Vacation
We're back from vacation. Our first trip in many years. In a summer when gas prices are keeping a lot of folks close to home, Bear's sister sent us a gift card from her husbands BP station for our anniversary so we could visit them in northern Michigan. Not the U.P., but way up there in Oscoda County. They have a beautiful home on a beautiful property on a beautiful lake. This was the first time brother and sister had a chance to spend time together since they lost their Mother. It was family time together at it's best. Shared memories, teasing, Sunday morning at Church, and getting acquainted with spouses. And a week that went by too fast.
I had the added bonus of spending half a day with old friends. A couple I've known since 1964 when my first husband, G. and I were stationed in Germany. Bill is a Michigan boy who married a German girl. They finally came back to the states when the Berlin Wall came down and now live about an hour and a half from Bear's sister. We've managed to get together just about every time I make it to Michigan. That was often when Bear's Mother was alive, but it's been about 12 years since my friends and I've been able to be together. We keep in touch with mail and e-mail, but that can never compare to a real visit. Now, that's what a vacation should be.
The last time Bear's sister came here, her hubby was on a hunting trip. So she brought a friend with her. That friend and her husband had us all over for a BBQ. Another highlight of this vacation. She has two gorgeous matched gray Percherons and a pretty bay mare. The plan was to hitch up the Percherons and go for a buggy ride after we ate. But that plan was ruined by a strong storm. It hit after we ate and we were protected in the barn, but it would have been stupid to take the horses out in the lightning and thunder and heavy rain. She already had them in part harness, so I was allowed to help take it off. It's been a long time since I've been able to get that close to any horses. I loved just being with them.
Even with some severe weather, (I stood in the patio door and took pictures of hail and rain so hard we couldn't see the lake from their deck) I was surprised to discover my headache wasn't as bad as it's been. I even slept for longer stretches. The obvious explanation would center around stress and relaxation. But, something happened when we got home to remind me of something I'd forgotten. This is going to sound crazy, but I have to believe there is something to it. I believe the big electrical transformer on the pole above our house has a lot to do with my pain.
When W. and I built our house in the country, my headaches were there, but tolerable. Of course I was younger and the Dr's. did warn me that as we get older our veins lose elasticity and the Arterial Veineous malformation in my brain would cause more problems as I aged. (The aneurysm was way back in 1978 when I was 33.) While W. and I still lived in the country, a new house was built in the woods behind and below us. A new transformer was installed back there. My pain increased. One day when I was outside, I realized I was feeling something like a vibration in the ground. I went looking for the source. It was a bit like a marco-polo game. If I went in the right direction, the vibration was stronger. When I found the transformer, it wasn't up on a pole. It was sitting on the ground. Standing near it made my head throb unbearably. That transformer was just one of the reasons W. and I set out to buy land and build the log home. Away from any towers or transformers. Looking at properties I discovered I was effected if we were close to a high power line. We found the 38 acres and started the house back off the road.
When I first moved in with Bear, this transformer right by the house caused me problems too. But, I've lived here so long, I'd totally forgotten the connection. (Being away at work days helped. Now I'm not working and home all day.) The week at the lake, without the intense pain......then coming back and getting hit with it again was a reminder. I don't think I'm crazy. There must be a connection. With my past experience, I don't believe it's just a matter of the A.V.M. and stress.
I had the added bonus of spending half a day with old friends. A couple I've known since 1964 when my first husband, G. and I were stationed in Germany. Bill is a Michigan boy who married a German girl. They finally came back to the states when the Berlin Wall came down and now live about an hour and a half from Bear's sister. We've managed to get together just about every time I make it to Michigan. That was often when Bear's Mother was alive, but it's been about 12 years since my friends and I've been able to be together. We keep in touch with mail and e-mail, but that can never compare to a real visit. Now, that's what a vacation should be.
The last time Bear's sister came here, her hubby was on a hunting trip. So she brought a friend with her. That friend and her husband had us all over for a BBQ. Another highlight of this vacation. She has two gorgeous matched gray Percherons and a pretty bay mare. The plan was to hitch up the Percherons and go for a buggy ride after we ate. But that plan was ruined by a strong storm. It hit after we ate and we were protected in the barn, but it would have been stupid to take the horses out in the lightning and thunder and heavy rain. She already had them in part harness, so I was allowed to help take it off. It's been a long time since I've been able to get that close to any horses. I loved just being with them.
Even with some severe weather, (I stood in the patio door and took pictures of hail and rain so hard we couldn't see the lake from their deck) I was surprised to discover my headache wasn't as bad as it's been. I even slept for longer stretches. The obvious explanation would center around stress and relaxation. But, something happened when we got home to remind me of something I'd forgotten. This is going to sound crazy, but I have to believe there is something to it. I believe the big electrical transformer on the pole above our house has a lot to do with my pain.
When W. and I built our house in the country, my headaches were there, but tolerable. Of course I was younger and the Dr's. did warn me that as we get older our veins lose elasticity and the Arterial Veineous malformation in my brain would cause more problems as I aged. (The aneurysm was way back in 1978 when I was 33.) While W. and I still lived in the country, a new house was built in the woods behind and below us. A new transformer was installed back there. My pain increased. One day when I was outside, I realized I was feeling something like a vibration in the ground. I went looking for the source. It was a bit like a marco-polo game. If I went in the right direction, the vibration was stronger. When I found the transformer, it wasn't up on a pole. It was sitting on the ground. Standing near it made my head throb unbearably. That transformer was just one of the reasons W. and I set out to buy land and build the log home. Away from any towers or transformers. Looking at properties I discovered I was effected if we were close to a high power line. We found the 38 acres and started the house back off the road.
When I first moved in with Bear, this transformer right by the house caused me problems too. But, I've lived here so long, I'd totally forgotten the connection. (Being away at work days helped. Now I'm not working and home all day.) The week at the lake, without the intense pain......then coming back and getting hit with it again was a reminder. I don't think I'm crazy. There must be a connection. With my past experience, I don't believe it's just a matter of the A.V.M. and stress.
posted by LeeAnn | 2:43 PM
1 Comments:
Sounds like you had a lovely time on your vacation.
Rabbitt
(Hope you can figure out something to counteract that power transformer causing you pain.)
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