A Three Hour Tour….
Recently I had a surgical procedure late in the afternoon at a surgery center. We did notice the snow starting to fall gently as I was taken to the center. While there, almost 3 hours, the snow fell some more and the wind picked up a little too. Nowhere in the weather forecast was there a hint of snow predicted. Okay, there were lots of mishaps at the surgery center, like getting a hematoma where the IV was first placed and other oddities, as well as the snow.
So, now it was 5 PM I am trying to not feel too drugged-up and I get a call from my daughter — she was going to pick my up and take my home. She is stuck at the bottom of the hill from her home and not going anywhere. I looked at the nurse and politely asked her to call for a cab. Hmmm… A recording comes on saying I am 30th in line, nope that will not work.. This place is closing in 15 minutes… Hmmm….???? I suggested taking the MAX light rail home and the nurses went into hysterics. No, I am not allowed to walk or sit. “You’re not… Blah..blah.. blah…” I finally signed my life away on many forms and headed out. One of the nurses held me up trying to call the doctor. I then decided to “borrow” a pair of booties from the center to use as mittens. Smart call on my part since I was carrying a new book and was not about to let go. (The booties had little grippers on the bottom that really helped hold onto my precious cargo.)
The doctor had already left and when summoned he volunteered his PA to take me to the MAX. I arrived at the MAX at about 5:30pm. Between 2 trains, an hour wait for a bus out in the snow, one bus ride and walking for a quarter mile, I arrived home in one piece.
I still had a smile on my face and was not to much worse for wear. HERE is why. I had on my booties/mittens carrying the book The Gentle Art of Blessing. The book was in very sad shape, wet, crumbled and really looking old. Putting this little practice into action I blessed everything, everyone and myself!!! Blessing poured out of me like never before. It was wonderful… A Three Hour Tour….
We all survived that snowy day. Some fared better than others. I will admit it was my first try to get from point A to point B via car, train, bus and foot…AND, I made it and am blessed for the experience…
Oh Lizzi, what a crazy day that was! You captured it well. I remember it taking Bernadette and I a whole 5 hours to make it home (and that doesn’t include the 3 hour break in the middle). But we were blessed indeed. We weren’t recovering from a spine procedure and didn’t have to do any walking through the blizzard! Thankfully we all survived in one piece, and we’ve even seen a peek of sun today.
I remember that day well too! I felt a bit uncertain about the snow when I dropped you off and now know I should have trusted my instincts.
I’m glad you had The Gentle Art of Blessing with you. What a gem of a book and a wonderful way to approach life. I now use this philosophy all the time.
Thanks for sharing Lizzi! Blessings…