It's the fourth day since surgery.
Bill has not needed a pain pill.
Bill has not needed a pain pill.
He said yesterday he tolerates pain well.
I responded, "Yeah, on all levels, including me."
Actually, we've done okay so far.
Yesterday, we launched the first-ever "get from the house to the pickup routine."
He's figured out how to get his roller over the door thresholds---wheels first, then left foot.
He has also figured out how to get into the passenger side of the pickup---- point butt toward the seat, grab handle on ceiling, shimmy up there and pull that boot inside carefully.
On the way back from our drive, we simply repeated the procedure of wheels first, then left foot, and he did just fine.
With such a beautiful day, we drove to Clark Fork with a stop off at Trestle Creek.
The final goal was sandwiches from the Pantry for dinner with the ZAGS.
The final goal was sandwiches from the Pantry for dinner with the ZAGS.
The good side of all this: I'm also having an easier time chalking up my Fitbit steps each day, with dog walking in the morning and night.
Nonetheless, we still would both prefer that six weeks would evaporate with the blink of an eye, but we do feel pretty darned good about how Bill's recovery is going so far.
~~~~
On another note, this has been a sad week, filled with matriarchal losses of friends and family.
In each case: these losses involved phenomenal women who not only left their mark on their respective family but on their communities.
Condolences go out to the families of Marian Ruyle, Leuta Pa’u Laumatia ( from Samoa and mother of our nephew Sefo), Lois Dundon (Lois and her husband Don lived in Sandpoint for years and attended First Presbyterian Church) and, most recently, Verna Mae Davis.
This morning I'd like to share a few thoughts and anecdotes about Verna Mae, whom I first met through her daughter Jayne and her husband Cap.
I had the honor and delight of working with Cap, one of our renowned local photographers, while advising the Monticola yearbook at Sandpoint High School. Cap was then and still remains one of my most favorite people ever.
I met Jayne my first year of teaching when she was a sophomore taking honors English. For the next two years, she worked on the Monticola staff, serving as its editor her senior year.
Naturally, being associated with Cap and Jayne, I visited the Davis household and darkroom often, eventually meeting and teaching their other daughters, Tick and Liz.
There is no way to properly capsulize (is that a word?) the multitude of wonderful experiences we, as a family, have all enjoyed with the Davis family (and its later generations).
Heck, I could write a book about Jayne's and my experiences as high school teachers. In fact, I HAVE included some of them in my last book.
Seems like our paths have crossed SO many times and so many ways.
As for Verna Mae, there's was a little girl who lived for a brief time at Condo del Sol, not far from the Davis household.
This precocious little six-year-old had moved there temporarily with her family after their house burned in 1984.
Twasn't long before Miss Annie love found Mrs. Verna Mae Davis, and a special friendship sprouted.
Annie spent many a day, leaving the condo, crossing the open space toward the Davis house and serving as Verna Mae's shadow as she went about her household projects.
Verna Mae loved Annie. Annie loved Verna Mae.
I like to think that Verna Mae's spirit of adventure (a family staple) inspired Annie as an adult.
Verna Mae knew all the mountains around the area because she had gone with Cap or had taken friends on hikes to those mountaintops.
In her adult life, Miss Annie Love has climbed a mountain or two of her own.
I also remember one beautiful fall day when Verna Mae, her friend Judy Hunt and Bill climbed to the top of Scotchman Peak. The kids and I met them as they happily came down the trail.
Verna Mae also was honored as one of Sandpoint's Women of Wisdom the same year as my mother.
She earned this honor for so many reasons, including a project where she partnered with a mutual friend Linda, crafting quilts for local cancer patients.
I'm sure her community resume would reveal an almost endless list of ways she contributed her talents to this community, including her dedication to Girl Scouts.
In my mind, however, Verna Mae's greatest contribution occurred daily: an incomparable, positive and upbeat spirit along with the best smile ever.
One could not help but feel on top of the world (or a mountain) in the presence of Verna Mae Davis.
Last evening Jayne posted a photo of Verna Mae and Cap on one of their many outings with the comment that Mom and Dad are now hiking together in Heaven.
How fitting and what a happy thought!
When I think of these losses and I read the words that others have written about these phenomenal people, I cannot help but think that they are not gone.
Each of them has left valuable and treasured gifts within the hearts and souls of not only their families but also in each of us who were so fortunate to have known them through their journeys on this earth.
RIP, Verna Mae, Marian, Lois and Leuta.
You have all done well.
Your legacy will move on in countless and meaningful ways.
Nonetheless, we still would both prefer that six weeks would evaporate with the blink of an eye, but we do feel pretty darned good about how Bill's recovery is going so far.
~~~~
On another note, this has been a sad week, filled with matriarchal losses of friends and family.
In each case: these losses involved phenomenal women who not only left their mark on their respective family but on their communities.
Condolences go out to the families of Marian Ruyle, Leuta Pa’u Laumatia ( from Samoa and mother of our nephew Sefo), Lois Dundon (Lois and her husband Don lived in Sandpoint for years and attended First Presbyterian Church) and, most recently, Verna Mae Davis.
This morning I'd like to share a few thoughts and anecdotes about Verna Mae, whom I first met through her daughter Jayne and her husband Cap.
I had the honor and delight of working with Cap, one of our renowned local photographers, while advising the Monticola yearbook at Sandpoint High School. Cap was then and still remains one of my most favorite people ever.
I met Jayne my first year of teaching when she was a sophomore taking honors English. For the next two years, she worked on the Monticola staff, serving as its editor her senior year.
Naturally, being associated with Cap and Jayne, I visited the Davis household and darkroom often, eventually meeting and teaching their other daughters, Tick and Liz.
There is no way to properly capsulize (is that a word?) the multitude of wonderful experiences we, as a family, have all enjoyed with the Davis family (and its later generations).
Heck, I could write a book about Jayne's and my experiences as high school teachers. In fact, I HAVE included some of them in my last book.
Seems like our paths have crossed SO many times and so many ways.
As for Verna Mae, there's was a little girl who lived for a brief time at Condo del Sol, not far from the Davis household.
This precocious little six-year-old had moved there temporarily with her family after their house burned in 1984.
Twasn't long before Miss Annie love found Mrs. Verna Mae Davis, and a special friendship sprouted.
Annie spent many a day, leaving the condo, crossing the open space toward the Davis house and serving as Verna Mae's shadow as she went about her household projects.
Verna Mae loved Annie. Annie loved Verna Mae.
I like to think that Verna Mae's spirit of adventure (a family staple) inspired Annie as an adult.
Verna Mae knew all the mountains around the area because she had gone with Cap or had taken friends on hikes to those mountaintops.
In her adult life, Miss Annie Love has climbed a mountain or two of her own.
I also remember one beautiful fall day when Verna Mae, her friend Judy Hunt and Bill climbed to the top of Scotchman Peak. The kids and I met them as they happily came down the trail.
Verna Mae also was honored as one of Sandpoint's Women of Wisdom the same year as my mother.
 |
| Verna Mae and Woman of Wisdom Jane Evans a few years ago. |
I'm sure her community resume would reveal an almost endless list of ways she contributed her talents to this community, including her dedication to Girl Scouts.
In my mind, however, Verna Mae's greatest contribution occurred daily: an incomparable, positive and upbeat spirit along with the best smile ever.
One could not help but feel on top of the world (or a mountain) in the presence of Verna Mae Davis.
Last evening Jayne posted a photo of Verna Mae and Cap on one of their many outings with the comment that Mom and Dad are now hiking together in Heaven.
How fitting and what a happy thought!
When I think of these losses and I read the words that others have written about these phenomenal people, I cannot help but think that they are not gone.
Each of them has left valuable and treasured gifts within the hearts and souls of not only their families but also in each of us who were so fortunate to have known them through their journeys on this earth.
RIP, Verna Mae, Marian, Lois and Leuta.
You have all done well.
Your legacy will move on in countless and meaningful ways.
1 comment:
Glad your Bill is doing well. Remind him “slow and steady wins the race”. So, sad how many fixtures do Sandpoint are leaving us. Karen Evans
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