The ground beneath my feet

I said quietly to my lawyer about an hour ago, "I'm not used to being massively relieved or explosively happy. So I'm just going to sit here and think about it for a minute."

The settlement of my worker's comp case turned out in a way everyone looks very pleased with.

First, I got something to eat (oxygen first, blood sugar second, everything else third, during big emotional surges -- elementary mental hygiene!)

For the past half hour or so, I've been just strolling around, practicing feeling not worried about survival. Amazing how it all comes back.

This time, though, I'm well aware of embracing my inner Scot -- I'll tend my money carefully, because I understand its value and power as I never have before.

The crystalline nugget that emerged, as the shock and fog cleared away, was this:

I've always been rich. Now, I can afford to survive.

The happy thought that followed was: I can finally afford to have a pet. Maybe a ferret ... I could use more work on my reasoning skills anyway.