A beginning and an end.

I apologize for my lack of updates (if there are any of my very few readers who are actually offended!). I’m doing well – I finished my physical therapy just over two weeks ago and I’ve been doing my exercises (though I did skip last night) and swimming as often as I am able. The next step in my recovery feels less definite: keep doing my exercises forever. My next phase is literally the future – an exciting and terribly scary prospect. I’m feeling better because of my exercises, but I still have enough pain that it’s burdensome and causes a fear about the idea of getting through a day at a job (for which I’ll probably start applying in September or October). As of now, I have no well-defined plans for the future. I do think that it is a good thing to set goals and work towards them, but past experiences have taught me that sometimes it’s better not to have expectations – or at least not to feel surprised when a major event or change occurs in life that is entirely unforeseen. As of today, my only plan is to await the arrival of my copy of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. I’ve never preordered a book, nor have I ever actually counted the days until a Harry Potter release. During college, I enjoyed the first four books, but when the fifth, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, came out I was busy with school and it was not until right before my first spinal fusion (winter of 2006) that I finally read it. Since my surgeries, however, I have reread all of the books and listened to the audio versions countless times. I’ve always had a close relationship with books, but never has an author meant so much to me as J.K. Rowling. Having my two spinal fusions has been depressing at times, but never overwhelming because I’ve had these books. Whenever I was too exhausted to read or even watch television, I listened to Harry Potter on my iPod and felt instantly better about my situation because Harry’s life was so horrible. Obviously, I’m aware that Harry Potter is a fictional character, but he’s also been a faithful friend. So, as I near the end of my recovery and the beginning of the future, it seems appropriate that I am awaiting the conclusion of this beloved series.