Thursday, I was pleasantly surprised around 5 PM by a call from the VA clerk with whom I had talked on Tuesday. He apologized for not calling on Wednesday afternoon, because he had not been around a phone at the time. He informed me that the lifting of the suspension of my pension payments was awaiting approval by the appropriate authority. This was the same information that the county veterans service officer had found out for me earlier that day. However, it was most refreshing to have someone in the bureaucracy who actually did what they said they would do and even demonstrated compassion!
I am also most grateful that it still seems that Dr. P. K's “spot welding” is holding. There has only been slight leakage, but no more of the significant bleeding that I had been experiencing. The discomfort and bowel urgency is an expected consequence of the work that was done, but it should diminish as the sites heal. At least it is no worse than a really bad case of inflamed hemorrhoids although it doesn't respond to hemorrhoid medications. A high fiber diet and psyllium fiber laxatives seem to be of the greatest benefit right now. Also, following the advice of an herbalist, I am adding fenugreek sprouts to my diet for their beneficial effects on the digestive system, hoping that they may aid with the healing needed.
Unfortunately, with everything going on, I have fallen behind in my school work, but I think that I should be able to get caught up easily now that I can expect my recovery to resume. At least, without any money I don't have that many distracting activities on my social calendar ;-)
In my present financial circumstance I have to accept the food I have available and ignore most of my food preferences. The only option that I continue to consistently exercise is that I still maintain my commitment to being vegetarian, because it is not just a food preference, but rather the application of my samaya to not kill any sentient being. However, with regard to attachment to food and attachment to certain tastes and aversion to others, I am a long way from the ideal set forth in the food offering prayer, “By seeing the food as medicine, I will partake of it without attachment or aversion. It shall not serve to increase my pride, arrogance or strength, but will only maintain my body.” Nevertheless, I am getting an opportunity to work on it right now.
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