I told Jack that I wouldn’t ever post a picture of myself ever again. That is why I posted this one today. When I look in the mirror sometimes I’m frightened like I’m looking at a monster and other times it is just like looking at me. Others are always reassuring me that I don’t look so bad, in fact “they” say I really don’t look that different. There is no denying that I do have a resting bitch face, but I can live with that. The other night I was looking through photos on my phone and ran across videos taken by my sister while I was in the hospital. To say I look different now or that I’ve come a long way is an understatement. I was frightened by what I saw, to say the least. It has made me spend time thinking about how far I really have come. I forget. I had a drain, a walker, stitches, a patch on my eye that didn’t close, no glasses and then huge glasses and a patch, a swollen eye from surgery, nine different meds, two shaved spots on my head, lots of bruising from needles and from a fall, a weak voice that was breathy, thickened liquids and a straw for drinking, and food that was pre-chopped. Now, my face may droop and I may still go to physical therapy, but I wear a contact and no patch. I walk, hike, bike (at the gym) and run. I’m only on two meds that really help, and I can eat and drink anything I want, especially cereal with 2 percent regular organic milk. I really have come a long way, Baby!