Dear Abigail,
Thank you so much for reading my long blog and taking the time to give such a thoughtful response.  I was thinking of you when I wrote (I often think of you, and not just when I write) about the HPA axis and its relationship to chronically stressed people.  So many influences stress has in our lives, and here's another.  

I'm happy you like my embellishments.  These are for the readers, and for my delight.  Creating them is a great exercise.  So often they don't work out and I have to discard the sorry effort.  But, each time that happens I learn, and get better.

Yes, water.  Everything stays with us.  There was a time when we thought we could just throw stuff away.  Now it we know it never goes away, so we need to change, I think, the way we consume and how much we consume.  

I do remember you said once that you were ill for a long time in your 20s.  I'm presuming that's when you had to depend on GCs.  Sometimes, medicine is all that stands between us and illness, or even death.  So, I hate medicine, and I love it.  I'm happy you are past that time, and good health comes to you without medicinal assistance. (I will confess an intimate relationship with GCs, also).

I am going to look at those references later.  Very curious to read the reports, which will augment the many I discovered in my research.  

My dear Brazilian friend, finding your comments on my blog is such a treat.  I look forward to them.  I hope your day (and your husband's day!) is peaceful and fulfilling.

From New York, where at least the illusion of peace presides on a frigid January day,

Love, your friend,
AG