I went to the IRS today. (That should have made even the most cheerful among you shudder!)
There were taxes from my divorce that I didn’t know would be coming and I’ve been trying to figure out what to do. One thing I’ve learned over the past few months is that I need someone to help me organize parts of my life. I don’t understand paperwork so I’ve got myself into a little (or big) tax mess.
Imagine being very competent mentally but waking up one day unable to understand what you’re reading. Like dyslexia. Information is scrambled and makes no sense. This is what’s been happening to me. I can understand if you show me how to do things, but not paperwork and sometimes I go blank on questions. (I don’t have dymentia, thankfully (I was tested for that).)
Anyway, I went to the IRS in the middle of a brain fog with some papers they asked me for. I was handed papers and asked questions and I just couldn’t understand anything. I told the person, “I have no idea what this means, it could be in a foreign language, I can’t explain anything, I don’t know what to say.”
I got a look and comment…“You need someone to help you.” “I’m not supposed to do this but go to the Senior Center and find help.”
Brother!!!
I left and made a ‘B’ line for Happy Lucky’s Tea House.
I looked 3 shades of pale puke…feeling sick and hurting all over from fybromyalgia (which has been a bear the past month!).
Andy (TEA GURU!) took one look at me and said…“Whatcha drinking Ms. Bonnie?”…then he said…“How about a Chocolate Matcha?!”
“Oh YES please!”
I sat at the bar watching the foaming and frothing, stirring in the specialty cocoa…A-n-t-i-c-p-a-t-i-o-n!
Finally a big mug of fluff was set in front of me with a tall tumbler of ice water next to it (thoughtful). Fireworks!
This was thick, thick, thick cocoa Matcha, so creamy and warm with an interesting, almost savory then sweet complex flavor. The foam was playful and wonderful like a puffy sigh of relief.
It didn’t take long for the caffeine and green tea L-theanine to work on my pain and foggy brain.
I’ve noticed for some time that tea helps me feel better. I don’t know how, and it’s not a tea high or anything…but my pain isn’t as bad when I drink certain tea’s, especially Pu-erh and Matcha. This is good! It might not be this way for everyone, but it works for me.
While tea doesn’t cure all my problems, it has given me a way to help with my physical discomfort without resorting to narcotics for pain.
By the time I finished my fine mug of chocolate Matcha, I was feeling so much better and the taste was fantastic!
Why would I post all this here on Steepster. Seems kind of private and personal and inappropriate doesn’t it.
It is personal. And real.
I want you to know that this part of Elder life is joyful, funny, and has challenges just like being young.
“Stand at the brink of despair, and when you see that you cannot bear it anymore, draw back a little, and have a cup of tea.”
― Elder Sophrony of Essex (A Monastery in England)
Tea makes everything better.
Comments
Well, gosh. If you can’t be personal and private on the internet, where can you! ;) Personally, I think it’s interesting. Is there some natural remedy in your tea? Or do you just love tea so dang much that you get a useful placebo effect from drinking it? Either way, it’s nice. And I hope you feel better.
Good for you for realizing you need help and having the courage to seek it out! Divorce is such a major life change (I’ve been there) that it can mess with your brain no matter what age you are. I hope everything works out ok with your taxes. Next time you have to go there take a big tumbler of tea with you!
I am so glad you found some comfort. I hope everything works out with the taxes soon.
I like the quote you shared, I had not heard that one before.
It might just might be neurological… (I’m NOT a doctor) but I’ve heard there are some conditions that could cause an information mix up. Of course I know nothing but it might be something to ask your doctor about. I’m glad you had a good tea to bring you out of that mess :D
The tea does help me a great deal! It hits the brain where the pain signals come from. Since fibromyalgia and migraines come from the brain, it makes sense that if the brain
is calmed with tea or L-theanine from good tea…that the pain would be calmed also. (a side effect of fibromyalgia is brain fog and depression, there isn’t a cure for this disease).
that’s awesome that something you love makes you feel better, and that it’s healthy! :)
yay for Bonnie!! and I love your stories xx
Well, gosh. If you can’t be personal and private on the internet, where can you! ;) Personally, I think it’s interesting. Is there some natural remedy in your tea? Or do you just love tea so dang much that you get a useful placebo effect from drinking it? Either way, it’s nice. And I hope you feel better.
Good for you for realizing you need help and having the courage to seek it out! Divorce is such a major life change (I’ve been there) that it can mess with your brain no matter what age you are. I hope everything works out ok with your taxes. Next time you have to go there take a big tumbler of tea with you!
I am so glad you found some comfort. I hope everything works out with the taxes soon.
I like the quote you shared, I had not heard that one before.
It might just might be neurological… (I’m NOT a doctor) but I’ve heard there are some conditions that could cause an information mix up. Of course I know nothing but it might be something to ask your doctor about. I’m glad you had a good tea to bring you out of that mess :D
The tea does help me a great deal! It hits the brain where the pain signals come from. Since fibromyalgia and migraines come from the brain, it makes sense that if the brain
is calmed with tea or L-theanine from good tea…that the pain would be calmed also. (a side effect of fibromyalgia is brain fog and depression, there isn’t a cure for this disease).
Hope you feel better soon Bonnie. <3
I hope you feel better too, Praying :)
Thanks guys…hey, I just need to drink more tea. More tea, More tea, More tea!
that’s awesome that something you love makes you feel better, and that it’s healthy! :)
yay for Bonnie!! and I love your stories xx
Not inappropriate at all. Thanks for sharing the different parts of your life with us, Bonnie. I hope the symptoms that cause discomfort and pain calm down for you soon. [hugs]