By Fred Owens
Starting out the New Year with things that make us happy -- Gardens and Grandchildren
Al
fell and broke his hip right before Christmas. I knew something was up
because his wife Elaine had not returned my emails. I left several
messages for her at the office, but there was no response. So I emailed
Nanette who works with her and Nanette told me that Al broke his hip and
Elaine
was tending to him at the hospital. So that explained it. Then I asked
Nanette for Elaine's cell phone so I could call her at home.
That
was Christmas Eve. I called Elaine and left a message. She called back
almost right away and we had a chat. Al was coming home on Christmas Day
but only for a few hours and then he would go back to the
Rehabilitation Center for further treatment.
It
was a hard way to pass the holidays but the photos I saw of them on
Facebook, of Al and Elaine and their kids and grand kids, showed a
joyful family spirit. That's what I mean by Gardens and Grandchildren.
Of course we all have problems, but we can still enjoy the day and
enjoy the company of the people we love.
This
story about Al and Elaine is pretty short, but you can see it, can't
you? You can imagine the details -- the ladder in the back yard, left
leaning on the apple tree, where Al fell, and the cry he gave out when
he fell. Elaine was on her laptop in the dining room when she heard him.
He cried out, it was a muffled sound she heard, but she knew the man
and knew his courage. Al was hurt and she knew it in the instance.
In
the house where Elaine sat at the large dining table amid newspapers
and a cup of coffee, the chandelier was sparkling above in the late
afternoon growing dark. Can you see it? The trip to the hospital. The
talk with the doctor. Christmas was planned, but plans were flying out
the window. Kind of a raw, rough, exciting feeling, not knowing how this
would all work. Time was passing. Christmas was coming no matter what
and we'll just do whatever we can to have a good Christmas..... Did Al
say that to Elaine?
Al and Elaine are real
people. I know their last name and where they live. I've been to their
house and played the piano. I can tell you all about the town they live
in, the landscape and the weather. I can tell you stories about their
lives together and the people they live and work with -- it could fill a
good book. But this is just a short story and we will call it Gardens and Grandchildren, for these are the things that make us happy.
Note for Jim Langley. It's not prostrate and it's not terminal.
Twenty Years. Frog Hospital is celebrating 20 years
of publication in 2019. Over 700 issues and some of them were pretty good. Our
Credo has always been tell the truth and don't waste people's time -- meaning
keep it interesting. We have done that. And we plan to keep going. Our motto is
Onward!
Happy New Year,
It's not terminal and it's not prostrate
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