Home.

Good golly, I hope this is the last of the “Oh $h!t, Bruce is in the hospital again?!?!?” posts for a long while.

For those keeping score at home, I, too, am home from my most recent bout with pancreatitis and subsequent gallbladder removal. After a progressively good day on Wednesday, with positive test results, lessening pain, and being able to tolerate food, I was discharged to continue my recovery at home.

Groove Break: Before you get too far ahead of yourself, this post begs me to share two of my favorite jams playing in my head whenever I return home. First up, Luther Vandross's live version of A House is Not Home. Please do listen to this one; it’ll change your life. Masterful. You can prob guess the #2.

Okay, welcome back. Take a breath. And you’re welcome.

Back for a full day now, we are keeping a keen eye on that pesky pancreas of mine. Like previous episodes, we are unsure what caused it, but we are fairly confident that high triglycerides are the culprit. There will be some medication adjustments and conservative eating, but for the next few days and weeks, it will be about gallbladder removal recovery — you know, just regular medical emergency things :-)

Recovery comes in stages, as there are very few restrictions other than diet, rest, and not lifting anything heavy.

Glances at a confused “puppy” who must get herself on the couch like a big girl.

While I am not as busy as people like to think I am (Remember, I am a full-time writer with an overactive social media brain), I do want to stay busy. Alas, for these first two days, I am committing to doing nothing but sitting on the couch, eating again, watching TV, napping often, avoiding coughing/laughing, and snuggling the pups. This includes walking around the house with blinders avoiding eye contact with the piles of clothes and stacks of all the things from the frantically aborted camping trip. I am also not checking email or checking things off my Todoist until Monday.

As an Ennegram 3/4, I pause here for applause, recognition, and accolades.

Groove Break: I’ll take my applause from Rihanna!

Sorry for the earworm. Oh no who am kidding, so I’m not.

Okay, to close this out, let me give a few brief observations and reflections from my many, many, many hours of bed rest:

• As said in my first post, I live in extreme privilege when it comes to healthcare, flexibility to recover, and the resources to not have this emergent impact on my life in any significant way. We need universal healthcare. When will our country get this? Gotta keep demanding it! #HealthcareForAll
• As some of you know, for the past few years, since my COVID hospitalization and in response to other health alerts, I've changed my diet and have been all in with OrangeTheory Fitness. I’ve lost about 20 pounds, put on some muscle, and never felt in better shape. Like my vaccines when I had COVID prevented me from dying, I think my recent fitness and food changes are allowing me to recover more quickly. Big shout out to Louis and the San Jose Rose Garden OTF Studio!
• While Social media can be a septic take filled with vitriol and violence, it can also be a place, when nurtured well, where people connect, comfort, and care for one another. I take great pride in the work that it has taken to make many meaningful social platform connections with people over the years, far outnumbering the negative trolling and personal attacks. Thanks to everyone who sent healing prayers, positive thoughts, and good vibes my way through the socials; received and appreciated!
• Last one: Nurses rock! Yes, of course, doctors are important, but the nurses and the other staff and assistants who keep things running are amazing and worth every cent that their unions fight to get them. While I will not miss getting poked and prodded every four hours, I will miss your compassionate spirits and professional care. Thank you!

Okay, I’m headed back to the couch to continue binging House of the Dragon and round 46 of puppy cuddling. It’s so good, the show and the cuddling.

Thanks again, everyone. I’ll be back soon. Remember, many hours of bed rest.

Have a meaningful and beautiful weekend.

Final Groove Break: Let's close this thing out with the best “Home” song ever (fight me), from Stephanie Mills and the Wiz.