I Saw You!

Dear Ravi,

Daddy and I were out walking yesterday afternoon. Due to my neck and back problems, he walks the dogs and I man the trekking poles. Anyway, we were strolling down Summit Avenue and there was a male cardinal sitting on a lawn! I stopped and waved; you hopped about a bit, cocked your head and flew into a nearby shrub. Seeing you, in bird form, absolutely made my day. Your two trees are doing really well. I am thinking of adding a bird bath to the backyard in hoping to attract more of your feathered friends. What do you think?

My cervical spinal fusion is set for June 9, but I am at the top of the waiting list in case anyone ahead of me cancels. I don’t want to deprive anyone of their surgery, trust me, no one does back surgery just for fun, but I would really like to get this over with and start healing. There are different kinds of pain. There is the pain of healing after a major surgery and there is the pain of your body not being able to do anything that it wishes. I know that you are acutely aware of both pre- and post-surgical pain. If I could have gone through those surgeries for you, I would have done it in a heartbeat.

Right now, Daddy is out a lunch with Daniel, and I am hanging out with the pets. It is a rather low action scene. Your Uncle Rob is being released from the hospital today to a rehab facility where he can regain his strength and mobility. Fortunately, the rehab center is only half a mile from home, so family can easily visit him. Still, he has been in the hospital for nearly 2 weeks. As we both know that it is a very long time. I am so grateful that I will only be in the hospital for one night following my surgery. It is so much easier to sleep and recover at home. I left out several bags of clothes donations for the Epilepsy Foundation today. I did not touch any of your clothes. They still hang in your closet or lie in your dresser. To donate your clothes would make me feel like I was giving you away and I cannot bring myself to do it. I will take your courage quilt and your prayer shawl to the hospital so I can keep you close to me.

When Daddy returns from lunch we will take the dogs for a leisurely walk. Perhaps I will see you again! In the meantime, and forever, I love you to the moon and back. Mom.