Going From Bad To Worse

I am telling this story as a way to express my gratitude to those who came to my rescue on 2.24.14.

I started my day with a severe case of sciatica. I made it work but as the morning went on I could not stand the pain.  I made an appointment for 1:15 at the River Hospital Convenient Care.  Leaving work at noon I was experiencing severe pain that took my breath away with each step I took to get to my car.  I drove along 81 north feeling as tho I just ran a marathon.  The pinched sciatic nerve shot excruciating  pains all the way down my left leg.

Within minutes my breathing went from labored to short and choppy.  Several minutes later my diaphragm felt like it was rolling up under my rib cage.  My arms and legs went numb and I started to get light headed and woozy.  My judgement was now impaired as I tried to make a decision of what to do.  Stay on course to Alex Bay or pull over on the 81 breakdown lane and hope for help.

I started to panic as my hands began to shake uncontrollably.  I knew that continuing north or pulling over would both be dangerous.  I vaguely remember my decision to get off of 81 at the Bradley St exit and head to a place where people knew me, Blue Seal Feed Store.

Finally making it to Blue Seal Feed parking lot, I started to honk my horn to get anyone's attention.  By now my hands were shaking and useless and I could hardly form words except for help.  Two ladies had pulled into the store parking lot and noticed that I was in trouble.  Without hesitation they called 911.  I remember only bits and pieces as they asked me questions that 911 needed to know.  By now my panic was out of control as I was sure what I was experiencing was a heart attack.

Time seemed to slow down and speed up creating a confused state of mind for me.  My next recollection was the First Responder asking me questions and slipping an oxygen mask over my face.  I felt the panic decrease and my ability to breath increase. I found myself in an ambulance and then transported to Samaritan E.R, where I was treated and released.

My doctor told me that the pain from walking caused me to gasp with each step.  This put me into a hyperventilated state.  Never experiencing that before, I then experienced a panic attack, thinking that I was having a heart attack.  I was told that each by itself are very scary and experiencing both would rock anyone's world.

As I said at the beginning of this post, my intention was to thank the unknown ladies that contacted 911. And to express my gratitude to the first Responders and the EMT's. Thank you all for coming to my rescue. 

Romping In The Snow

Luna, frolicking in the snow



Luna: On Top Of The World from Jim Cummings on Vimeo.

Skating On The Rideau

Ottawa Canada:

Yesterday, my wife spent the day on the Rideau Canal Skateway.  It is the worlds largest ice rink. Extending 7.8 Kilometers [4.8 miles] from Canada's  Parliament Buildings to Dows Lake.  Along the way are warming areas with fire pits, cauldrons of soups, and oh yes..... Beavertails.  What are Beavertails?


Skating On The Rideau Canal from Jim Cummings on Vimeo.

They are described as delicious addictive whole-wheat pastries are hand-stretched, then float cooked and served piping hot, topped with butter and your choice of delectable flavours. Proudly satisfying your sweet tooth since 1978.  Click here to learn more about Beavertails

The canal is open for skating during January and February.  Additional information can be found here.

Bloggers Note:  My wife took this video with her digital pocket Nikon Cool Pix Camera.  The editing was done by moi.

Wintry Thoughts

It was around 5pm when I finished clearing the driveway of snow. Lots of snow at the entrance, courtesy of that snow plow guy that gets his jollies winging as much snow as he possibly can as he comes around the corner! I decided to reward myself with a beer as I stood in the middle of my driveway. Inspecting the crisp edges of my snow banks, I was pleased and I know my dad would be proud that I took pride in my sculpted rows of snow.

I spent some time pacing my driveway scuffing my boots in the snow and taking notice of the sun as it was setting behind the trees. This sunset was beautiful in a wintry evening kind of way, and the temperature was pleasant.... so I had another beer and enjoyed the sun as it set behind the trees,  that had fractured limbs from that ice storm. 

As I sipped my frosty cold beer,,,,, I noticed how much better beer tastes when you have worked out doors. Paced and scuffed my feet in the snow some more and then marveled at the sunset once again. Then I thought..... my neighbors must think I am strange..... pacing, scuffing my feet, staring at the sunset, drinking a beer..... WAIT A MINUTE..... I am not strange...... THEY ARE...... because they are not seeing through my thoughts.... to bad for them.

Side Note: The fact is, I am strange and I embrace all my quirks.  I plan on nurturing my strangeness, hoping that it grows into eccentric... I want to thank all the people that have helped me along the way. Your actions of alienating me have in fact set me free. 

Grieving The Loss Of A Pet

For the sake of simplicity, I will talk in terms that I know.... Dogs...

Last year within a few months of each other, we lost both of our Golden Retrievers: Glory then Latte . The dull but throbbing ache that I felt seemed to come from the center of my body and radiate outwards. It went on for days but finally ebbed after a few weeks, only to return without warning and disappear just as quickly. This went on for months with diminishing frequency. The grieving for my dogs is completely different than what I experienced when a parent or a friend passed away.

I questioned and argued with myself..... Why is it different? Is there a connection between a dog and a human soul? I am not going to debate whether a dog has a soul, but I know for sure that I have one and if by chance you do not believe in souls, then you can call it your heart.

I have been mulling this over for a year and I have noticed a change in my emotions. No, I have not gone soft, but my emotions seem to be more acute. I am not going to elaborate on how they have changed, but I can tell you it was worth all the love and grief I felt for my dogs.

What happens when a puppy comes home and a bond forms between her and her humans?

What do I think happens when that physical bond is broken the day she dies?

A puppy works her way into your heart. Our hearts by nature are not totally pure. They have dark spots filled with impurities..... lets face it, humans are far from perfect. Dogs, however are perfect loving creatures, they pass no judgment and offer unconditional love. As the puppy grows, they consume more of our hearts forcing the impurities in our heart farther out to the edge. Our hearts expand making us better humans as those impurities are congealed.

What is THE ACHE that we feel after the passing of a dog?

The true gift that a dog gives us is what she takes with her when she dies. All those impurities in our heart are now all in one place and she is able to snatch them away …. taking them with her, guaranteeing her passage into heaven. The ACHE is the sudden deflation of our hearts as she whisks our impurities away leaving her humans with purer hearts.

I am not saying this is true, but it is what I choose to believe....... My thoughts about this come on the one year anniversary of the unexpected passing of Glory. Five months later, we lost Latte..... who whisked away more impurities leaving me in awe..... in the beauty of the DOG.

Epilogue

Before Glory and Latte there was Bianca and Sienna. For over 20 years we have always had at least one dog in our lives, and other times there were two. Sienna was our first, we raised her then she raised Bianca. After Bianca passed away, Sienna raised her new sister Glory. Sienna passed away at the ripe old age of 14. Glory reared her half sister Latte` and they hung around with each other for 5 years. Glory died suddenly in her yard on 2.13.13. Latte` was diagnosed with cancer 4 months later. We suddenly found ourselves with out a dog for the first time in 20 years. It was very quiet around our house that summer, that is until the middle of August when we brought home Luna, a Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier.... she is something else. We have a plaque on a wall that says Dogs Are Not Our Whole Life, But They Make Our Lives Whole. This sums up the importance to the family and the role of a pet in your life