The last third

Lives are filled with beginnings, endings, turning points and all sorts of other milestone markers. Sometimes they manage to slid by unnoticed and sometimes they nearly knock us flat as they rise up to greet us.

Last April I had all sorts of unexpected things happen. First and foremost my apartment's rent went up much more than I expected. Then I couldn't stick to the diet my doctor suggested and I began to experience medical problems.

Medical problems turned into anxiety and despair and that coupled with other changes that normally occur in life sent me spiraling.

I felt like Dorothy when she watched the wicked witch riding off with Toto.

It all sort of came to a head last week when I passed a kidney stone and spent a very long twenty four hours alone and in  agony.

Friday I had a doctor's appointment with my regular doctor in a small clinic in a small town just north of here. She is worth the ride out of town because of the way she listens. She ran some tests right there and gave me some of the results right away. She gave me the other results this morning when she called me herself to tell me all is okay.

That was a huge relief. It was also a great relief that the medicine she prescribed has caused me no side effects so far.

Today I began downsizing my life once more to make up for the rent. My doctor knows where to order my prescriptions so all I pay is five dollars a month. I have been waiting for a three year contract with cable to end so I could drop everything except internet. Good old cable tried to get me to use other contracts. They even tried to get me to upgrade my internet, but I persevered and came out exactly where I hoped.

I am pretty sure this is the last third of my life.  And I want it filled with the things that are important to me. I want to be looking forward to adventures and joy, not worrying about darker things.