About a week ago, I went to the emergency room. It turned out to be non-life-threatening, but I experienced some pain that’s slowly subsiding.
I thought of my last post about the missing notebooks and Life leaving me with nothing. I pictured Life taunting, “There goes your health!” I wondered darkly, What’s next? My identity? My money? My reputation? My memory? I’ll tell you what didn’t get taken away: good people who care about others in need.
I want to thank the friends, family, and even strangers who called, texted, emailed, offered to drive out and pick me up, and offered to let me stay in their homes to recuperate.
I spent a few days recovering with friends of a friend, but complete strangers to me. If I had been in perfect health and had been told, “I know some people who live near your campground. You could stop by and say hello,” I can guarantee you I would not have stopped. I am way too reserved to approach others like that. I’m not sure why. I guess it’s more out of habit then anything.
The couple I stayed with awed me by welcoming me so freely into their lives and treating me like family. These people would give you the shirts off their backs, and I am lucky to know them!
It’s a good lesson about what I’m missing out on by not branching out.
Photo: Hawks at Roman Nose State Park, OK