Martha in the Desert

Some time back Marth and I were having a conversation about how she was finding her walks in the desert to be the equivalent of going to church. And she emphasized how important it was to keep moving. At the time I put down a few notes and a draft of a poem about how intrigued I was about her need to move.
The past few days I have been musing again about the poem and am ready to put down a second draft which follows.

Martha in the Desert

No more Sunday "go-to-meeting" for me,
My cathedral is the desert.
Spirit streaming from the
sere rock,
 cacti filled with holy water,
and endless grains
of dust.

Beneath a pale, early moon,
like a pain-dimmed soul
I am
walking, walking, walking.

Ravaged by pain,
savaged by loneliness,
raging at God.

Spirit all around me
in a ceaseless wind.
Calling, calling -
"Follow me."

Can't stop for the
purple lupin stain,
or the amber gold sunset.


Can't stop to feel the
wind,
or see the wink of
the first star.

Can't stop.
Can't stop.

Driven by the pain,
Running from the pain.
Being the pain.

Moving,
moving,
moving.

Contributing to feeling like writing again is the fact that I am declaring myself to be completely recovered from my recent illness. I have all of my strength back. I have put the beautiful spread back on my bed as I no longer need to lay down part of every day. I have even done some time on my bike as my right knee is no longer complaining. I ride as most of you know with one leg as my left knee needs to be replaced and cannot rotate at all. I was inspired by seeing one-legged atheletes and figured I could make do with what I had. Better than no exercise at all.
Full day today with chores. Had a shower/shampoo, stripped the bed, am doing a couple loads of laundry. Made an appt. with Dr. Petrides, the nephrologist I had in the hospital. Dr. Stark my cardiologist wants him to monitor the progress of my kidneys. I have been told that the cause of my kidney malfunction is the error made at the Arizona Heart Institute when the doctors put in the iliac artery stent in 2002. Can't sue because I signed a waiver including the possibility of such damage.
Have cleaned out all of the spent flowers that I got for my birthday and am saving many of the containers which are very attractive. Had a nice chat with Marth who will be coming tomorrow to do the week's cleaning. We will be going to the blood lab to have tests done for both Dr. Stark and Dr. Petrides. I have hopes of getting off some of the meds I am now taking. Wednesday I have a hair appt. and will have a cut and perm. This will be a great lift to my spirits as my hair is way too long, too hot and too much care.
Had a great weekend watching the last major of the golf season. My Phil did not contend but came in at 19th (of about 76). Some of the old guard were in it for a time but the excitement (both for the tournament and golf itself) came from a couple of unknowns. I was certain they would fall by the wayside by Sunday but there they were hanging in, playing great golf. They were tied at the end of four rounds and went to a three aggregate hole playoff. Dufner had been 5 shots ahead of the field after 14 holes. Bradley ( rookie playing in his first major) had a triple bogey on 15. He then got two birdies on some of the hardest holes on the course while Dufner collapsed. Bradley won the playoff and all of us golf fans got a big thrill out of watching what they called the "no names". Bring 'em on!!
Feels really good to be feeling really good!