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About The nugget. (Sisters, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 17, 2016)
Wednesday, February 17, 2016 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon The most compelling mystery of all By Katy yoder Columnist I have been acting kind of OCD since I ended cancer treatment. I have to check and recheck if I put my keys in my purse after I turn off the car. I have to lock and relock the car before I walk away from it. I take the keys out of the ignition and put them in my purse then by the time I’m out of the car and ready to lock the car I’m not sure if I have my keys. I do things without think- ing, then forget I did them. It feels like there’s a tiny hole in my memory that little things can fall through. Part is from chemo brain, a kind of dull, empty feeling where I can’t get a hold of what I’m doing or thinking from one moment to the next. The impulse that I have to check if I have my keys or if I’ve locked the car is weak- ening. When it happens now, I reassure myself I don’t have to do that again and that I have my keys. That’s becoming more the norm — which feels empower- ing, like I’m getting my brain back. I feel sharper at work, not so lost and forgetful. Part of this seems to be getting used to the new me that emerged after treat- ment. I don’t look the same, I don’t think the same and I’ve made a decision to not act the same. That’s a lot to adjust to, and it’s thrown me off balance — some- times literally! The weak- ness I have in my ankles from an Achilles tendon injury caused by post-cancer medication makes it harder to stand on one foot and pull on my pants or put on my socks. Most mornings I almost fall over, but I’m too stubborn to sit down and do it. Talk about appreciating the simple things! Now the tendon issues have shifted to my shoulder and I have limited mobility to do very basic things — especially anything that involves reaching around my back. I can’t do a freestyle stroke when I swim and any sudden movements with that arm can result in pain that takes my breath away. I know that some of this is just the natural process of aging, but for me it hap- pened in one big rush. I just finished reading a book called “Falling Upward,” and it’s about second-half- of-life living vs. the first half of our lives. The book came with a workbook that asks questions that have deepened my awareness of where I am in my life. It’s been illuminating and has prompted me to think a little harder about how I live my life and how I have incorpo- rated God into it. I don’t want to get stuck in the past, but I realize if there are areas I haven’t dealt with yet they may be pulling me back into a mindset I left behind long ago. Facing the possibility of death has inspired me to muster up the courage to face what has haunted me. Those little twinges of fear and uncomfortable memo- ries that crop up in the most surprising ways may be the tip of some icebergs that still need my attention. I marvel at how my mind FINE FURNITURE By Commission Winter clean-out! 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Main Ave., Sisters 254 W. Adams Ave., Sisters Hours: Mon.-Sat., 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday, 12-4 p.m. Donations accepted Mon.-Sat., 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Hours: Mon.-Sat., 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Closed Sundays Donations accepted Mon.-Sat., 10 a.m.-4 p.m. mysteries need to be solved. For me to find my way I will continue to deepen my relationship with my Higher Power. The guid- ance I receive from God, although whispered softly, requires my undivided atten- tion. When I focus on God, I know how to proceed and that I am not alone. For me, the challenge is remember- ing that that relationship is ever-present, just waiting for me to ask. Whatever may come out of this exploration, I’m con- fident that it is what is best for me right now. I have the strength and support to sur- vive what comes, and use it to be stronger and more able to offer myself to oth- ers. I think that’s what this second half of life is all about. It’s no longer about how much money I make or what kind of car I drive. All that is inconsequential when compared to the real gifts we’ve all been given. The planet we call home, the people who share it with us are all here to teach us and be taught. It’s time for me to figure out how I fit in and what I can contribute. I know we all have a rea- son for being, and that’s the most compelling mystery of all. CITy: Hearing planned for capital improvements Continued from page 3 Outreach has already been conducted to 28 properties that pay the TRT. A public hearing will be scheduled on this proposal. • Council approved a supplemental budget of $16,000 to cover the cost of initial improvements to the Creekside Campground prior to its opening on May 1. • T h e P u b l i c Wo r k s Department is close to finaliz- ing the proposed Wastewater System Capital Facilities Plan. Although not required, Public Works Director Paul Bertagna recommended hold- ing a public hearing on the master plan for capital facili- ties. Council agreed to sched- ule a public hearing allowing the public to weigh in on pro- posed plans. • Council approved the application for extension of the McKenzie Meadow Village temporary subdivi- sion plat to December 31, 2016. The extension is neces- sitated by the pending appeals by Pinnacle Alliance Group to the state Land Use Board of Appeals concerning pre- vious Planning Commission and City Council decisions regarding McKenzie Meadow Village. Classifieds are online at NuggetNews.com Our agents are ready to meet your insurance needs As life changes, so should your policy Dining Tables, Desks, Beds, Chests, Etc. SISTERS HABITAT FOR HUMANITY Thrift Store works and how certain memories refuse to stay in the past. It seems that as I’ve regained my strength, my mind has decided I am ready to tackle some monsters that were too big to deal with before. As my hubby often says, “Kill the monster when it’s young.” There may be a few monsters that I chose to ignore and now, unbe- knownst to me, have grown, finding places in my mind to hide and fade into the background. 19 Three Sisters Chiropractic 270 S. Spruce St., Sisters Dr. Inice Gough, DC, 541.549.3583 ThreeSistersChiropractic.com Call or come in today for a free Farmers Friendly Review 541-588-6245 • 257 S. Pine St., #101 www.farmersagent.com/jrybka AUTO • HOME • LIFE • BUSINESS
