Happy Monday, August 20, 2018. It is 12:38:24 here is beautiful Northwestern Colorado.

I am sitting in my chamber and all systems are running properly. I finally have my oxygen cannula in and I am breathing as I am instructed by my Dr. The air is a bit warm. I forgot my cool towel this dive.

Early Saturday evening I got hit full-on-board with flu symptoms. My body began aching in church. I was glad that we were in the back. By the end of service I could hardly walk. My joints ached, my throat and ears ached. Even my lips and eyelids hurt. I went to bed and slept 12 hours. I have read that this is sometimes a symptom in the early days of treatment in a mHBOT chamber. I woke yesterday still not feeling well in the flu category. I moped around all day and we just couldn’t get me in the spirit to do anything but nap off and on and go to bed. I never got in my chamber! Truth will be told here!

This morning I woke angry and irritable. I got to be alone for a few hours to just process all of the feelings that were right on the surface. I was angry that we were unable get the oxygen into the chamber. I was angry with a situation in my social life that is so frustrating to me. I was angry with myself that I didn’t push through yesterday and at least spend an hour in the chamber. (It is becoming a safe place for me!) I was irritated with the barking dogs on both sides of our house. I was irritated with my inability to be who I want to be and hope to be. I cried a bit but preferred to stomp my feet and swing at the air while standing in one place (so I didn’t lose my balace and fall).

Solomon Grundy is a poem that I learned in childhood. Anyone remember the Grolier’s Books of Knowledge? How about the Childcraft Books? I devoured them as a child. I would spend hours reading them over and over again. That’s how I got introduced to Solomon. I was amazed that he had very important events occur in his life that were listed in each of the seven days of the week. I thought that he had lived a full life until that Sunday that he was buried.

If only life were that simple! Life is complicated and messy and exhilarating and adventurous and uplifting and full-of-fun. Truly, to live is a gift not to squander or take lightly. Life has meaning and purpose. I remember learning about all of the stages of human development and the milestones to expect or witness in an infant, a child, an adolescent, an adult. Each requiring achievements that are expect along the way to  the age that I am at today. That of “O My Goodness…How Could It Be” elder years?

I am 67 years old and I still can’t understand how those years slipped away so quickly. Many of them were down very slippery slopes. Some of those years were taken on rugged and bumpy roads. And still others were met with dangerous and life-threatening events and challenges. Why is it so hard for me to see those years that were full of play and adventure and excitement and great joy? Oh I had good times and good memories that I will share, but for the most part it has been tough.

A few days ago, I spoke of the tough beginning that I had at eighteen days old. To continue, I remember the early years of my brothers being born and growing up in Illinois. Daddy worked hard as a milkman and at Grandpa’s store to meet the needs of his growing family. Mom did all she could to keep up with a bunch of children and care for our house while still taking on jobs when she needed to help make ends meet. My Mom speaks of Michael (Born twelve months and two weeks after me. The Dr had told Mom that I most likely would not live and Mom was quickly pregnant. I enjoyed being close in age to my brother!) having Scarlet Fever as a baby. Daddy was sick at home for a long time (as I remember) with Polio. Joseph was born perfect and he was such a sweet little boy. Then came Christopher! He was  born premature, brain damaged and at death’s door for so many of his days. How did Mommy make it through all of those tough times? How has she survived the Hilgen terribles? (In the future, I will speak further of Gregory and Terrence and Thomas — our California brothers)

By my sixth year, Michael and I had our tonsils and adenoids removed. Mom and Dad got a two-for-one deal with the doctor. I developed rheumatic fever post-surgery. I was placed in an isolated hospital room. I was alone and afraid and I hurt so bad. I cried because every inch of my body hurt. My skin hurt to be touched and especially touch the sheets on the bed. I spent that year isolated from my classmates and my neighborhood playmates. Mom went to school for me. She sat in the classroom writing everything out to teach me because the school could not let her take my books home….the books could have caught what I had and brought it back to school and………o my! I had to have shots regularly to help my lungs (I guess) and those shots hurt so bad that the doctor would rotate arms throughout that long regime. I was told that I had developed a heart murmur and would not be able to play outside very much, or be a carefree child who would climb trees or run races. I was adventurous so I chose to read other children’s adventures to fill my mind and heart with the wonder of childhood.

That is how Solomon and I met. I still remember the page his poem was written on.

Time has come for me to say. “Ta Ta For Now!” I was able to successfully take my four doses of oxygen and the short breaks from the oxygen. I began coughing in the last cycle just before the chamber began deflation. I did notice more intense ear pain as the chamber was shrinking! I was not able to equalize my ears by pinching my nose and blowing, by yawning or by moving my jaw so I pushed on the outside of my ears and blew very gently. That helped. Funny thing happened…my coffee exploded up and out until I was able to close the top sufficiently. It was so funny. After I cleaned the coffee from the top and sides of the chamber with Thieves Oil and a soft rag, I stood to my panties soaked, my tank top dripping, and my glasses so wet that I had to hand them off to D. I smell of Christmas blend — my favorite so it wasn’t all that bad.

Monday! A very good day!