The Art of Silence

I love silence. Silence is golden, someone penned. I think they were right.

I'm not sure why, but for some reason right now I am feeling the need for quietude. I don't mean right now, right now, but I mean while recovering right now. I like it quiet. Sometimes I even go hours without turning on a TV or listening to music.

There are people, though, who seem to fear silence. I wonder why that is? They have a need to fill every quiet moment with chatter.

They are impossible to watch TV with. They spend the entire show commenting on what's going on.

"Wow, she looks like crap!"

"Oh now why would he do that?"

"Do you like that brand of shampoo? I do. I use it all the time."

You know the types.

So what's up with that? Does silence scare them? What happens during the silence that requires them to drive it away with verbal assaults?

These are the people who talk during the movies. YOu know the ones. They are the ones you try to hush by shooting them "looks".

Looks never work because these people are oblivious.

Then you move onto the gentle, but poignant, "Shhhhhh."

That'll stifle 'em for maybe five minutes, but it's never a permanent fix.

So then you have to bring out the "Angry SHHHHHH."

That one is much deadlier. It's usually good for ten minutes of silence.

Of course as soon as you've gotten BACK into the movie the Yappity Yapper starts back up. They talk to their neighbor. They talk to the screen. They talk to the voices in their head.

They repeat lines.

Now that I've always found MOST pleasant because who DOESN'T need a verbal instant replay during a movie?

I know I love it!

Do these people talk in their sleep, I wonder? Do they talk to themselves as they drive down the street? Are these the people we pass on the sidewalk who we think are crazy because they are holding animated conversations with themselves?

Silence is golden.

Yeah Tory, Get Yer Groove On!

I went to the gym today! I went to the gym today!

Now I hear some of you now..."Is that okay? You're not overdoing it are you? Don't hurt yourself!"

Trust me, I am being careful. No one knows as well as I do how quickly one can end up back in the hospital.

All I did was walk very slowly on the treadmill for 15 minutes and then ride the stationary bike for 20 minutes. My doctor said I could do that. He told me Monday that I need to build up my legs and behind again. I really do. You won't believe how quickly your muscles get "wasted" laying in bed for almost a month. My arms and legs just look spindly.

So why go back to the gym so early?

Well first of all I want to make sure that my husband gets back and he's not wanting to leave me alone very long. I knew he wouldn't go back without me. Besides, I need to move and there is no reason I can't do it there if I take it easy.

Another reason is that this last month has taught me how blessed I am to live with a healthy body. There is nothing like being stuck in a hospital bed to make you realize that you must take advantage of your good health while you have it. There were times last month when I couldn't imagine ever going back to the gym. There were days I was so weak I could barely lift my head off the bed. Walking from my room to the nurse's station (about 25 feet) was a chore that left me winded and in pain.

So now that I'm starting to feel better and get a little stamina back it is important to me to get back into my habit of good health. I'm still very tired, but I do know that even a little bit of exercise will help build that stamina up. It also gets my blood flowing and will help speed healing.

So there you have it! I got out of the hospital five days ago after spending 25 days there. What's your excuse for not going to the gym today?