Crooked feet and brown boots

Coming to the realization that RA changed my ability to wear certain shoes came with a swift kick in the rear for me. It's like one day I wore 3" heels and the next....bam....flats! And not just any flats, unflattering flats. Recently, I learned that my hips and knees were turning in and out (like an hourglass). Well, I didn't think anything of it again until yesterday. I stumbled into the great cornucopia of boot heaven looking to pick out the perfect pair of boots. I put on a pair and in order for my foot to go straight, my whole body almost has to be crooked. My husband stands there looking at me, while I am blubbering like an idiot about my crooked legs. We finally found some that allowed me to walk naturally and looked great too. Oh the joys of being a spoonie. 

Old fashioned Christmas

Christmastime.  A time that is supposed to bring joy, brings the realization that we as a people have lost the basic fundamentals of Christmas. In the old days, we read about children getting handmade items in their stocking. It was a much simpler time. Granted that was also the time when you worked from sun up to sun down, and school was optional! Each year you think it couldn't get any worse in the outside world, we see evidence that we are sadly mistaken. And if the holidays and crime rate isn't enough, we have our daily struggles that we as Spoonies deal with. Learning that the latest thing in fluid replacement for joints is still in its exploratory stages and may not be covered by insurance just yet...but that's where you're headed. Or learning that you either have to wear support hose 24/7, or have surgery on your veins. It sounds like the prognosis of an elderly woman, but the harsh reality is that I'm not. I'm not even in the 40-50 bracket. I say all of this to paint a bigger picture which is this:  "my story is more than pain". But this Christmas, circumstances have brought me back to the basics. Know your limits. Be ok with your choices. And always smile!