Best Expectations

I'm doing something I've done only once or twice: Writing my blog the night before posting. Tomorrow will be a long day with an early start. (I'll probably finish in the morning but at least I can get it going now.) For perhaps obvious reasons, I'm not at my sunniest. Thinking about that reminded me that I have so much to be grateful for as I go into surgery. So today I'm making a surgery-day gratitude list. I'm sure I'll leave some things out; I'm lucky to have so much good that I might not remember it all! (Plus, it sure beats complaining -- to myself or to others.)

More than anything, I am grateful for my dear sons and their significant others. All three of my kids called today, ostensibly just to chit-chat but I know they wanted me to be aware that they care how things go tomorrow and are hoping for the best outcome and my quick recovery.

My extended family, who care about me -- and I about them -- more than we always let each other know. And my many friends and acquaintances who have wished me well as I head into my off-my-feet journey.

Medical insurance. I'm sure many take this for granted, but if you've been an adult without health insurance, my guess is you'll never want to be without it again. If I didn't have insurance, I couldn't have these problems in my foot fixed. My quality of life would continue to diminish.

The wonderfully kind hospital workers I encountered at my pre-op appointment. All of this is routine for them; it isn't for me. I appreciate that they recognized that and made the appointment as pleasant as it could be.

My doctor. I doubt that my convenience played into his moving up my surgery day. But I'm seeing it as a chance to get this show on the road, one step closer to being better and more mobile.

My son who lives nearby, who said if there was any problem with anything I should let him know and he'd appear in a flash. Here is a picture of us walking together last night. It just might be my favorite picture of all time (at least favorite with me in it). The last time we walked together this way was probably when he was a little boy, and I can't put into words how happy I am that his girlfriend snapped a shot without our knowing.