Reading and Writing

It’s a beautiful spring afternoon in Houston. I hope you’re comfortable and safe, wherever you are.

A brief update on my health, for my friends who like keeping track of me: I’m generally feeling pretty good, still managing limited energy. In the last month my liver enzymes got too high; there’s a concern about graft-versus-host disease in the liver, so my doctor started me on Prednisone again. After two weeks of steroid, not only did my liver enzymes improve, but hemoglobin and platelets dramatically improved. No one seems to have an explanation for that, yet. Now, I’m once again tapering off Prednisone, and lab tests this Thursday will be important feedback. 

This new immune system is eleven months old. (Its “birthday” is March 26.) I still haven’t received my “childhood” immunizations, because I have to be off steroids before receiving them. This means I’m vulnerable to every childhood illness, as well as cold and flu and everything else. I’m careful about going into crowds of people. I try to stay a room away from children under four.

I am reading a lot lately, more than I ever have. I’ve read nine books since the first of the year. (Find me on goodreads.com.) When I was sick I went for months without reading anything. It feels good to dive into books again, both fiction and nonfiction.

I’m writing a lot, too. My latest musings have been on the subject of silence–the emotional spectrum of silent experiences and responses to silence. 

Monday, Feb. 27 is Shambhala Day, the Tibetan new year. The Year of the Fire Rooster! I’ll have more to share on that subject next week.

Cheers and love to you all.