There is an appointed time for everything.....

I've always loved the scripture reading from the Book of Ecclesiastes that outlines a time for everything...a time to weep, a time to dance......  For me there was an appointed time to walk, hike, ride a bike, kayak, drive my car, and be smug because of my perfect health!  But, in a flash that all changed in Acadia National Park near Bar Harbor, Maine.

In a matter of minutes I went from this picture of health in front of Bubble Pond

to this after I fell off my bike

God sent several angels to make sure I'd get to the hospital safely.  The man on the right told me he was an EMT and also volunteered for Ski Patrol.  The man on the left is an anethesiologist who got a floor mat out of his car to rig up a splint for the trip to the hospital. 

I never once felt any pain!  

Mt. Desert Island Hospital - Karen said she knew it was a small hospital because the Main Entrance and the ER entrance are through the same door!

Pain Free through the check in process.

Seeing the X-Ray made it seem more real.  How lucky could I be that the 25 bed hospital had a full time orthopedic surgeon on call day and night?  Dr. Stuart Davidson performed surgery around 6 PM,  stabilized my ankle with plates and lots of screws!

Dr. Davidson overseeing the outcome of his work!

By 9 AM the next day I was ready to get up and walk with this cute therapist.  He seemed impressed that I already knew how to use a walker.  "Well, I learned something over 25 years as a director of skilled nursing and assisted living facilities," I told him.  I often reminded the residents who struggled with their walkers to get close in, don't stretch too far etc.  The morphine and hydros really kept me pain free and vitals were good so we exited this sweet hospital around 2 PM and headed to Cape Cod in Dena's rented car.  

I breathed a sigh of gratitude when Karen and Dena were willing to continue our planned trip to Cape Cod.  I'd rented a house and the three of us planned to continue exploring, biking, and watching sunsets on the historic Cape.  We talked about other options, but I could not imagine getting on an airplane and enduring that journey right after surgery.  So, Dena, our angel project manager, took to the wheel and drove seven hours in the rain to Dennis Port, Cape Cod!  The house proved to be perfect for my recovery.  We each had our own bedroom and they gave me the biggest, most comfortable bed.  I felt so loved and cared for - lots of time to sleep, rest, and enjoy their stories of walking in the neighborhood, finding their way to several beaches, and discovering the best clam chowder I've ever eaten.

The house, a typical Cape Cod style, built in the 1960's provided so much comfort for the 3 days we stayed there.  The owner, Jerry, called us several times on the house land line.  He offered several suggestions for sight seeing - places I could enjoy.  

Dena took this picture of turkeys in a house close by and the morning view of Haigis Beach.

West Dennis Beach

Karen loved the sweet houses, many with colored shutters and doors.

I didn't miss a thing!  We rented a wheelchair one day and drove up the Cape to Provincetown!  Someone in our group had Lobster everyday.

On Tuesday Karen and Dena rented bicycles and rode the Cape Cod Rail Trail.  I enjoyed it with them via the pictures that were taken.  

We saw some gorgeous sunsets!  Dena took this lovely picture of the Harwich Port Harbor the night before we left. 

Back home now I have a lot of time to sit and reflect on the blessings of my life, the daily scripture readings, and the "if only I would've stayed on the trail."  The traumatic episode taught me to focus on God's incredible love for me and I found myself relieving my anxiety by breathing in God's love and breathing out gratitude for all the people caring for me.  I've learned it does no good to re-live the event and criticize myself for getting off the bike trail and taking a short cut through the trees.  I can't have a do-over.   Today I read a section of Psalm 90 - a message about the beautiful fragility of human life.  Quoting from Macrina Weiderkehr's reflection, "For God, time is just a yesterday--a day gone by--but for human beings, time can be problematic.  We are always losing it, wasting it, trying to make it last forever.  It does not last forever....while there is yet time, embrace it just as God embraces the hours of our lives."  I heard Macrina's suggestion for me as I prepare for weeks of healing, "walk through these weeks, enjoying the daybreaks, the rising and setting sun.  Honor the wisdom you are gathering each day.  While you still have the breath of life, honor that breath.  Breathe with awareness."  The scripture and reflection helps me to know that this healing time will be a precious time of awareness.  How often do I really enjoy the daybreak?  Or appreciate a phone call and visit from family and friends?  Now I have time to rest, to work on projects never finished, do a little writing, and truly pray for family and friends suffering in many ways.  I pray for the strength to embrace the gift of time and breathe with awareness!  

Monday September 15

Dena and Karen just changed my dressing!  How sweet - they gave me a towel to cover my eyes..for some reason the thought of looking at all that made me feel a little woozy.  Now I've got peas on the ankle to keep the swelling down.

Dena said  it all looks good, just a few staples, we are going on a little trip to Provincetown today - a well know gay community, full of artists.  Last night we drove to West Dennis Beach to enjoy the sunset!  Gorgeous, then drove through the quaint little towns trying to find a place to buy some soup to take home.   We hit the jackpot - the lady told Dena they sell it by the quart.  The best clam chowder I've ever tasted - maybe because it's the first real meal I've had since Friday.  Jerry, the owner of this VRBO, calls us every day with new sights that he thinks I can see and will enjoy.  We love this sweet beachy house, built in 1960, 952 sq feet, 3 bedrooms, one bath, full basement and outdoor shower.  

We experience the feeling of living on Cape Cod - quiet neighborhood, houses from the 60's, beaches within walking distance...the bike path too, darn it.  But Karen found Jerry's bike in the basement an rode to the beach yesterday.  They talk about renting some cruisers and seeing the sights tomorrow.  I am so comfortable and grateful they were willing to come to Cape Cod to relax and rest before the plan ride back to Spokane!  The best news I got all weekend is that Marilyn will spend a whole week with me in Lewiston.  What could be better!

I'm only sad because I can't drink wine, but I have my hydros so I'm feeling no pain at all.  Life is good!

The Royal Chair Project

Connie began talking about retirement early this year.  She's had it with new technology, new testing, the Common Core, new curriculums, and the prospect of having 17 boys and 8 girls in her upcoming second grade class at Genesee Elementary School.  Besides, she longed to rid herself of the frenetic life style she's been living.  And, she wants to travel with Garry and her siblings who are retired.

How could this beauty be retirement age?

The past year Connie faced health challenges that cemented her desire to be retired.  She grew weary of all her sinus infections and tummy troubles.  I loved the idea of her retirement.  I'd teach her how to get pictures from her camera to the computer.  We'd make granola together!  We'd drive to Spokane every week and have lunch with Marilyn and dinner with Joan.  We'd go for bike rides and she and Garry would plan their trip to Assisi.  

About the time she needed to sign her contract to teach in 2014-2015 she started to feel better.  She heard other teachers talk about Pintrest.  The young teachers shared the ways they decorated their bulletin boards, not by reading teacher magazines, but by surfing the web!  Her creative mind took over and by golly, she signed that contract in May and began dreaming of a second grade classroom that looked like a castle!

We picked up huge cardboard tubes at Sonoco and she and Garry designed the pillars of the castle.  This week she's making a little bridge out of cardboard and duct tape to go over the moat to get to the castle.  She admits her creative energy for the castle leaves little time to focus on the new Math curriculum.  Yesterday we bought bright pink tiaras for the eight girls who will be princesses sometime during the year.

I happened to be with her at an estate sale in Spokane when she spotted a chair for $65.  She studied it for awhile and said she needed a chair for the Royal Throne, but couldn't pay $65.  (It's pathetic that teachers spend so much of their own money to enhance their classrooms).   Connie thought more seriously about the chair when we heard the announcement that everything was half price.  "Still too much," she said.  I suggested that she tell the organizer about her project and see if she could get it for less.  In the end, she paid $20 for the chair.  

Except the fabric on the chair looked more like a boudoir chair than a Royal Throne.  It would be more appealing if the fabric were red velvet.  Marilyn said, "you can paint fabric, you know.  Let's just get some red paint."  I thought about my full week ahead with no commitments and called Connie and told her I would reupholster the chair in red velvet.

 Three pieces, how hard could it be?

Probably a piece of cake, with the right tools.  I used what I had, a screwdriver and needle nosed pliers!  Having upholstery tools probably would've protected my hands from all that repetitive motion that made my hands ache for days.   I also needed six bandaids before I finished getting the fabric off the wood frame. 

 I dedicated five days to this project and at times hated the chair, but in the end I loved it!

And I'll bet those little students will feel so honored to sit in it and read to the rest of the class.  This may be Connie's best year ever...

Whitewater Rafting on the Salmon

My daughter-in-law, Anne, loves to plan family events.  She usually sets some goals every summer and weaves family trips in and among friends-sponsored parties, DW's trips, and unpredictable weather patterns.  White water rafting had been on her list for two years now.  The summer seemed to be coming to a screeching halt when she asked if I'd like to join them for Colin's first white water raft trip!  "Of course," I responded.  I recalled my own anxiety in the summer of 1978 when Roy announced that his friend, John Bly, wanted to take a group of our friends on a trip through Hells Canyon.  Gosh, I still suffered from fear of the water and wondered if I was really up for this kind of adventure.  We talked our friends, Jack and Regina Sullivan, Don and Vona Litchfield,  and Clyde and Karen Conklin into going with us.  We were so naive!!!!

 After we safely landed at Heller Bar, I said, "this is the most fun I've ever had."  We fished below Hells Canyon Dam, floated down the Snake River, camped on sandy beaches, enjoyed incredible meals, and drank Black Duck.  Karen actually flipped out of a raft in Rush Creek, but lived to be a hero!  Since then I've been on several trips...all so much fun.

 I think this is Granite Creek Rapids

John Bly pondering his turn to navigate Wild Sheep Rapids

We joined again with the Sullivan, Cooper, and Schultz families in the mid 1980's.  

The cloudy and threatening sky did not deter us or affect the fun we enjoyed with Salmon River Expedition and their professional guide. 

We began the trip in Riggins and ended near Lucille, Idaho

The most fun for me was listening to Colin's squeals and giggles.  He loved it especially when he was in the front of the raft.

I paid for the professional photos to ensure I'd never forget Colin's big smile.  

I must've said it 25 times on this trip...."this is better than Disneyland."  A theme park cannot capture the real thing - the joy of being on the river, the incredible rapids, and lots of water spray.  

Thank you Anne organizing the best ride of the summer!

Seattle Family Time

I'm trying to sort out over 400 pictures and figure out a way to write a blog post that isn't a mile long. I tell my family and friends the reason I write a blog is to capture my memories.  But it's also a way for me to document my adventures and explore my feelings about the things I do.  When I downloaded all my pictures and looked at those shared with me via Flickr I experienced the most emotion when looking at the sibling photos.  We love being with each other.  We don't need planned activities, we just need a place to sit and visit.  I feel a lot of gratitude  to Don and Dena who ensured we were all invited to David and Tai's lovely wedding.  They provided the framework for some wonderful family time.  Thank you....

 Colin came behind us and told us to "look similar" as Duane snapped this picture.

 Similar Sisters - my roommates at Embassy Suites

People were afraid we might be dressed alike again, but we fooled them.

Larry, Marilyn, Theresa, Karen, Don, Connie, and Allan.  We missed Joan and Maureen.

Connie looked gorgeous in this blue dress.  We took pictures in the hotel to share with Garry!  I always take pictures of the flowers and Karen looks pretty in front of the lobelia.  So much blue!!!

We all stayed at the Embassy Suites and took some time on Saturday morning to walk on the nice trails around the hotel.  We found this lovely lake/pond - perfect time for photo shoot.

On our walk we saw a sign for a yard sale...  Connie bought bean bag chairs for her classroom, Larry found this gorgeous purple bowl and some Pottery Barn shelves.  I notice the happy places homeowners make for people who walk.. this was a great tree stump decorated with a little color.

I believe this gorgeous sunset was God's special gift to all of us who witnessed the wedding.  The sun's rays and the changing colors seemed to say to me, "the spectacular sunset mirrors the love and joy I felt being with the Kopczynski family."

Stayed tuned for the wedding post.