I turned 72 on Saturday. It was a birthday when I felt my age more than I would have liked. A couple of weeks ago, I aggravated an old lower back injury, trying to do more than I should have. Thought it was resolving, just a bit sore. Then on Wednesday afternoon, after I got […]

The post Aging Grace appeared first on Living with Scleroderma.

Beautiful, crisp fall weather this weekend beckoned for a walk. Our trees here in Central Massachusetts have carpeted lawns and streets with leaves, but there is still much beautiful foliage to enjoy. So I set out on Saturday afternoon to stroll through a historic cemetery in our fair city. Why a cemetery, you ask? Because […]

The post Open Air Cathedral appeared first on Living with Scleroderma.

As I wrote several weeks back, I’ve restarted taking Pilates. My purple pool noodle adaptation for padding the reformer’s foot-bar did not work, unfortunately (the hollow core was too narrow to fit over the bar), but my instructor found a great alternative—black foam pipe insulation. It’s about an inch thick and just the right amount […]

The post Making Progress appeared first on Living with Scleroderma.

Last Thursday I went to my new Pilates studio for the third time. I found an instructor who understands my need for adaptations without my even having to ask, I made it through the class without any setbacks, and I’m gaining strength little by little. But there’s an issue I need to address. At this […]

The post Noodling Around appeared first on Living with Scleroderma.

The post Back to Pilates appeared first on Living with Scleroderma.

I’ve been thinking a lot about my posture, lately. Back in May, after I performed a scene from The Glass Menagerie as the culmination of my spring adult acting class, I watched a video of same and was dismayed to see how stooped I’ve become. Some of this is just due to aging, loss of […]

The post Stand Up Act appeared first on Living with Scleroderma.

My body is trying to tell me something. My shoulders are in knots. My fingers have developed more ulcers. I’m having trouble concentrating—or, rather, getting myself to the point of concentrating. This morning, I woke from a dream that I couldn’t find a file in my computer, because the search function was screwed up. What […]

The post Interpolation appeared first on Living with Scleroderma.

Memorial Day weekend was beautiful and warm here, a fitting beginning to the summer season. Finally, I’ve been able to go out without a jacket or coat, wearing just a sweater for an extra layer, if at all. We’ve had some rain, too, and as a result, everything is growing. Our new cherry tree has […]

The post Workout appeared first on Living with Scleroderma.

Another Nor’easter on the way in Massachusetts, with up to a foot of snow expected here by the end of Tuesday. As long as we retain power, I’m not concerned. I just wish it would come on a different weekday. Twice we’ve had heavy snowfall on a Tuesday, which means I can’t go to my […]

The post Act One appeared first on Living with Scleroderma.

On Sunday we had our first big snow of the season, 15.5 inches, officially. Thankfully, the power stayed on despite the heavy, wet snow, although the pole that holds our bird feeder snapped under the weight. Al shoveled our drive and walkway three times, more than earning a good night’s sleep. I clomped through deep […]

The post Snow Day appeared first on Living with Scleroderma.