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| Barb Polan Barb's Recovery |
A second post for today ... Every year on the anniversary of the stroke I had, I try to do some challenge I haven't done since the stroke. So far, I've made a list of what I learned in the first year; walked on Crane Beach (a large beach with very fine-grained sand, which makes it difficult on the dry areas); and walked 2 miles around Eastern Point. I've been wondering lately what I would do to acknowledge my 4th anniversary, and have been thinking about something water-related. The first time I brought up the topic, my aquatic PT suggested doing 16 laps (one-quarter mile), doing my modified running in the water with 4 floats keeping my head above water. I suggested treading water sans floats. She was very negative about it, and said she didn't think I'd be able to kick hard enough and "scull" my arm fast enough to keep my weak side afloat. "How long?" "15 minutes is good, right?" Dale nodded. That "can't" attitude clinched it; since then I've been mulling it over even more. Today I brought up the topic again, and she agreed to help me try to tread water naked. "First," she said, " we'll get rid of this dumbbell, then put a smaller float here, get rid of that other one, and you might just have to accept keeping that last little one." She immediately took the dumbbell, which I've been using to help balance myself when I'm feeling a little tippy. I didn't sink, and I didn't tip over. Then she pulled off the large around-the-right-arm float she wanted to replace with something smaller, but then didn't replace it with anything. I didn't sink, just listed to my left as I put more weight on the float on that side, not a problem. Then she cocked her head and eyed the smaller around-the-arm float under my left armpit. "Wait, wait, wait," I said, "we have until November to accomplish this; it's not like we have only to the end of the week. November 12th." Ironically, of the 2 of us, I'm the more goal-oriented, and I tend to rush to get an exercise finished, while she wants me to relax and do all the motions very slowly. I can't wait to see what floats she takes away from me on Friday.
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