Occasionally, as we ponder our personal circumstances and start feeling a bit sorry for ourselves it only takes a moment or two to figure out our lives are doing just fine, thank you very much.
The nightly news from around the world quickly shows us just how lucky we are to live here rather than, say Ukraine or parts of Pakistan, or in lands of drought and famine, and even closer to home on the other side of Canada where some dame called Fiona left a devastating calling card on some of the most beautiful parts of our nation.
With Thanksgiving on the horizon, it is the appropriate time to once again ponder our lives and give thanks, or at least find some humour in events that might have been worse in each of our personal situations.
First, I wish to give thanks for the clear skies and warm temperatures that recently enticed us to go for a Sunday drive in search of a tasty meal at the end of the trip. Some people are unable to travel and I am thankful we are still able to clamber into a vehicle and head off whenever a spark of adventure hits our spirit.
Secondly, I am thankful that our friend Errol used top-quality concrete when years ago he repaired a portion of our driveway. If his workmanship hadn’t been top-notch and his choice of materials above grade, imagine the crack that might have happened when I hit that concrete, landing as I did like a beached whale when my leg went one way and I went another.
As I reclined there in some discomfort, and surely in a bit of shock, I was thankful that Housemate was close by and saw what he describes as my “prancing” performance. My recollection of events was knowing the fall was coming and wondering if it would delay our trip.
I am thankful we had a bit of bonding time after my screams subsided and I made the decision that nothing appeared broken, I could gingerly move each limb, and finally I could sit up. In my non-expert medical opinion, there was no need for an ambulance.
I am thankful that the Wilson family lives close by and that young Mr. Wilson came quickly to help Housemate hoist me carefully to my feet. I was embarrassed beyond measure but profuse in my thank you. What a story he would have that day to tell his pals!!!
Others should be thankful that I never aspired to be nurse, for the efforts we showed in trying to clean and dress my bleeding and scraped elbow would have left any patient of mine wondering how I had ever passed my basic bandaging course.
Upon thinking about my situation in the driveway, I considered I might have been able to get up myself if I had scooted on my behind closer to the step where I would have had some leverage. But in scooting, I might have ripped the seat out of fairly new jeans.
I am thankful that underneath those jeans there were no more bleeding areas but look at that large bruise on my knee and leg, right there nearly on top of the bruise that remains from injuries in a car crash over two years ago. I have photos.
When the elbow injury failed to heal, I am thankful my doctor jumped into action and worked his magic to clear up whatever was happening in my driveway rash. I now have a lovely scab. I wanted to take a photo but I couldn’t figure out how to do a selfie of my scabby elbow. Facebook friends should be thankful.
Now many days later I remain stiff and sore and low and behold, my previously injured back decided to remind me that I am beyond the age of “prancing.” I am still thankful the fire department hasn’t been required to remove me from the bed or the commode.
We are both thankful for friends and family who have offered to help in anyway they can. I am especially thankful to a friend who quietly dropped off home-grown tomatoes and potatoes and loaves of homemade bread.
I looked at the driveway more closely the other day and saw the spot where my blood and DNA remain and am seriously thankful there are no chalk marks outlining where the body dropped.
Yes indeed, we have much for which to be thankful. We wish the same for others. Happy Thanksgiving.
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I have two more fowl supper dates to add to last week’s list. They are: Oct. 15 at Mortlach Memorial Hall; and Oct. 28 in the social hall of St. Andrew’s United Church in Moose Jaw. Keep those dates coming.
Joyce Walter can be reached at [email protected].
The views expressed in this column are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Moose Jaw Today, the Moose Jaw Express, its management, or its subsidiaries.