An Adventure Of A Different Kind

Attitude and expectations are all important when you travel whether it be for rest and relaxation, exploration, vacation, or just journeying through life. The last one is the latest in my travels, a segment of my life journey. A while back it became obvious that the arthritis in my knees was going to be a major interference in my enjoying life as we do. There were some stop gap treatments but the obvious became more urgent and the timing worked such that two weeks ago I underwent a total knee replacement.

It has already been quite a journey and I am thankful for all those who knew what was going on and surrounded me with love and prayer. There were plenty of things to take me out of my comfort zone--I hate needles for one, but with the help of my doctor and the hospital staff I was well prepared to face it all. Just as if I were taking a long trip, we explored the procedure and noted all the things that we would probably face along the way.

Joint Camp was one of the more unique preparatory experiences. Bob was a bit disappointed when the nurse told him there would be no s'mores and camp songs. What we found instead was a wealth of information to prepare the both of us for what lie ahead.

With all of the detailed care of explaining what would happen the morning of surgery and for some time after, I was well prepared--as much as could be expected never having been through something like this before. Since we are all different in our approach to pain and are motivated in different ways for things like physical therapy, I tried to look at it as a new adventure. It would be difficult, no doubt, but I would look for the good things, the positive healing process, the people I would meet along the way, and above all, any humor I could latch on to.

There were lots of little gems of humor that I gleaned. I shared many on Facebook but the one that's been the best so far involved my caretaker, Bob. (By the way, he's been amazing and is becoming a pretty good cook.) When he finally got comfortable enough with leaving me to go downstairs to work his ham radio, he urged me to use my cell phone to text him if I needed anything. The cell phone I guess, has replaced the old fashion bell to ring from the sick room. So, one evening, I didn't really need anything but I did want to just send a little love note.

I chose the emoji with eyes made of hearts and sent it off. A minute later there were hurried steps coming up from the basement.

"What's wrong? What do you need?" Bob asked, a bit winded and with concern written all over his face.

"Nothing. I'm fine." I said, a little confused as to why he was so worried.

"Well, you sent me this picture and your eyes are all red from crying. You worried me."

"Honey, you need to put your glasses on. The emoji has hearts for eyes." Trying not to laugh, I added,  "I love you."

Essays on Life - End of the Year Reflections

The house is quiet. Family has left for home. The echoed chatter of grandkids is fading. Thankfully the warm memories won't. The week between Christmas and New Year's Day always seems to be a time of reflection. If you turn on the television that is pretty much what you are going to see. It's kind of like your life flashing before you as the year ends.

Ours was quite a year. Travelwise, we stayed warm in Florida a few months, went scuba diving in Grand Cayman, climbed Mount Fuji on our visit to Tokyo, drove all the way around Iceland and visited Italy and Spain with a transatlantic crossing to Fort Lauderdale. More importantly we got to spend time with family, made some new friends, grew deeper relationships with other friends and continued on in this glorious partnership we call marriage.

We once had a sailboat named Silver Reflections, The name was chosen for two reasons. One, it was a silvery color as it was a silver anniversary edition of the 30' O'day so its reflection in the water would be silver. The second reason was even more important. We knew we would be making wonderful memories of our time sailing--silver reflections, so to speak.

While I can look back on the wonderful adventures of 2016, I can also hope for the opportunity to journey further on, to make each day count as we look forward in the coming year to making silver reflections that will soon be turning to gold.

No matter what the past year has held for you the reflection will change. It always does as you sail through the waters of life. May your journey be smooth.

Essays on Life - R-E-S-P-E-C-T

Otis Redding sang about it in 1965 and Aretha Franklin in 1967. Aretha even spelled it out in the chorus. Looking back I wonder if that era was the one where we began to lose what the singers/songwriters were immortalizing in song.

Our recent visit to Greenfield Village gave me food for thought when we listened to the recording that is played when you enter the schoolhouse where Henry Ford attended classes. I wish I would have written down the exact words but it referred to school being the place where morals were taught as strongly or more so than the three Rs. That certainly wouldn't fly today. The question would be whose morals will you teach? And how would you define morality?

When I went to grade school we were still allowed to say the pledge to the flag, for a time even allowed to say the Lord's Prayer and one holiday season, we were privileged to share how we all celebrated the holidays differently. It was the first time I'd heard of Hanukkah. It taught respect for other's beliefs.

While it isn't politically correct any more to have posted the Ten Commandments in any public buildings, there is a lot that can be learned about respect in those simply laid out guidelines. Respect God. Use language respectfully. Respect yourself with a day of rest and reflection. Respect your parents. Respect life and preserve it. Respect relationships. Respect other's property. Respect truth and honesty. Respect your neighbors.

One more thing about respect--you don't receive it unless you give it.