The Importance of Good Training

 Like everyone, I have experienced some extreme challenges in life. While growing up, the one constant in my life was that I always had excellent teachers. Fate put me in the best of hands when it came to my training. For this, I am grateful. In dance, there is nothing more important than good training.

When I was nine, I started taking gymnastics from a woman named Margaret Morrison. I tried out for her competition team and made it, which totally shocked me. I was in awe of the girls on that gymnastic team. They were extremely talented. One of the girls, Julianne MacNamara, went to the Olympics and won the silver medal! It was so exciting to watch her train as a young girl. Being around her electric energy really excited me. You could just see that she had a magnificent future. She was so focused and serious. Our workouts were long and intense. It was great exercise, and it formed our muscles beautifully. We were so strong and fit!

When I realized that I wasn't going to make it as a gymnast, I shifted my focus to dance. I was told that I needed to take ballet. I wasn't very enthusiastic about it, because I had found ballet slow and boring as a young child. But, this time, I started to really get into it, and I found that I loved the music and  the class structure. I particularly appreciated the way that it  made my body and spirit feel. My physique started to mold into the shape of a ballerina. It was exciting and rewarding. I took classes daily at a small Cecchetti school called Kirkpatricks Dance School. I had been tap dancing there since age nine. I gave up gymnastics and put my entire focus on training to be a professional dancer.

We had wonderful guest teachers from San Francisco Ballet, and I found it exhilarating to study with them. They were professional dancers, and I was in awe of their expertise and talent. They all had impeccable training, and they passed it on to us. We worked slowly and methodically, and we had to pass a difficult exam at the end of each year in order to be moved up into the next level. Not everyone passed. The examiners were strict and intimidating. It was exciting to achieve your certificate, though. We worked so
hard all year on the syllabus.

As I got older, I continued to seek out the best teachers and invested a huge amount of money into my training. I took voice lessons, ballet, pointe, variations, tap, jazz, flamenco, Argentine tango, and yoga. It really helped me to land auditions. Often I was in the middle of a sea of other women who wanted the same job. My goal was to be a clean, well proportioned dancer, with perfect line. I also really focused  on musicality and exactness. I tried to match the choreographer's body positions perfectly. This strategy seemed to work for me, and I went from show to show.  I continued to train with master teachers the entire time, in order to build my base of knowledge. One thing I love about the arts is that you never stop learning.    

Making Your Own Body Butter

I have always loved the luxurious qualities of body butter. I used to buy it in a small tin for a reduced price at T.J. Maxx. I loved the smell of it, and the way it felt on my skin. I could never really justify the price, though. I went through it so quickly, and even on sale, it was very expensive. I settled for buying it once a year as a Christmas treat.


Now that I'm a soap maker, I have all the ingredients on hand. It's very inexpensive to make when you do it yourself, especially if you buy your ingredients in bulk. The recipe is flexible. I have made it with all shea butter, and also used half shea and half cocoa butter. You can also use mango butter. When I use all shea, I scent it with the same fragrance oils that I use in my soaps. I love the fruity scents. Those are the ones I always bought at T.J. Maxx.

When I use cocoa butter, I don't add any fragrance. The scent of the cocoa butter is intoxicating! It is just divine. I love it. It reminds me of Belgian chocolate. It also makes an excellent night cream for the face. It does such a nice job of conditioning the skin and  feels like such a treat. Here is the recipe:

1/2 cup olive oil
1/2 cup coconut oil
1/2 cup shea butter
1/2 cup cocoa butter

Melt the oils together on low heat. Transfer into a ceramic bowl, and place it in the freezer. Keep an eye on it, and when the edges start to solidify, mix it on high with an electric mixer, Whip the butter into peaks, and then transfer into a container with a lid. I store mine in the refrigerator.

This makes a decadent moisturizer to use after a shower. I love using it after bathing with a scented bar of hand made soap. Its the perfect skin softener.  It really makes the muscles and the skin shine.   

Staying Within Your Budget

Although many people don't like budgets, I find them to be helpful guides. I like to see exactly where my money is going. Scaling back when needed gives me a feeling of responsibility and self control. This month I was hoping to go see the touring company of Jersey Boys one last time, but I decided not to go. It was not in the budget. I'm so glad that I took the opportunity to see the show when I had the money and the travel time. I really fell in love with it. It is one of the most exciting and brilliant productions that I have ever seen. I cherish the memories I have of auditioning for the creative team when they came into town.

When I am feeling like I have to make cuts in my spending, I usually do a few things. The first one is to reduce my driving. I take advantage of taking the bus, combine errands into one trip, and also make use of my bicycle. Rather than driving to a hiking trail to hike my dogs, we just walk through the neighborhood. This really helps  save on gasoline. For exercise, I  do pilates and yoga in my living room. I enjoy going to the gym, but I am just as happy exercising at home. I also get a great workout trimming my trees, working in the garden, and cleaning the cottage.

Rather than buying more yarn, I knit projects from my stash. Right now I'm working on a sweet and simple shawlette. I'm using some lovely yarn that a lady in a local knitting group gave to me. She bought it to make socks, and decided that she wasn't going to use it. It's very nice quality. It's a mixture of cashmere and merino wool. I just love it. She also gave me some linen yarn that she's had in a drawer for years. I knit up some lace washcloths with it, and I just love them. They make really nice gifts with a bar of handmade soap. There's nothing like 100% linen, and it's expensive! She gave me a few skeins, and I am so excited to work with the rest of it.

I also try to cook from the cupboard to lower my grocery bill. Tonight I'm going to make a tuna and noodles casserole using a recipe that my mom used to make us when I was a child. It's very economical, and it tastes delicious. I don't have to buy any of the ingredients; they are all in my stockpile. This will give me lunch and dinner for the next few days. It's a good feeling to have meals prepared and ready to eat. All I have to do is make a white sauce, boil the noodles, add a can of tuna, season with white pepper, and combine.

The photos here are all of projects that I made with yarn that was given to me from the lady in my local knitting group. I gave the socks as a get well gift to my vocal coach, and the washcloths have been selling well in my Etsy shop. The shawlette will be nice to wear with jeans. It feels so good to use other people's leftovers.Quality yarn is such a gift. I am really pleased with how nicely the yarn knit up; it's very soft.

         

Easy Crochet Vintage Pot Holder Pattern

This is a pattern for pot holders that my neighbor taught me. It is a great project for the beginning crocheter. I have been giving these as gifts for many years, and they are always well received. They have a double thickness, and can be made with one color or several, it's up to you. They are a fun and quick project for using up leftover kitchen cotton yarn.

Materials
2 skeins of worsted weight cotton yarn (2.5 oz./70.9 g each)
1 G or H crochet hook
1 tapestry needle

ch: chain
sc: single crochet (American) 

Leaving a long tail, (about the length of your arm,) loosely chain 60. You can also use a  larger hook for the chains, and then switch back to the G or H hook. This works well for people who are new to crocheting if they crochet tightly. Join in the round in the back of the first ch with a sc. Continue to sc in each ch in the round so that you are making a tube. The connection will look slightly off. It will be fine later when you whip stitch the pot holder together.

Fold the pot holder so that the tail is at the edge of the diagonal. You can check it this way a few times. Once your ends meet together nicely, break the yarn and leave a long tail. Whip stitch the diagonal seams on each side. Weave in the ends. Block and dry flat. 

I love this pattern because it's repetitive and simple. I like it for knitting groups, traveling, or when waiting my turn at appointments. Please let me know if you try it. I would love to see a photo of your project!

Using Decorative Molds For Soap Making

When I first looked into soap making, I was very drawn to the soaps that were shaped like hearts and flowers. I especially liked the ones that looked like  roses. They were so feminine. I loved the look of molded soaps. There was something about them that I found so beautiful and artistic.

A friend of mine offered to give me her soap molds. She told me that she no longer used them. "Are you sure?" I asked. I was excited at her generosity.  I had slowly accumulated all of the other items that I would need: two large bowls, two spatulas, a candy thermometer, a  kitchen scale, and a stick blender. At first it seemed like a huge investment of money. I was afraid that I that would buy all of these supplies and then only use them once or twice. I had purchased what I needed slowly, over time. My Salvation Army had many of the items at a great price. The oils and lye I had already bought in a soap making  kit to get me started.

My friend assured me that she didn't need the molds. She said that she was just as happy using her recycled margarine containers. She added that her husband didn't use her soap, anyway, that he preferred to use Irish Spring. I couldn't believe it. My family washed with Dial soap and Irish Spring growing up, but I far prefer the homemade soaps. She was making the melt and pour variety, and adding color and scent. It has a different feel than cold processed soap. Maybe her husband just liked the green color and scent of Irish Spring. I wasn't sure. I thanked her and took the molds home. I was ecstatic at my good fortune. I had tried to find soap molds at our local craft store, but they didn't carry them. Now I finally had everything that I needed to get started!


For my first attempt, I made a batch of a simple olive and coconut  oil recipe. I filled the plastic molds with the batter, and let them sit on my kitchen table for a couple of nights, covered. After that, I put them in the freezer before I went to bed, so that they would harden. The next morning, after having a cup of hot coffee and writing in my journal, I unmolded them. Voila! They were so pretty. I was thrilled with the results. I placed them on my soap racks to cure for eight weeks. Once they were ready to use, I proudly brought my knitting friend a couple of bars as a thank you.

I have made soaps in a loaf pan and cut them, too. That's what most soap makers who sell their soaps do. I always go back to using the soap mold trays, though. I just love them. They make the soaps look like small sculptures. I love the way they look when they are sitting in the soap dish. They are so decorative. How about you? What is your method?

A Day Trip To The Mountains

There's something about the feeling  of being in the mountains that has always uplifted me. The pine trees, fresh air, and blue skies all make me feel happy and hopeful. Today I took my German Shepherd for a gorgeous drive and hike up in Frasier Park. The views were incredible. I had a light backpack and brought along a cheese sandwich, plenty of water, and my camera. We drove up to Frasier Mountain, and parked at the trailhead. I was glad that I had my Adventure Pass, and hung it on the rearview mirror of my car.

Years ago, when  I worked at the  MGM Grand Hotel in Reno, Nevada, I fell in love with the setting. Reno is a small city surrounded by mountains. After I got hired in Las Vegas at the audition, I packed up my convertible bug to start my first professional show as a dancer. I was so excited. I drove through the Sierra Nevadas from San Francisco. It was about a four and a half hour trip. The scenery was some of the most beautiful I had ever seen. Once I was in the show, my friends and I  used to head up to Lake Tahoe on our night off now and then, for dinner and to see a show. It was such a spectacular location. I'll never forget it. Many of the dancers that I worked with at MGM  Reno, Nevada also used to ski at Tahoe regularly. They would rave about the wonderful time that they had, rising early in the morning to make the trip. After skiing all day, they would drive down the mountain, which took two and a half hours,  all the way home. They were back to the Ziegfeld Theater in time to dance through two shows, one at 8:00 p.m. and with a second  show at midnight.  We were all young, excited to be working as professional dancers, and we had the energy. It was a dream job. Years later I got to perform in the show Sugar Babies at Harrah's in Lake Tahoe. That was unforgettable. Juliet Prowse and Rip Taylor were the stars. I rented a gorgeous house on the lake, with a stunning view. It was so peaceful and relaxed. I can't think of a more heavenly place.

These days I take day trips up to the mountains near my home. After our hike this morning, we drove through a quaint little neighborhood with small houses up on the hills. There is something so charming about homes in the mountains. I love the steep hills, and the rockiness of the streets. The poppies were in bloom, and they looked so cheerful.  You can just feel the energy. It reminds me of the movie Heidi, which I always loved as a child.

Some people dream of living by the ocean. For me, my first choice is being in the mountains. They just exude something special and healing. How about you?           

The Joy of Soap Making

Several years ago, I ordered a book on soap making. I was eager to get started and try it. As I read through the recipes and stories, I began feeling a little nervous. There were so many warnings about the lye. Also, none of the recipes had measurements in cups; everything was in ounces or grams. You needed to buy a kitchen scale and weigh the ingredients. That put me off, too. I wasn't sure how to use a digital scale, and I was afraid I wouldn't understand it. Did you weigh the measuring cup first, and then add the liquid? It all seemed very intimidating. I put the book away for years. A couple years later I picked it up again  and spent hours and hours  researching soap making on line.

In the meantime, I had decided to try making melt and pour soap. That sounded simple, and very safe. I had ordered a soap making starter kit from Brambleberry, so I already had some soap molds and fragrance oils. I had purchased their starter pack on line. It had several different types of melt and pour soap: goat's milk, shea butter, glycerine, aloe vera, and a clear variety. It was really easy and fun. Maybe too easy. All you did was cut up the block of soap mixture into cubes, melt it over low heat on the stove, and then add the fragrance. I poured it into the molds, feeling happy to finally be using them. The soap was hard and ready to use within an hour or two.

I was excited about these soaps, but they weren't exactly what I wanted. I had been ordering some wonderful cold processed soaps on line from a farm in Indiana. These were really lovely soaps. They just felt divine. I wanted to work up the courage to make my own at home, but I was afraid. Having to wear goggles, gloves, long sleeves, and shoes intimidated me. I couldn't even see well enough to read the recipe through the goggles. The printing  was all blurry. That seemed even more dangerous. All of the books said that you needed to have lots of ventilation and that no pets should be around the soap making area. I'd think about it and then start procrastinating again. I invented all sorts of excuses.

A couple years later I still had my soap making kit sitting in the kitchen cupboard. When we would talk on the phone my mother would ask me, "Why don't you make soap?" I'd explain to her how complicated it all sounded, and that I was afraid of burning myself with the lye. It was easier for me to just order it on line from the lady with the goat farm in Indiana. I did that for a couple of years, rationalizing that I was supporting her business, and that I was busy teaching my ballet and yoga classes,  anyway.

Finally, I got up the nerve and made my own soap at home. It was the most exciting experience! It was much easier than I had expected. It felt so good to use all of the oils that I had ordered, instead of feeling guilty for letting them sit in the cupboard. I did some research on line, and found some great support from women on soap making and simple living forums.

I was so happy with the result that I became a soap maker and opened an Etsy shop. The lather, the smell, and the texture of hand made soap just thrilled me. It was such a luxury, and now I had nice gifts that I could give to people. When I was a dance teacher I had always stressed out about buying Christmas presents. I didn't really have the money for extras. With soap, I can make it months in advance, and it's always well received. Everybody uses it. Even now, I still look forward to my daily bath or shower so that I can enjoy a bar of goat's milk, shea butter, or olive oil  homemade soap. It's like a decadent dessert.

How about you? Do you make soap? 

        

The Energizing Effect of Hiking

Now that I have had my hips replaced, I am thrilled that I can enjoy hiking again. It's so nice to be pain free and to have a healthy gait. These are all things that I used to take for granted, but not anymore. Before my surgery I had an embarrassing limp that I couldn't correct. I had this strange, jerky,  hoppity skippity movement with each step. I avoided walking in front of people, because I didn't want them to see me. My surgeon told me that after the surgery I wouldn't be bent forward when I was walked anymore. He was right. Now people tell me that they can't even tell that I've had both hips replaced. That's music to my ears. 

I live in an area that is close to some wonderful hiking trails. A few times a week I take one of my dogs in the car, and we get out in nature on a hike. The other dog stays home as a watchdog. They seem to understand that they have to take turns. There are so many beautiful canyons and mountains nearby. I love to explore them.

I've always felt a strong connection to nature. When I was a little girls, I used to go to Vacation Bible School each day with my best friend during the summer. We would meet in the church parking lot, and drive out to a state park in Northern California. The camp counselors would lead us on a hike down the trail to a wooded campground. We would spend the day there, enjoying a packed lunch, reading, singing, and absorbing the essence of nature. It was so good for us kids. It felt so healthy and grounding. In that area, the redwood trees were just gorgeous. The power was so strong. We all came home feeling centered, happy, and tired. It was so healthy.

I notice hiking has the same effect on my dogs. They respond so well to the time in nature. Something about the trees, the earth, the streams, and the quiet makes them seem more relaxed and  peaceful. I generally just hike them for an hour or ninety minutes. Since we are all getting older, I don't push our bodies as hard as I did when I was young. I try to find a balance so that we are staying strong. This way I still have the energy to do the work that needs doing once I'm home. 

How about you? Do you enjoy hiking?

Using Public Transportation and a Bicycle

I live in an area that has excellent public transportation. My cottage is a few blocks from the bus stop, and the buses run hourly. It's very convenient to hop on my bicycle, put the bike on the front bike rack of the bus, and take the bus in to town to run errands. Everything I need is just a few miles away. It's so convenient. I would probably ride my bicycle to the library, post office, and shops, but the highway I would have to take is too busy. It feels dangerous for pedestrians and bicyclists to me. The speed limit is 50 mph. So, I take the bus about five miles, and then use the bike paths to explore. We have over three hundred miles of bike paths where I live. Many of them are completely car free. They are limited to cyclists and pedestrians. It's nice to meander through the back areas that you don't see while driving. It's quiet and peaceful.

Yesterday I rode to Sprouts to pick up some fresh fruit. I stopped at the library to return my books on the way home. I use a backpack or bike trailer to carry what I buy. That leaves my hands free to steer, and makes it easier to balance. A lot of people smile at me from their cars as I ride by them. I must look kind of comical to them. I glide by on my one speed  beach cruiser wearing a bike helmet, a flowing sun dress, and sandals. The kids really seem to like it. Their faces always light up when I see them. I'm the same age as their grandmas.  It's ideal weather right now for riding. Not to hot, but still sunny and breezy.

Our train station is also just a few miles from my home. When I travel by Amtrak to visit family, I take the local bus stop a few miles, and then transfer to the Metro North. That takes me to Union Station, where I can travel by train to just about anywhere. For me, train travel is the ultimate luxury. The scenery, meals, sleeper cars, and slow pace all appeal to me. Trains  are an ideal place to knit, read, or write. Ours offer $10.00 day passes on the weekends.  It's fascinating to gaze into people's backyards as the train rolls by each of the neighborhoods. I just love it.    

Two Salads A Day

When I was a little girl, my mother made a salad every night for dinner. We usually had it with meat and potatoes. Sometimes she'd make a casserole with artichokes or asparagus. She was an excellent cook. In those days, our salad consisted of iceberg lettuce, sliced tomatoes, chopped green onions, and cut up avocado. We used to buy Good Season Italian dressing spice packets at Safeway. I would cut open the envelope of herbs, and  mix it with red wine vinegar and salad oil. We had a special carafe that had the measurement lines written on the glass. It was easy, (even for a little girl) to follow the directions. I loved it. My mom always had me help her in the kitchen. I learned to cook by working alongside her and watching what she did.

Everyone in our family would have a small plate of salad, and then I would usually eat what was left. That meant I had two or three helpings, every night. I just loved the freshness of it. I could feel how healthy it was to eat raw vegetables. I liked the way it tasted once it had been sitting on the table for a while. It seemed like the lettuce would absorb the flavors of the oil, vinegar, and spices.

Now that I have my own home, I still make daily salads. I've changed the ingredients a bit. Tonight I made a spinach salad with fresh spinach, grated carrots, chopped orange bell pepper, sliced avocado, chopped green onions,  cut up radishes, fresh cilantro leaves, cubed tomatoes, fresh pressed garlic, and grated cheddar cheese.

I made the dressing fresh, over the bowl. I measured some olive oil into the wooden spoon, and tossed the leaves with freshly pressed garlic until they were coated. I stirred in some sea salt and balsamic vinegar into the spoon, and drizzled that over the top. I sprinkled oregano, tarragon, basil, and dill over the top of the leaves. Freshly ground pepper tastes delicious as a seasoning, too.

Now that I'm older, I make an effort to eat two salads a day. I usually have one in the afternoon, with my lunch. Most of the time I eat leftovers from dinner  for lunch. Today it was tuna casserole. Dinner will be a second salad, which was already made this afternoon. I prefer to eat lightly at night. Since I make one large bowl, I don't have to worry about making a second salad at dinner time.  Sometimes I will have a baked potato or homemade bread with my meal. Tonight I had some homemade pizza dough that I baked in the toaster oven with melted butter and fresh garlic. It made a nice, chewy flat bread. It only took a few minutes to prepare, and it cost next to nothing. Delicious! It would also be good with grated fresh parmesan cheese.    

The Backyard Orchard

When I was a child, we used to visit a beautiful old ranch. It was owned collectively by several members of my dad's side of the family. There were acres and acres of apricot, pear, and walnut trees. That was my first experience ever seeing fruit on a tree. I didn't realize that was how it grew. I found the concept absolutely fascinating. I decided then and there that when I grew up, I would have my own house and that I would plant my own fruit trees. I visualized in my mind how it would feel to pick fresh fruit off of trees right on the property. To me it was a huge dream. Most of the people where I grew up had expansive lawns in their backyards. That's what we had, that, and a jungle gym. We could play on the bars and practice cartwheels. It looked nothing like an orchard.

When I first moved into my cottage, I began planting fruit trees in the backyard. The soil was fine, like sand. It was almost white, and it needed a lot of help. I started a compost pile, and began collecting leaves, manure, and large, heavy bags of used coffee grounds from Starbucks. I would rake up leaves for my neighbors in exchange for taking them home. I piled everything together. One woman let me take as much horse and goat manure as I wanted. I knew that manure was gold for composting! I gave her some of my homemade soap as a thank you. I added all of my fruit and vegetable scraps to the pile. (I eat a lot of fruits and vegetables, so I had a nice mixture of trimmings.)  I placed the finished compost in the planting holes, and mulched the entire backyard with straw.

I planted several different fruit trees. Because I live in an area that has very hot summers, not every tree survived. The citrus trees and pomegranate bush have been the healthiest. They have made it through a severe drought, and have been very consistent in bearing fruit. It's a pleasure for me to have freshly squeezed orange juice on a regular basis. An orange off of the tree tastes entirely different than one that's bought at the grocery store. The flavor is so fresh and delicious. Citrus fruits also make wonderful cakes and icings.

One of my favorite trees is the Hachiya persimmon tree. It's been very productive. This year I am a little worried about it, but for the past several seasons it has provided me with an abundance of fruit. Persimmon pulp freezes well, and it makes delicious breads and cookies. I enjoy eating them fresh, too, right off of the tree. They are very sweet and exotic tasting.

Growing fruit has been one of the most rewarding things I have experienced as a home owner. I have spent a lot of money on fruit, especially during the summertime. It's so refreshing and satisfying. Growing my own saves me money. It's also nice to have to give to neighbors and friends. Many people really appreciate home grown produce. It doesn't have any sprays, waxes, or bruises. Do you grow any fruits where you live? 

Planting a Front Garden

When I first moved into this cottage, it was as a renter. The house had been vacant for two years, and the yard was overgrown with brown weeds and Bermuda grass. "I don't have a gardener," the owner explained to me. It was going to be up to me to clean up and create something with this yard. I was teaching fifteen classes a week at the time, and driving all over creation to get to the different dance studios where I worked.

I read about lasagna gardening on the Soil, Compost, and Mulch Forum at Gardenweb. The soil in my front yard turned out to be clay. I knew that plants wouldn't grow here unless I amended it. I put layers of manure, straw, and Starbucks coffee grounds. I spread it all on top of the dead Bermuda grass. The technique worked, and when I dug into the mulch in the spring, I had nice, rich, dark soil. I was in business!

The first thing I did was to divide all of the irises. There were dozens of purple ones, and they looked gorgeous in bloom. There were also some daffodils planted in clumps, which I really liked. I added a couple hanging baskets of geraniums on the porch, and put some annuals in the window boxes. All of a sudden I had color, beauty, and variety. I planted a couple of conifers, and had them flank the front door. I thought they would make nice live Christmas trees at holiday time. It has worked out really well. They are so festive when decorated with colored lights. I love the look. It's simple and bright.

Hollyhocks have always been one my favorite old fashioned flowers. There were already lots of them growing wild all over the backyard when I moved here. I saved the seeds and planted some in the front, too. Sunflowers were another one that I was able to grow from seed, as well as four o'clocks.

I had some California poppies spring up in front of the mailbox. They looked so cheerful that I saved the seeds. Each year I sprinkle them in the same area. It's always fun to see them come back, year after year. Several people have commented on them. They are so easy to grow. Some neighbors gave me cuttings of dusty miller, red geraniums, and a starter aloe vera plant. Once people see that you are an avid gardener, they are often eager to share their plants with you.   

I now own this little cottage, and the front garden is one of my favorite aspects of it. It's like an outdoor room. I spend so much time on the old fashioned porch:

knitting, reading, writing, and communing with nature. The garden has made it a real special place. It just vibrates with health and beauty.

Getting Up the Courage to See the Doctor or Dentist

Until recently, I was a terrible procrastinator when it came to making doctors' appointments. I would wait and see, hoping that I could cure whatever was wrong with me through diet, yoga, or rest. Sometimes it worked, sometimes it didn't. I was big into the self healing movement.

 As children, my mother used to take us to the doctor as soon as we had any symptoms or pain. "Why do we always have to run to the doctor?" my father would ask. "Just wait a few days," was his advice. That approach always made sense to me. I thought it was kind of funny the way  he called it "running to the doctor." He felt the same way about taking the dog to the vet. Quite often, our dog would get better on his own. Sometimes it seemed like he would limp on purpose, for attention. It was like a trick. We would all make a big deal over him and he liked the sympathy. I saw the parallel with people.

I always  liked the folk remedies. I still do. Gargling with warm salt water for a sore throat is one of my favorites. I am amazed at the power of salt. Rinsing with heated salt water after having dental work  gives such immediate relief. You feel an instant sensation of healing in the gums. No wonder salt was so valuable in ancient times.

At some point in my life I really took the do it yourself method  too far. One example was not seeing a dentist out of fear. I had experienced a lot of trauma in the dentist's chair as a child. As an adult, I became very avoidant.  It backfired. By the time I would finally visit  the dentist, I  needed a root canal or a crown. It was always expensive, especially for a dance teacher. Since several years had passed,  it usually  involved weeks of appointments to fix numerous cavities. It was also embarrassing. Once I discovered a preventive program by Dr. Ellie, I began to enjoy going to the dentist. Her system of using zylitol and mouth rinses completely changed my life. Now I rarely get cavities and I go to the dentist at least once a year. It's such a relief to be out of that cycle of fear and dread.

As I've gotten older, I've made a conscious choice to take the reins. I address health problems while they are a whisper, instead of waiting until my body is screaming at me for relief.  By the time I saw a doctor about my hips, they were bone on bone and had reached the stage of deformity. In retrospect, I see how sad it was that I waited until my joints were so painful and damaged. Now that I have new, pain free hips, I really want to take care of them. I never knew it was possible for my hips to feel so good. It's just incredible.

The other day I had an earache. I am normally perfectly healthy. I have always been very fortunate that way. I rarely, if ever, "catch" colds or the flu. I waited a few days, but it didn't improve, (in spite of my salt water gargling and eating fresh garlic.) I went to see the doctor. He diagnosed it as swimmer's ear. He prescribed ear drops and antibiotics. Since artificial joints can't fight infection, I have a lot at risk. I am very protective of these hips, and they've made me more responsible.   

The doctor asked me if I had been swimming. I had been working out and doing hydrotherapy at my local gym. I probably contacted it in the jacuzzi. It's ironic, because I've always loved water therapy. I guess being in other people's water is not the greatest idea. You never know what kind of bacteria is lurking in the pool or the hot tub. One can only imagine...

A simple thing that  I've learned as I've gotten older is that it's better to find out what's wrong right away  than to wait. I used to pretend that the symptoms I had weren't there. I tried to heal osteoarthritis with exercise. I was in denial. We are fortunate to live in an age where we have so many solutions and medical advancements. Although I try to cure most things with diet, garlic, and herbs, sometimes a professional is really what's needed.       

Changing How You Work Out As You Get Older

Recently while practicing the standing poses from the Bikram Yoga series, I noticed that I was having a strange sensation in the backs of my thighs and buttocks after releasing from the poses. At first it just felt uncomfortable, and it would disappear quickly. I had never been aware of those muscles before, though. I wondered if it had to do with the titanium stem in my femur bones. I asked another professional dancer who also has had both of her hips replaced. I wondered  if she had ever felt that feeling. She told me that she did a lot of work to rebuild the muscles in the backs of her thighs and her buttocks after both of her surgeries. That is exactly where I felt it. Another dancer chimed in, telling me that he had done extensive physical therapy after having a surgery for a labral tear. As dancers, we are trained to do exercises or stretches to heal our discomfort.

I went over mentally when it felt this way. It was when I was bent over, digging fruit and vegetable scraps into my compost pile. I analyzed the position. Something about bending down and bending over at the same time caused intense discomfort in the backs of the thighs. I would reach back and put my hands on them. It was always when I stood up after forward bending poses in yoga, too. After reading about a man on the hip replacement forum who had the same issue, I decided to stop doing the movements that aggravated it. It seems obvious, but as dancers, many of us just continue to exercise through pain. And now, when I did those same yoga poses, the reaction was more severe, it hurt. It felt like a warning.

I did some of my own research on the Internet. One man said that's what had happened before he had dislocated his hip after total hip replacement surgery. "Oh my God," I thought. There's no point in even risking that. I had heard the horror stories. I went back to doing simpler yoga, basic Pilates, bike rides, and walks. I'd had an excellent recovery, and I didn't want to do anything now that would cause problems down the road. It has been almost two years since the surgery, and I can't put a price on being free from pain.

I started to think back to what I had been doing in the past month. I'd been adding things in ballet class that I probably shouldn't have: pique turns, pirouettes, balances in the center on releve on one leg, etc. I started to think about the construction of what was now inside my leg and hip joint. It's probably better to be conservative than to take chances, I thought. The music, the choreography, and the endorphins had been influencing me. I wanted to do more, but I really should be doing less.

I did some more on line research, and found that when people need revisions for implant failure, that is one of the signs. It usually happen with people who are young, very active, and who have uncemented stems.I fit the profile.  That was enough to scare the daylights out of me. Fortunately, I had caught what triggered it early, and could make changes. In the old days they wouldn't give a hip replacement to a patient until they were in their seventies. People had to wait, regardless of how much pain they were experiencing.

I decided to be grateful for all the things I can now do and enjoy them. Right after the surgery, I had confided to a friend of mine, "I'm really glad I had the operation, but I don't want to do it again." She was a principal dancer in a major ballet company. She agreed with me, and urged me to do things that were gentle. At the time I told her that I couldn't believe how many people went back to ballet class after having hips replaced. I thought they were crazy. Now I get it. It's such a part of your identity, and it feels good to look and feel in shape. But, at what cost? I realized. It was time to scale back, plan for the future, and to make wise choices.   


I decided to think long term. Where do I want to be in thirty years?  I could take advantage of the time I had now to read, write, hike in nature, run my soap making business, and take care of my home. I want these hips to last as long as possible. It's up to me to take care of them and not overdo.