Once in a while, I get a thump on the head. It happens at the most unexpected times. like the one two days ago.
My old, self-centered self has been moaning and groaning about my recent five-month trials and tribulations caused by the shoulder surgery, the passing out, the second trip to the hospital, the low oxygen levels, and, now, the really painful situation with my lower back. I have grinched about the circumstances revolving around the shoulder surgery that kept me away from home for three months. Now, in addition to that problem, I’m complaining about the really extreme pain I’m having being caused by something that is wrong with my lower back.
It seems that, reaching the age of eighty-seven, my old body is double crossing my head, inviting more and more of these infirmities to visit and stay – for how long – I don’t know – and I have work to do.
About the only thing I can do comfortably, these days, is sit in my special chair at my desk’s computer and write – poetry, blogs, letters, e-mails. haveI am blessed to access to workshops produced by Authors Publish, the Canadian company offering great help for writers. Writers of short stories, novels (historical and otherwise), non-fiction, stories for children, and poetry – lots of poetry.
I am a poet. I can say that legitimately, now. I have hundreds of poems tucked away in books, on my computer, as gifts given to friends. I write a monthly poem for the rock club newsletter. I have even published a couple of poetry books – only for family: A Life Well Lived, and I’m Talking To You. I have decided that I would really like to have my writing be accepted by a publisher. It doesn’t have to be a “famous” publishing house. I’ll take about any, old publisher and be satisfied. Of course, if one wants to be published, one must send the work to publishers – a task I have yet to accomplish.
And … I write a blog – this blog that you are reading – “Cranky Crone News,” published every Wednesday morning. Since Larry’s passing almost eight years ago, writing this blog has been the most fun in my every day life!
It’s not that I don’t have a LOT to do, each day. I’d just like to do it without this recent pain. But … I digress! I was talking about this “thump on the head.”
I have worked with the same ophthalmologist for more than twenty years. She is the doc who diagnosed my macular degeneration and who has been my caregiver during all of this time. She is an incredibly special person. And, now, she is retiring. Wanting to give her a retirement present and because her birthday is in May, I wanted that present to be a small emerald – May’s birthstone. Nothing fancy. Nothing cut and polished. Just a natural emerald surrounded by matrix. Not an easy thing to come by on a limited budget!
I belong to the Denver Gem and Mineral Guild. Lots of people who love rocks. A DGMG friend, knowing of my plan, contacted another DGMG member who, in turn, wrote to me showing me in an e-mail a stone that she had for sale. As it turned out, Rebecca’s stone’s value was much more than I could afford. She knew of my plans to give such a stone to my doc and wrote that she had a smaller emerald in matrix. And, at $50, it was a stone I could afford; I made arrangements to purchase the stone and asked about how to get it paid for and shipped to me.
Rebecca assured me she could get this arranged and, when we learned that we live in the same city, Rebecca said she would simply deliver the stone to my home. I thought this was very helpful and kind and arrangements were made to do just that. Rebecca told me she would bring the stone to my home that very afternoon, a short drive away from her home.
I was working at my computer when I received a telephone text that said, “I’m here.” I thought, so why didn’t you just ring the doorbell? I walked to the front door, opened it, and was surprised that no person was standing on my porch. Rather, a young woman was sitting at the bottom of the two steps that most people climb – in a wheelchair! No car was in sight. HERE WAS MY THUMP ON THE HEAD!
Rebecca had made the journey from her home to my house to bring me the emerald. We talked for a long time – Rebecca in her wheelchair and me leaning against my porch’s roof supports because I can’t really stand for a long time. During our conversation, I learned that she is a gemologist – for the past five years she has been cutting stones and fashioning jewelry. All of this is done in her apartment home, where her business is located. She said that when she learned the purpose of my purchase, she just knew that the piece had to be the one I was looking for. And, of course, she was right.
Rebecca is a wonderfully, delightful young woman. She explained that her wheel chair was powered by an electric motor on a smaller wheeled cart that could be attached to the wheelchair, providing the power so she could reach her destination.
We did not talk about infirmities. Rather, our conversation was about gems, geology, the shop that she and a partner had owned before she started her business in her home, and how much we love DGMG and the members. She even apologized for not being able to ring the doorbell!
My sincere hope is that Rebecca will become a friend. I will endeavor to bring that about – I believe that we can make things happen – especially this kind of thing.
I realized after she took her leave, I didn’t want to complain or gritch about what is going on in my health’s life. I want to follow Rebecca’s example of friendly happiness that she showed me. I will strive to become her good friend.
Be Safe and Be Well.
The Cranky Crone
Thoughtful comments are always appreciated.
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