This is wonderful. I’m not sure there’s much more to say.

For about 10 months, I’ve had a back injury. At first, I thought it was a muscle strain from being a summer camp counselor. Then a month or two later, I learned that it was a bulging disc. Lot’s of chiropractic/physical therapy/psychological theorizing and many months later, and I felt better and was actually able to play soccer a couple times. Two weeks later, it got a whole lot worse and I could barely sit without intense pain for the rest of the semester. Then sometime during a two and a half week roller-coaster of epidural/cortisone shots and staff training, I managed to herniate the disc. This left me nearly unable to walk without heavy narcotic painkillers, and even then I could barely stand for five minutes without intense pain.

Thus, here I am, at my Aunt and Uncle’s house in Rochester, MN, in the shadow of the acclaimed Mayo Clinic on Surgery-Day-Eve. I just had one of two pre-surgery-cleansing-with-special-super-soap-showers and I was thinking of going to bed so I could be well rested for tomorrow. But then I had a thought: Why do I need to be well rested? I’ll be knocked out on happy gas for a few hours.

So, here I am, not tired, slightly apprehensive at the thought of my spinal chords being exposed, and prohibited from filling my growling stomach. I guess all that’s left to do is wait, pray, kill some time, and brush my teeth.

Wish me luck, on both the surgery and the brushing of teeth.

For the past 10 months, I’ve been been dealing with a bulging disc, the lowest on the spine. I’ve been unable to sit without a variable amount of pain, jog more than half a block, or do pretty much anything physically worthwhile minus a few rare occasions.

A few weeks ago, I herniated that disc making it almost impossible to walk without lots of pain, except for a week after a second epidural shot. Now I’m at home, laying down on a bed all day waiting for a couple doctors decide what surgery I need in order to function normally again.

I tend to be a pretty low maintenance person. I like to be able to do most things on my own without inconveniencing others. Not that I’m a recluse or that I avoid interdependence, I’m just used to being able to help people rather than everyone else helping me in my helpless state. It’s humbling. Maybe I need this to remind me that I am at the mercy of a loving God who has given me the gift of loving and supportive family and friends.

I’ve been occupying myself with a few books, reading blogs, building a photo management system for New Life Ranch, editing wedding shots, dvds, and the ultimate time-suck.

Whatever the purpose of this injury is, it sucks right now. Please pray that I can use this time wisely and learn from it, as well as a successful surgery and full recovery.