Reflections on Another Day

I’ve read many beautiful posts today, hoping for some inspiration for my own post. I don’t know for sure what direction this post will take – I am just letting my rambling thoughts take over.

Yesterday was my birthday. It was a very low-key kind of day. It had already been planned that way, but given the events of the previous day, it worked out well, because I definitely didn’t feel like celebrating. We were in Burlington for the weekend, and got to spend Saturday with our beautiful little guy Schaun. It is so great to be able to spend time with our grandson, and I never expected to be able to say those words at all! I have never had any children of my own, but I am thankful now to be able to share our life with Harry’s son and daughter, and now their families. There is nothing like a child to make you feel full of life (at the same time that they drain it out of you!)

This is such a cliché, and I’m not by any means the first one to say it, but life is such a mystery. I’ve thought of it several times in the past few weeks in relation to my own sickness. Although I only felt weak and light-headed, we know now that I was very very sick when I went to the doctor’s office on that Wednesday in September. My appendix had ruptured and I had peritonitis which was spreading. But the main reason the PA sent me to the hospital that morning was that I was dehydrated, and wanted me to have an IV put in to rehydrate. He almost just sent me home, and if that had happened, the outcome might not have been so positive. Two very different possibilities, and I’m very thankful for the outcome that I had.

So many people have said this over the past couple of days, but it is so true – Life is such a gift. We must seize the moment and truly live every day. Kenny Chesney is not my favorite artist, but I do love this song, and it’s message is so appropriate for today….

So damn easy to say that life’s so hard
Everybody’s got their share of battle scars
As for me I’d like to thank my lucky stars
That I’m alive and well
It’d be easy to add up all the pain
And all the dreams you’ve sat and watch go up in flames
Dwell on the wreckage as it smolders in the rain
But not me… I’m alive

And today you know that’s good enough for me
Breathing in and out’s a blessing can’t you see
Today’s the first day of the rest of my life
And I’m alive and well
I’m alive and well