Friday we met a good doctor. A new endocrinologist. He is young. He is friendly. He is smart. He is ready to be a doctor to Meghan. I am grateful.
Friday Mom got her second cataract done and checked before the storm. So necessary for more than visual acuity. It just needed to be done. I am thankful.
I was about to say today was one of those days where you have to focus on your perspective, and it will define your outcome. But, really that’s every day, isn’t it?
We woke up under about 30 inches of snow here in NYC. Now the thing about living in NYC is that you have to learn, as the Marines say, to “Improvise, Adapt, and Overcome.” Because nothing really stops. At least not for long.
Yesterday there were travel bans. Yesterday we were to stay off the roads. Today we are told that the City’s 1 million school children will report to school tomorrow, and with them, their thousands of teachers and support staff will report as well.
In many boroughs this is not such a big deal. Public transportation is at the ready. Moving around is easy.
Not the case here on Staten Island. Almost everyone travels by car.
Yesterday Felix tried to keep on top of the snow. It was fruitless.
Last night an ambulance got stuck in front of my house. My husband and a neighbor dug them back to a main road. We said a prayer for the person they were headed to, and continued on our night.
This morning, we woke early got the shovels and the snowblower. He started at one end, and I at the other. But in the front of the house I was met by my neighbors. We groaned a bit, and pleasant conversation ensued as we gave each other a hand.
At one point the conversation turned to Meghan’s footwear. Somehow. And as I explained that she has 2 different sized feet, and we buy 2 different shoes and toss the opposites, she seemed stunned. And I said soon after we toss the opposites we sit for a moment in gratitude for 2 working feet, and a financial situation that allows us to pay our credit card bills. She smiled. She gets it. She’s had life struggles of her own.
We got the cars free. We set ourselves up to hope for the best for tomorrow.
Then Felix headed with Ken to shovel out my grandparents.
Grandma, when memory came easier to her, used to sing, ” Count your many blessings, count them one by one…”
Grandma is 95 and Pop is 96. Life is more challenging for them than it ever was before. Yet there are so many blessings. They have neighbors that help clear pathways when we can’t get to them. They have a tenant who is a friend, who looks in on them and keeps us posted. They are really special, and we are grateful for the kindness of those they interface with daily.
When he got home, my husband stole a quick meal and headed out to make an igloo and a snowman with Meghan, after a romp in the snow with the dogs. He is a good husband, and a good Dad. A really good man.
Some time this afternoon my phone rang. It was an internet friend looking for some reassurance. I think I was able to give it. Keep your heart and mind focused. Stay physically, mentally, and spiritually healthy. Do the best you can with what you have, where you are. Always.
Tomorrow Meghan will see the knee surgeon. Time to follow-up on a less than stellar MRI/MRA experience the week before last. Time to check on the status of the AVM. Holding my breath that it’s behaving. Tomorrow I will hope all the main roads from here to NYC are plowed well, and I will gratefully pay to park in an overpriced lot. Perspective.
We are actively engaged in “Jeans for Rare Genes 2,” working on everything from ticket sales to journal ads to raffles. My Meghan is ready to channel this week’s pain into a focused goal. Meghan wants the PTEN foundation to have the money they need to create a patient database. Vision.
Every day we are given a choice. Many choices. Life is not all peaches and cream. Not for any of us. Some days I struggle. Most days I know which side of the bus the sit on.
Here’s to hoping for an easy safe parking spot at work tomorrow, a mind eased from the worry of loved ones, and a smooth trip to NYC.
