What it feels like to be Linda

Linda reminded me recently of a story that an old friend once told us. Our friend had been traveling overseas. On her trip she had enjoyed some hot baths. She described the water as deep enough to stand in, and so hot you could hardly bear to get in.

Of course over time, you adjust to the heat. Our friend said that the other people left the bath, but it was so relaxing that she stayed longer. By the time she decided to get out, she had waited too long. The water was so hot she had no strength left. She was alone, and scared, not sure that she could get out.

Obviously she lived to tell us about it. She dragged herself clumsily out of the pool, crawling away from the heat until she could recover.

Linda says that is a pretty good description of how she feels. It doesn't get at the whole thing (like tone), but it captures a real element of her experience. It's why when she crawls to the TV to put on a movie, sometimes she tips on her face; getting overbalanced and not having the strength or the quickness to right herself. Her body is slower and weaker than it should be.