Old Friends

Every once in a while you receive news that company is coming and it makes you happy. Happy because this time it is a visit from a long time friend, like almost all your life. We started school in grade one together and made our journey through to Teachers College and even roomed together in that great year of adventure and discovery. We were small time boys moving away to become teachers and were about as green as they come. We had however an appitite for new things and it seemed that every day opened a new door.

After teachers College I moved far away to the real big city and Donald stayed behind and toiled through thirty some years in the classrooms of Nova Scotia.Our journey was much the same but as we rarely saw each other little was known or shared until we began to have class reunions. These special gatherings brought our class close again and as we grew ,we bonded into a very unique group. We were and are the only group who have had a yearly reunion which included wives and sometimes family.This year it will be our 57 Th and the faithful will converge on

Cape Breton to enjoy a few extra days together before the formal reunion in Truro.

Donald burst on the scene yesterday with his high energy and vast amount of information {gossip}. It was a full hour before we were able to take a breath but we managed to squeeze in some little bits of personal info to add to his wealth of knowledge of the group known as the class of 55.

Several hours went by without a thought of taking a break and the camera was busy documentating the condition of the back yard and the flowers mixed with jokes and laughter. Being comfortable in one's skin is important but being comfortable with friends is even better. Shared history, common values and love of friends will go a long way in making aging seem like a happy journey and that is what our group has achieved.

When we are together it seems like we breath together and our synergy is expressed through our committment to life and the adventure before us. Yes we do look back and recount the happiness we felt but more and more we talk and live in the future. We are all around 75 years old, we teachers that is, our wives are sometimes considerably younger,but we feel and act much younger.

When Donald comes to town he brings all those qualities I have been speaking about with him and he gladly shares them with all who is ready to receive. Thanks for the visit Duck and keep steadfast in your life values.

Fly Away

Every year Theresa and I have a host of bird families which take up residence in one of our several bird homes. This year was no exception and we have seen three families move safely through the life cycle.Ordinary house sparrows love our houses and stay with us all summer. One house had the distinction of harbouring three families in one year.

I was able to place one of the bird homes on a long pipe so the squirrels could not climb up and do their damage.As the house was almost across from the bathroom window it was a good vantage point to observe these little creatures. The attentive mother who literally worked herself almost to death to the equally attentive father who helped as well became great examples of family. He seemed to do the nest cleaning routine and provide food as well.

Many people do not wish to have these common birds occupying their bird houses but their morning song makes it all worth while. I believe we have a song sparrow amoung the group and at 3.30 am the singing begins and it is sunset before the last note is sung.

We glean a great deal of entertainment and satisfaction in having our own birds in our own houses.In Florida we have the mocking bird and it rivals any bird for singing and interest. We are fortunate to have the joy of bird watching in both of our living areas even though they are not the brighest colored or most rare, common is good enough for me .

Mixed Sunday Thoughts

As I sat here this beautiful Sunday morning my mind turned to thoughts of a spiritual nature. With the last of the space shuttles going up to outter space, a wedding next door, my neighbour walking around with half of his heart in a bag and me thinking about my place in the mix of things, my mind wandered into the area of mans way of expressing his spirituality. For many, they choose a church with a building, a leader and a ritual with rules and regulations to keep everyone orderly and happy. It must be hard to keep people happy today in church with twitter, games and the news of the world at your fingertips.The message must be robust, interesting and short to keep everyone entertained.

When I go to church for funerals and weddings I go there in a respectful way. When I go there I attend because I have been invited and not to convert me to their religious slant. There is always someone who wants to shake your hand and greet you as a friend. Once I was given a hug but I survived. All the rhetoric pertaining to saints, gods and higher places like heaven sweeps over my head as I try to get in the right place. Oh...prayer time.

This is a time when most people, earthlings, have a conversation with an extraterrestrial god-person. For my part, my understanding is that for most religious people the guy in the sky has left town and they find sacredness in a horizontal term- more as a quality that permeates all creation and can be found specially in people when they are acting their best. Sacredness is no longer up there but in here. This feeling grows as people love each other and honour their committments and promises.I often us the term that people live just and generous lives when they act in a sacret manner.

When we are in church and asked to pray it is not to god as much as we are adding our love and caring along with all the other people and that this pool of energy will make a difference to the group. I specially feel this is true at a wedding when we are expressing our collective love for the future of the couple.People may and can draw upon this collective love and energy to feel support. I see this at funerals where the bereaved come away with a feeling of strength and peace.

Going to church a few times a year is good for me because it avails me the opportunity to practise my spiritulity and keep it healthy and safe.

Last Words On My Adventure

Most people go through life never having to experience a near death experience. I have had a few and all were caused by one type of allergic attack or another. My latest was the most clear of just what can occur when you have alergies which are unknown to you.

Near death experiences can be absolutely terryifying and could leave you with bad mind pictures for years. For me there was a clear message. Once I was able to breath and speak I had a quiet moment. I saw my life before me , not the past but the future. I could see that the message was clear, live life in a manner that will bring peace and harmony in your interaction with family and friends. We sometimes take so much for granted that we become lazy and unattached from the real issues of life.

I looked at Theresa and my children standing before me and I had this strong , urgent feeling that I could do better in the future. I think I will become a quieter, softer person and thankful that I have another chance to contribute to relationships in a meaningful way.

Everything became a little brighter, a little clearer and I was seeing life once more in a momentary focused analysis and I loved what I saw. This is the last word on my adventure and we always say all is well that ends well but for me all is well that begins well, for me this is a new beginning.

Going Home

It is 4.30 am and I am up.I hope to go home this morning. Everything is very quiet so I collect some towels and facecloths from the supply closet nearby. I will attempt a cloth bath in my tiny bathroom. Standing on the cold terrazo floor , naked facing a sink full of hot water seemed like a good idea.

I began to wash the hospital off my body being careful to keep the dressings dry. I realized I smelled like an active puppy or worse so I used all my sense of balance to try to reach those 200 places which could be easily be overlooked.I was interrupted by my curious nurse who wanted to check my vitals but I asked her to come back a little later.

There was one nurse for every two patients but in my case she only had to watch over me. I continued to complete the mission in half an hour but in my own shower it would have been 10 minutes.I was clean and I was making my last hospital signature a good one.

My Dr came in at 6.45 am to release me and he was pleased with my progress.He checked me over and signed the release form and assured me I would get priority status for my return. He also added a comment to the nurse saying she could change the dressing. She rolled her eyes and said yes Dr telling him non verbally that she knew her responsibility.

My nurse gave me extra dressings for 10 days and covers so I could shower as well as a staple remover. Theresa will have to remove the 22 staples in my back after 11 days from surgery.After breakfast Theresa will come and take me home.

I want to see the garden and tomatoes specially as I always like to have a red on before the 12th of july. Orangemans day. I am very happy to be alive and ready for living again.

Recovering

For the next 48 hours I had to get the poisons out of my system. I was on a diet of no food, no water -   no fluids at all. I had blood sampling every 2 hours and needles, more lines in my arms and neck but I could care less as I felt very sick. Nurses were great, changing my soiled gowns and keeping me cool with cool cloths on my head and frequent cool baths. They were also busy emptying the containers of bile and other stuff frequently.

After 48 hours I was given jello, water and cold tea. I was recovered. I could smile at my visitors and I even combed my hair. My son came to show me films of his son at flying school. I became less emotional.  Post traumatic stress took its toll on someone like me who cries at weddings and such.

That evening Theresa brought supper and Kraft dinner and sausages tasted great. I could not describe my hospital menu but who cared; I was well again.

Second Chance
The good thing about this event is that I have a second chance. I asked the Dr's to book me in for my spinal operation ASAP. The OR staff came to see me and tried to explain how this happened. For them it was the second time in their lengthy career. I will be given a battery of tests to check the problem and I shall proceed to complete the task I started. I have full confidence in the system, the nurses, the Dr's, and confident that this time I will get it done. Do I have fear? Yes, but not enough to stop me from becoming healthy once more.

Back Blogging - I'm OK

While I was in the Trillium Hospital I made notes of the events and I would like to share them with you as you might have a similar journey and it might help to make it easier.

High Hopes
Coming to Trillium on Thursday with Theresa at 9:30 am I had high hopes for my future. 10 years of pain from arthritis made me less than I wished to be. I saw the operation as a way of getting back to being healthy again.

Theresa and I entered the hospital like kids ready to receive the ultimate gift - better health.We did all the right things by going through the hoops four times over: name, address, age and once I was asked if I knew where I was and why I was there. Theresa stayed right with me until I was sent to the OR. I was very emotional when I left her but managed to compose myself while I was needled and lines put in place. The room was cold and a mixture of urgent busy people and the cool words from the anesthetist telling me I was going to sleep but I did not. Up until then I was OK and still hopeful.

No, I Am Not OK
The Dr. repeated his statement, Henry you are going to sleep. At that moment a searing hot needle sharp pain penetrated every segment of my body, from all angles. Never did I ever experience anything like it. I tried to yell but it was too late, I fell to the drugs.The next thing I knew I was fighting for my life. I opened my eyes and saw Theresa and the girls, and a Dr. and nurse.

A large tube was down my throat and I was struggling with the breathing tube. I remembered Roma telling me how to survive the tube. You have to get in sync with the machine. I closed my eyes and and tried. I did well but something worse was about to happen. I began to convulse and vomit. Theresa and the kids noticed I was struggling and even though I was tied down I managed to indicate I needed pen and paper.

The Dr. said I was OK. I wrote... dammit. I am not OK. Take out the tube. She waited and after seeing the rising liquid she pulled the tube. I breathed once and threw up copious amounts of liquid bile. I was OK.

I breathed freely and began an hourly routine of getting rid of quarts of liquid. I am sure I would have drowned in this liquid had she not listened to me. Because Theresa and my kids had to see this I tried to humour them by writing on my worksheet: How does my hair look?

I was placed in ICU and my family came in and looked after me with the help of a wonderful nurse Becky.

To be continued...