Sending healing prayers your way Dancer. Take good care of yourself.

Chick, thank you for the prayers, I am grateful.
Meredith, you are correct, as you usually are, I am in a great time of change. For example, I will never perform on stage again as a dancer, I can only choerograph.
I may have to re-educate in another feild. I may decide to retire completly and not work, as luckily, I can afford it.
My husband's idea is that I do retire and for once, sine I was a kid, (he has known me since I was a kid,) relax, and find hobbied, etc... (Like working at the hospital.)
Mountain Ash, wise words, and I feel that way, I don't want sympathy, I want support for the emerging "me." I am open to ideas, new friendships and new experiences. It is a "trick," really, as you cannot take the dance out of me in my gestures and all movement. I have that with me all of the time, and I have tons of reminders of that life. I've been bronzed, I'm framed in elaborate ways, etc...
I must create or serve, I am certain of that.
Anne3, thank you for caring about my pain. I become more and more used to managing it and finding a level of painkiller to work with. At least my doctor is willing to treat it with no judgement and in fact I am on less pain medication than she thought I would need. I joined the American Pain Foundation and became a spokesperson for them.

I am open to ideas, friends, and cheerleaders!

With your help, all of you, I can look upon this as an adventure, certainly.

I am touched by your reaching out to touch the very problem.

Dancer

What about teaching dance to youngsters, maybe those not as fortunate as some health and wealth wise? You seem so gentle and kind and children need this from a teacher, someone to guide them with a velvet hand. I can picture you surrounded by happy, smiling, eager to learn children.

Dancer, so sorry about the news you were given. The others have given you great ideas. I am sure that you will soon have "a new normal"; you'll be so proud of yourself!

Dancer, when I was younger as I mentioned before, I wanted to be a dancer. Situation: It was a far fetched idea to most people in my part of the world. What I saw on TV was just a dream and I really didn't know how to go about fulfilling it. My parents weren't to blame at all. It just sounded so far fetched where I was from. Plus I was short and that kept me back more than anything I guess.
OK my point... There are many "me" kids out there who don't know where to begin or are afraid to try. An unreachable dream...unless a believer such as yourself finds a child who needs mentoring. Why not search out someone to mentor, train and encourage. Someone who has the dream but cannot afford the lessons. Someone who you can teach to be the best they can and want to be. I only wish I could have found my 'dancer' mentor when I was a young child.
I too hope you are feeling better.

Chick, Chatty, when you put it that way, and I think of my young teaching days, you make sense.
I just might do that.
And Chick, if I were there, you'd be getting lessons right now!
Every woman deserves to be a dancer, and any age is okay to start. (It is!)
D9
(Many have asked me to teach. I will look deeper into those.)

Dancer..You were looking for cheerleaders you´ve got one in me..and all of us here, it seems.

I feel for you so much..but am also excited by the ideas for a new path expressed in this thread. And I add one of my own..along the same lines..why not a "dance therapist"? You would have to study again..the therapy part..which would go along the lines your husband was thinking..and then you could use your enormous experience and vibrant, provacative personaity to help those that have lost their way. It just a suggestion to consider. I DO like the idea of you helping children fulfill their dreams,too

You seem to know how to cope with pain..which is much more than I can do. And I certainly hope that you will not be tormented by alot of pain.

When one door closes...another opens..my friend. It´s never just that easy..there is SO MUCH to get used to..to accept..to decide..to do. But all this could perhaps lead you down surprsingly new and unexpected..never dreamed of..paths.

Sending you all my love..your cheerleader Humlan

Please keep writing about how you are feeling and thinking, dear Dancer...you are an inspiration to me..as always.

Dancer, I just caught this thread and have read all the way through, my words for and to you have already been voiced by our other boomer sisters. As we say at home, my heart goes out to you and your anguish. I too will hold you close in my heart and prayers.

Having read all of the thread, I got to thinking about changes..and mused for a little..hope you don't mind what came next(it's a wee bit on the juvenille side..but what the hey ;))I am going with my gut feeling here.


‘The Flutterby’
Only little, my dreams were vast,
growing bigger those dreams did swell
firstly on paper, and the world in my mind.
few knew or cared and in shade,
so far, I flourished in hiding
still believing and ‘woolgathering’
in my heart, in my wits.
I was a blessed little lass
who had a yielding clever Grandad
who talked as I would,
who never ever scowled.
He told me many stories
and I told mine right back....
I was his favoured ‘flutterby’
who saw more beauty by the day
‘change’ he said was wonderous
when I would ‘be’ my imaginings
and ‘they were never far away’.


Poppie

Poppie, you my dear heart are amazing...

poppie, very sweet.