Solitaire

I play a lot of solitaire on my phone, usually in the bathroom or while catching up with news of the U.S. Circus. 

Solitaire is kind of like cleaning house, putting cards in the right places, watching them snap away like dust mites.  Even if I don't win, it's satisfying to throw that red nine under that black ten.  Or the red Jack under the black Queen. 

When I first started playing this version of Solitaire, I lost a lot more than I won.  I never watched a You Tube video to improve my strategy--I prefer to figure out things on my own when I can-- but have discovered some moves that now give me more wins, my best score 111 moves.  

Sometimes a game seems hopeless, as the stack of usable cards grows smaller.  Then, out of the blue, a card appears that's a game changer.  Regardless of number of moves (my average for wins is 125), I love it when the momentum changes and I win a seemingly hopeless game. 

Solitaire is also kind of like my three months of trying to find a solution for foot pain.  Three prescriptions for steroids helped, but now that move is no longer an option due to possible side effects of taking too many steroids. The Airrosti doc suggested foot baths in ice; the chiropractor said "Oh no, ice is bad!"  The pain management doc gave me pain pills; the podiatrist tried to sell me $500 orthotics; reflexology and massage helped, but only for a few hours. 

Last week Lorraine  gave me the contact information for an orthopedist who specializes in feet.  I saw her yesterday and she restored my hope in a solution.  She's ordered an MRI, prescribed 3 Gabapentin a day for nerve pain, suggested Hoka or Brooks shoes, no orthotics, told me never to go barefoot or wear sandals, and insisted on physical therapy instead of Airrosti.  This is the game changer--I have hope again for happy feet even if it takes a while. 

Apparently, when one has a "crush accident,"  as I had three months ago, it exacerbates arthritis already lurking in the feet.  "When we get older," she said, "Most of us have some arthritis in the feet." 

So I'm happy today, hopeful for the first time in months!  After our naps, Jan and I are going shoe shopping!