Yesterday was a magical day.
I went on a 45 minute trip to a magical outer world.
Of course, Virginia scenery this time of year is spectacular, and even stay-at-homes can rejoice in the colors of Autumn, but the windows are getting fogged up at my house and even though the mountains and the sky offer endless transitions, seeing the outer world becomes an urgent need.
You see, I am still coping with the BigFoot and am up to about 8 doctors, 20 tests, and 11 different diagnoses in a search that has gone on for just over two years.
So on most days I am a more effective person “at home” where aches and pains can be addressed in familiar surroundings.
But yesterday…. well, yesterday was different.
Old girlfriends met at a little box store in Staunton, Virginia for shopping!
Hurrah!
Shopping!
Ever feel like Alice in Wonderland?
There were bright shiny things to find and sparkly things to buy.
If I had a dog I would have loaded up on all those cute dog toys, dog beds, and doggie treats.
“Maybe I should get all that anyway. You never know, we might find the perfect dog. And what about all that glittering jewlery for those of us who crave elegant adornment and hardly ever leave the house? I could use a roasting pan too… a copper roasting pan. And what about that just-the-right-size pasta bowl?
But No – Let reason prevail.”
In other words, I went slightly mad!
I did wind up with quality holiday wrap and bows, a laundry bag for travel (wishful thinking?) and great potholders (just in case I have to cook at home). Not the most glamorous purchases I know, but Hey… a step up from online searches. I could actually touch and feel the merchandise.
And I found a forest green sweater for me!
I have been looking for something that color since I was eight years old and there it was jumping off the rack…. perfect fit too. Irrestible!
There is joy in finding elusive things.
Then, to top off the magical day we old girlfriends all went out for a magical lunch.
The entree I splurged on would normally have been a disappointment since it was too dry and maybe even too spicey. But I never really noticed. We talked and talked and even after the bill was paid, we kept on talking.
Noone rushed us off and there was time to plan our next magical meeting in that magical outer world I have been missing so much.
Have you ever had a magical day of your own?
Virginia Views 
There is NOTHING more magical than a day with good friends Dor – so glad you got out to enjoy. And PLEEEEESE let that foot start getting better soon 😦
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Time spent with special friends does seem magical, doesn’t it? Glad you were able to be out and about and have a great time! Congrats on the forest green sweater, too!
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It’s been a while for me too. As we get older, we have “conditions” and so do our friends. Matching things up can get near impossible! So glad you took big foot out and had a good time.
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Shopping trips (usually on my own as I get distracted by other people) are one of the things I miss about living out in a very rural area. But for me, the magical things are the birds that visit almost daily. 🙂
What happened to your foot? (I seem to have missed some posts.)
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Sorry that you are still having trouble with your foot, Dor. That must be frustrating.
It is good to get out of the house from time to time. My husband calls it ‘getting off the rock’ (we live amid ledge and rock-strewn glacial hills). Today we went to buy apples at the orchard and shopped the sales at a local crafts center, where I found a couple Christmas gifts. Shopping wears me out– sounds like it does the opposite for you!
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How marvelous that you had a magical day with dear friends! I’m so happy for you. We’ve had a wonderful day with our niece and her four childhood friends. I would be pleased if they made this an annual event.
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I’m so glad you had such a wonderful day. You know, there’s a song for those days filled with magical moments. I’ll bet you remember it, too. I’ll bet you even could sing a chorus or two.
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Wow! Sounds like this is just what the doctor ordered. Girlfriends have healing powers like no other medicine on the planet.
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Thanks Tina! You are such a sweetheart!
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Thank you Dianna. There is a story behind that green sweater…. maybe fodder for my next blog.
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BigFoot complained but there comes a point when I just ignore all the signals and trudge on.
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I surely agree that the birds and magic of rural living are precious magic. As for my BigFoot,(and thank you Val for asking) it has been swollen and painful since November of 2015. There have been 8 or 9 doctors, many tests, and about 12 different diagnoses. Frustrating, but sometimes I just have enough and make myself get up and go. The shopping trip was one of those times even though there are follow up consequences of more pain and swelling.
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That sounds bad. My mother had something like that which she couldn’t get a diagnosis on, but hers started after she got a scratch or cut on her foot…
I hope they find out what’s causing yours and that you get some relief from it.
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Oh, your apple orchard sojourn and the visit to the craft center sound heavenly. Those are the things I miss, but Bill got me a knee scooter and one of these days I will take it out into the world and see how that goes. It works well in the house but I can only imagine how an “elderly” lady looks scooting around in public. 🙂
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I was hoping big foot was better.
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Nothing like reuniting with good friends to bring smiles to the day. Thanks Anne!
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That was most certainly a trip down memory lane shoreacres. Thank you. Perry Como was always a favorite. 🙂
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You are “right on” there about girlfriends being the best medicine.
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Ditto Kate, but not so. It has been 2 years and still no definitive diagnosis. I think I am a candidate for “Mystery Diagnosis” on t.v. 🙂
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Thanks Val…
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Oh Dora ! I was hoping your foot was much better ,so sorry you are still suffering. I admire your courage in coping and with such a sense of humour.I am also pleased you enjoyed your day out with friends, that’s a tonic in itself. I am hoping for a special day out very soon. You see, I had a small operation on my leg last week and when I left the surgery I went to the bank and while standing at the window waiting for some mone, suddenly there was such a panic when the staff rushed to me saying I was standing in a pool of blood. Of course I could not feel it because the anaesetic had not worn off. John rushed me back to the hospital for treatment. Ever tried sleeping with your leg up in the air to check the blood flow. John has promised me a special day out.
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Oh Dor, my other American sister. If I lived closer we could go on a shopping or lunch or whatever trip. I have a friend with ms and we go for lunch, she in her motorised wheel chair and me with my latest acquisition, a walking stick. So we could go out with you on your knee scooter. Hah – wishful thinking. And I do wish your foot would get better.
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Little kids would probably want a turn! 😉
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I am so sorry. I thought you had a weird diagnosis that no one ever heard of. *hugs* I don’t do well when I’m not mobile.
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I’m so happy for you and your magical day :). I have one coming up very soon myself. We just went through an audit at work by the Law Society, and everyone was totally stressed out. I’m happy to say that it went very well, and our boss wants to say thank you. So, he is sending all of us girls to a Scandanavian Spa where we will get to sit in the hot springs all day, and the boss is coming to take us out for lunch. Yahooooo!! I can’t wait :).
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It sounds like a perfect day. There is nothing better than spending time with friends.
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What a story Rita! I can’t even imagine how you must have felt in the bank with all the people rallying around you whilst you were standing in a pool of blood! I hope your leg is now healing well and that you can sleep in a normal position. And thanks for your concern about me and BigFoot. I am seeing a doctor again tomorrow and may have to have another MRI. There is swelling and pain and noone can figure out why. Ah well, the joys of aging huh?
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Oh wouldn’t we be a fascinating trio? You with your walking stick, your friend in her motorized wheelchair and me on my scooter. I did a demonstration for my grandgirls and they were all laughing enough to fall off their chairs. I can only imagine the public reaction! 🙂 Thank you my faraway sister for making me laugh this day too. 🙂
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Ha! I will watch their faces if I ever get the nerve to push my scooter along in public! 🙂
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Thank you Kate! I thought I was being brave and noble, but this is going on now for two years with the BigFoot. I find a slight loss in sense of humor when things take a turn for the worse, and believe it or not, they have turned since I posted this story Grrrr. 😦
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Wow! There is nothing like soaking in hot springs. There is a place here too and next time you come we will have to try it. It’s a naturally fed, always body temperature, full of minerals to make your skin soft. The trouble is, all you want to do afterward is fall asleep. Have fun and try to stay awake for lunch! Hugs, Dor
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😦
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Sounds good to me!! You always have the best ideas of places to go :).
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Oh my gosh, I’m so glad you had a magical day out!! I didn’t realize you were still struggling with Big Foot. Oh mylanta, I surely do hope you get relief from that soon! But I bet you look stunning in your new forest green sweater. 🙂
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Awaiting your arrival……
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Thanks for the good wishes Cindy! I have the same hope for relief. Meanwhile I do look magnificent in forest green. 🙂
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😃
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You should have posted a photo of the green sweater. I have been missing your posts lately and did not know you were still plagued by Big Foot. Glad you still got out for magical moments. Shopping can raise the spirits! Happy Thanksgiving. Are you going to cook and use those new pot holders?
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Thank you Coastal Crone. I have been planning to do a post on the forest green sweater. Stay tuned.
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So sorry you are still hurting, but I am glad the outing was so fun!
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My favorite magical days are ones where I go shopping with my best friend in this little seaside town nearby and then we end the day by having a late lunch/early dinner in at the waterfront restaurant. Good for you to trudge through Big Foots protestations… we all need a magical day once in awhile.
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