Putting It All In Perspective

Life happens-

My father retires followed by:

My mother breaks her leg and then follows it up with a torn ACL. So much for dad enjoying retirement.

Grandma dies and then grandpa moves in with mom and dad. So much for things calming down.

Parents go to New Jersey for birth of new grandchild. Father has a confluence of major medical issues. Severe illness almost kills him, he suffers a major heart attack and ends up on unconscious on a ventilator for three weeks.

Docs wean him off with a trachiostomy. Dad is not happy that I refer to him needing a flute to speak, but I am so relieved that he survived I can’t help but smile.

Midway through what is going to be a six month ordeal my sister has emergency surgery and has to have her gall bladder removed. This is followed up by my father’s triple bypass on July 21 and then the birth of my daughter on July 23.

Dad recovers and returns home where he continues his recovery. I go from being responsible for a family, grandparents, parents home and normal responsibilities to having the basic family stuff.

Dad continues to improve but grandmother goes downhill. Docs warn us that it could be any day and suggest considering a hospice.

Since there is not much going on my grandfather’s pelvis decides to give out. Surprise he is on the floor at Costco. Fortunately it is a minor break and the recovery is relatively quick for a 91 year old man.

Many other things both good and bad take place during this time, but what do I find aggravating? The jackass at the gym who has more money than he needs just won $10,000 in the lottery, as if he needs it.

Whatever. I keep telling myself two things:

1) My if life slowed down and resumed normalcy wouldn’t I be bored.
2) Be thankful for all that I have and I really am because G-d knows that it could be worse. I could be living in cleveland.