Summary

The author expresses profound gratitude to their Medium community for emotional support during a series of challenging personal events, including a car accident, health issues, and relocation.

Abstract

The author, facing a multitude of hardships such as a severe car accident, kidney issues, and the solitude of relocating alone, finds solace and support in their Medium family. Despite the pain and isolation, the caring responses to their writing and the connections made on the platform have provided immense comfort and assistance. The author emphasizes the value of investing in relationships, especially when confronted with life's unpredictable and often overwhelming circumstances.

Opinions

The author values the Medium community's support highly, considering them an essential part of their life, akin to family.
The pain and challenges faced by the author are significant, yet the emotional support from the Medium family has been instrumental in coping with these difficulties.
The author reflects on the loneliness that can accompany aging and loss, suggesting that building new connections can alleviate feelings of isolation.
The healthcare system's approach to pain management is criticized as being inadequate and impersonal, particularly for those without a support network.
The author uses humor and self-deprecation to cope with their situation, indicating a resilient and optimistic outlook despite the circumstances.
There is an appreciation for the unexpected returns on investing time and emotion in online relationships, which have proven to be a lifeline during trying times.

Another Heartfelt Shoutout to My Medium Family

A reminder of what happens when you invest in people

My left middle finger is Hungarian goulash. The other night I removed what was supposed to be non-stick dressing, and more bits of skin came off. I left part of the knuckle and the delicate tendon that operates that finger on the asphalt outside Twin Falls on the 29th when I flipped my car going 65 mph.

Kidney stones are a bitch, and they don’t care about timing.

But people care about us.

I was able to hen-peck out a story- not without humor (pain meds help a LOT; wish I had a few more). I got a great many caring notes from folks who gave enough of a damn to not only read my scratching but also to send emails.

It would be difficult to express how much that means. I have no kids, no family and nobody but my real estate agent here in Eugene. No cousins, no uncles, aunts, generous folks that I’ve known for years. I came here alone, and with that, all the challenges of building a brand new home out of nothing in a beautiful place. Because I by god wanted to live here.

My Medium family came with me.

While I can’t meet with most, I can talk to many, and in doing so that softened not only the pain of the injuries but also allowed me to make my landing a bit softer. While I am never alone, it is a gift of great proportion to have an extended fam which is keeping tabs.

Women my age often complain about being lonely. Look, I get it. If you’ve lost a partner late in life, the fam has flown the coop, circumstances like Covid have put an end to your plans and your social activities….yeah. It can be overwhelming. I would offer this: try packing up every single thing you own, leaving behind a home and friends of 50 years, everything familiar, and get ready to head out to a new place in a part of the country where your closest bud is two hours away.

Then land in the hospital with infected kidneys, and a kidney stone.

Then have a nasty car accident, break your printer, TV, and medical equipment. Then try to negotiate a medical system designed to prevent people from getting additional pain meds, where nobody knows you or your history. That’s isolating.

I can guarantee you that trying to manage this kind of pain on Tylenol is a fucking joke. And trying to sleep for two weeks on my Thermarest on the floor doesn’t help either, because the local moving crews weren’t available for 13 days. Then negotiate for a new car after a recent concussion, #22. You cannot make this shit up.

My to-do list is three pages of single-spaced 12 pt type.

This afternoon, I collapsed on the floor of my empty bedroom and slept like the dead for three hours. Because my batteries ran out, because I had lost my appetite two weeks ago, and have lost twenty pounds. That fast. Not good for you. Stress does that. Pain is exhausting.

I don’t recommend this as a diet program. But I can by god fit into my clothing again even though I am a mass of bruises. I would scare off a garbage truck right now.

So yes. This a fraction of what I’ve been juggling, all during Covid. But my Medium family has been there. I have spent time investing in them.

Funny how that comes back around.

You know who you are.

I can’t write much right now as my left hand is goulash but I can hen-peck.

This old biddie ( our farm term for hens) is pecking out a massive thank you.