A/K/A The virtue of patience (not patients!)
Posted Gayle
“The root of joy is gratefulness…It is not joy that makes us grateful; it is gratitude that makes us joyful.”
— Brother David Steindl-Rast
This year I chose a single new year’s resolution – more JOY in the journey. Then, in January, Ron had surgery for his deviated septum. All in all it wasn’t too bad of an experience. Yeah, I fell off the joy wagon for a few days, but I hopped right back up there. By our annual Oscar gathering I had even seen all 10 of the nominated films. I even felt some “joy-momentum.”
And now I’m sitting in the hosptial, I’m not sure what date it actually is, but I’m pretty sure it’s March. March Madness for this May-December couple has nothing to do with football. If you aren’t up-to-date on the Staph Saga, you can read more here.
And… I just watched them wheel Ron off for his second surgery in seven days just a few mintues ago. I’m not exactly feeling the joy right now, but I remembered the above quote. So… here is my gratitude list:
- The love Ron and I share and have shared for more than 25 years.
- The support I had from my mother all the time she was on earth. I’m a lucky “May”. My mother embraced my “December” with open arms from the moment she met him. I never had to deal with her disapproval like so many of you have.
- MY BONUS KIDS. They are the bravest group of human beings I know. Their step-monster (I’m smiling…look it’s working, that’s a hint of joy) is only a few years older than the oldest of them. They didn’t ask for me, they didn’t want me, and me being in their lives had absolutely nothing to do with any actions on their part. They were the innocents. For a group of siblings to endure the loss of their parent’s marriage and actually come to love and respect their Dad’s wife is a testament of their love for their Dad (and of course to my awesomeness…ooops more joy just slipped out.)
- And then those bonus kids went forth and multiplied. They are really good at multiplication. I guess they paid close attention to their studies in 3rd grade. They have blessed Ron and I with 13.9 amazing grandchildren. I know all grandmothers brag about their grandhildren, but for me it’s a little different. I didn’t nothing to earn grandchildren and yet I am loved by them. The word “step” never enters into their minds. So if you are wondering whether or not you want to take on a step-family, it might just be the biggest blessing you will ever receive in your life. And please remember this…. be kind to them. Respect them. Allow them to have their own feelings about you. Heck I don’t care if you are even younger than the oldest of them, you MUST BE AN ADULT!
- My friends love me and are standing by us and I am grateful for that. I’m a better wife than friend, yet they still love me and they love Ron too.
- And then there is the laundry list of things for which I am grateful… good doctors, hard working nurses, pain medications, excellent antibiotics, health insurance, my MacBook Air (it’s winning us points with the nursing staff), and my all too fabulous iPhone. That phone has helped me stay in touch with all the people who care and want to know how things are.
A doctor friend of mine (an old boyfriend actually – Ron is not the jealous type) told me I was going to need to learn patience to deal with Ron’s staph infection (is that why we are called patients?) And you know what? I’m not really very patient (I’ve snapped at Ron twice when he was in pain, we’re not even a week in, and I have kicked my own ass for doing it repeatedly – so for the ass kicking isn’t working, but Ron’s love is.)
They took him to surgery 82 minutes ago.
83 mintues ago…
84 minutes ago…
85 minutes ago…
You’ll know more when I do. I’ll post an update witht the deets in a comment to this post.
Oh wait ONEMOREHUGETHINGTOADDTOTHEGRATITUDELIST!!!!
You! If one word of any of this helps you in anyway, then I can thank all that is for my voice.
Ron with "Motor Mouth" at Yellowstone in 2008
