See you soon

I’ve been thinking about Frida Kahlo lately. The brilliant Mexican artist turned to painting in the wake of a traumatic event in her then young life. At the age of 18, she was riding home from school on a bus when a trolley crashed into it. Frida’s injuries were extensive. For the rest of her life, she lived with chronic and debilitating pain in her spine and legs.

Frida expressed her sorrow and depicted her physical injuries through her art. One of her most famous self-portraits is titled “La Columna Rota,” or “The Broken Column” in English. In this work, the artist illustrates her broken spinal column, as well as a rendering of the metal corset she wore for the rest of her life. Her face, covered with nails, depicts the intensity of Frida’s suffering. Though not visible in this rendering, the painting also depicts tears on her cheeks.

Frida Kahlo has come to mind ever since the origin of my chronic back pain came to light last month, during a consultation with a spine surgeon. When he recommended spinal fusion, I inquired: “How soon?” Though it’s the holiday season, I decided to take advantage of a recent cancellation in the surgeon’s schedule. I’ll undergo the surgery this coming Monday, two days after my 75th birthday.

During the period of my recovery, I hope to channel Frida Kahlo’s resolve to dedicate herself to her creativity despite her physical challenges. I look forward to returning my attention to my memoir-in-progress once the initial post-surgical phase has passed.

This is my farewell blog post. I began writing them in 2020, as a means of communicating during a period of forced isolation. I thank you, whoever you are, for faithfully reading them each month, on my old-fashioned blog page. Since I make it a habit never to say good-bye, I’ll declare “see you soon” instead.