumping through my veins .. can you?
Update ... Fran's tremors AND muscle spasms have stopped!
Fran and I have talked at length and she is in the best of care.
Amazing ... just so amazing!
This pic is actually Fran with her head open and them probing it. She had to be awake for a time on the table ..... again amazing ... she is poking her tongue in jest at the photographer (one of the professors helpers)
I have just returned home from a girlie night and sleepover with my beautiful friend Fran. We sat out in the night air drinking wine and burning candles to the wee hours of the morning.
I am in awe of this lady ... her battle with Dystonia since her late teens has not dettered an ability to enjoy life. In fact, when I am with Fran I do not see her physical problem at all. Looking into her eyes I see nothing but a fun loving and fabulous friend.
Fran has been treated by a professor in Sydney for 20 years and with her tremors and spasms becoming more to fight, she has decided to go for the final attempt at handling this disease (as the regular treatment is becoming less effective).
Dystonia is a neurological movement disorder in which sustained muscle contractions cause twisting and repetitive movements or abnormal postures.
Fran is heading back to the city in 10 days to prepare for brain surgery ... a brain surgery in which tiny electrodes, powered by batteries inserted in the chest, are placed in each cerebral hemisphere.
I have read over her papers and it scared the living daylights out of me for what she is preparing for. Wide awake and in a Halo that is attached to her skull they shall be entering her brain and asking her to respond with each manouvre.
We laughed and talked openly of the fact that she needs to shave her hair off and the grey hair that shall be resprouting .. the intricate medical procedure ... the scars she shall be left ... and all we want to envisage was her freedom from a life of involuntary and continual body spasming.
I share a pic ... taken by the girls of a jewellery store .. as we saw this sign outside their nest of diamonds and gold ..
"Your partner called .. They said you could have ANYTHING you want! "
We had SUCH fun with this .. knowing very well NO man in our life would EVER do such a thing .. The girls of the store were in stitches with laughter and took a photo.
To be honest I am worried as all hell .. but would never tell her that.
I now look forward to the day when we can sit and drink wine and laugh at her bald head but celebrate her freedom of movement.
In loving memory of a wonderful, gentle, friendly man we all knew as Watcher / Doc / Joe / Josef
Joseph Manuel who lived in Westbank Canada
It has been one whole year since we lost this dear man to the Angels
Thanks to an almighty effort of Tumbles, the words of Sunshine and a circle of his cyber friends .... an amazing memorial service was held in Joey's honour in his beloved chat room .. we remember as "The Nest". I believe the first of its kind where a gathering of his many friends ... united from all over this planet ... shed many a tear .... and mourned the passing of a beloved friend ... one we now dearly miss.
