A Recovery Update

A Recovery Update

It isn’t the emergency that is hard, it’s the future that follows that requires courage. Wait – I’m serious about this.

When you are in the midst of an emergent situation – oh, let’s say a brain tumor removal surgery has triggered seizures that won’t stop and doctors are privately saying 50-50 at best just to live and, if you do, being a vegetable is a real possibility – you really don’t have to be all that brave. You’re busy.

As my son, Tyler, said (about something else), “It’s like landing the Space Shuttle. You don’t have an engine, you’re strapped in, and you have one shot to land it.”

So, when you get through the emergency, you’ve landed the ship, and you start the day-to-day. It’s the “everydayness” that you have to master, now. It’s the petty annoyance of reminding yourself to stand up straight and lift your feet up.

It’s when you notice there are frown lines where there didn’t used to be any. Noise is noisier, especially highway noise. You get too much attention when you don’t want it – like when you fall off a treadmill. And too little when you do – like when you think you maybe look pretty good for the shape you’re in and everybody should be commenting.

When your blood sugar drops you need immediate relief – like a tiny bowl of Rice Krispies. When you’re hungry, you want protein…ideally a prime steak. Now.

But the “everydayness” will save your life, each and every day. The birds in the morning are ridiculously loud. The trees are really magnificent, aren’t they? The flowers are really awfully good.

Also good: vacations, artwork, comfortable chairs, the doggies, my dear family, old friends who are back in touch, the current cast of characters who make my days interesting and fun. Then there are my sons. My younger son has developed into a young man of character, drive and intellect, far braver than most, dearer than you can imagine. My older son is a mad genius, wildly creative and smart, and filled with love. His soon-to-be wife is a delight – so smart, so creative, so loving and with great taste in men!

And then there is my husband. More years than either of us want to confess to. Lots of hills and valleys, adventures and evenings at home. We could never have predicted the course of our lives, but we are so glad we did it together.

The emergency may kill you, but “everydayness” will save your life.