This should turn you on

Last night I went to sleep on my back. That is not a good idea. (Ask my husband about that!) I tend to sleep with my mouth open when I sleep on my back. In addition to waking up with a dry mouth, I may even snore a little.

I don't believe that because I have never heard it, but I have been told that it is true. But this morning I woke up lying on my left side. I stretched and then turned to the right side to relax a few more moments.

There is nothing exceptional about these movements except that a week or so ago I could not have done this.

After my car accident I had several weeks when I was too sore to turn over in bed without much effort and then I couldn't stay on my side because of bruises and sore spots.

Have you ever thought about the blessing it is to be able to turn your body to any position you choose? We take these things for granted until something happens that keeps us from being able to turn any way we want to.

When I was a teenager my friend, Maxine Maple, had an operation where she ended up with her lower body in a cast with her legs held apart in the cast.

The only position she could be in for several weeks was flat on her back, or when someone else was present, she could be turned to her stomach. I would sit by her bedside on our visits to her and try to imagine how uncomfortable that must have been. She didn't complain and was willing to stand the discomfort to get the needed results.

I realized at that point what a blessing it was to be able to curl up in bed. I experienced a much milder version of the discomfort during some of my pregnancies when it didn't feel comfortable to lie in certain positions. But that was a minor discomfort.

We see movies or read about those who are permanently "frozen" into a certain position. It is hard to imagine how that must feel and when I become aware of such situations I have a strong urge to twist and turn my own body in appreciation for the ability I still have.

Now that the Olympics are on we see these beautiful young people from all nations force or coax their bodies into impossible positions. I can't even imagine being able to do some of the things we see daily on TV. But it is obvious that when there is a strong desire that our bodies can be trained to do things most of us would not attempt.

When we reach middle age plus we are usually content to be able to walk briskly, bend easily, sit and rise without problems, and be able to take care of our own needs. When we temporarily, or possibly even permanently, lose one of those abilities, we mourn the loss as we would mourn the loss of a friend. But when it is a temporary condition we rejoice when we are able to resume our usual habits.

I no longer have any desire to chin myself. I used to struggle to be able to do as many as my sister, Ellen. I realize today that it didn't really matter whether I could do it or not. But we do need to strive to reach certain achievements or we will get in a rut and just sit and vegetate.

I think the fact that I can turn from side to side in bed is a goal achieved.

It may not get a gold medal, but it does keep me from having the dry mouth sleeping on my back causes.

Now that's a turn for the better.