The "Thank Goodness For Friends and Family" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Three weeks out from my recent back surgery.  I am still very sore and not allowed to drive.  This is totally different from the first three back surgeries when I felt great by the end of the second week and was able to go back to my part-time job at the frame shop.  I go to my surgeon next week to see if I have been healing properly and may get a chance to drive once again.  I find it extremely hard to sit around the house and do nothing.  Boring!  

Front of Etta's card she sent to me.

The only thing keeping me sane is being able to sit with my MacBook Air on my lap and type stories for my blog.  One thing that has been both rewarding and humbling has been the many "Get Well" cards and letters that I have received the past three weeks.  And, my favorites are the ones that are hand-made by friends and relatives.  

Inside of the card.

I got one such card from my daughter-in-law's mother, Etta, who actually makes packs of home-made cards for Christmas gifts.  The card featured an old jalopy on the front with "Heard you are in the shop for repairs!" on the front and "Overheated? Low on gas? Tired out? Get Well Soon" on the inside.  What a neat card!  Another card I got from my wife's friend Marg who is an artist.  

Front of card by Marg.

She drew a remarkable likeness of me on front of the card dressed in a Hawaiian shirt with a panel inside that read "You Need This Vitamin...It's Easy Just Go To .... and the final panel said "Stone Harbor", a location along the Jersey Shore that we enjoy.  Both cards brightened my day, but a few days later I was looking out the window and saw a van pull into our drive.  Before long the doorbell rang and Carol opened it.  A minute later she was bringing me a really neat planter.  The card on it read: Hope you are feeling better soon.  We are thinking of you!  MTHS Admin, Faculty & Staff.  What a surprise.  I taught school at Manheim Township for years and still work there during the summer in-house printing requests they have.  

Inside of Marg's card.

I've been retired for 19 years now, but still know many of the teachers (a few being former students of mine, office staff (one being my next-door neighbor as well as a former student of mine, principals (one was a former student of mine) and staff.  I worked there all summer and stopped three weeks ago when I headed for surgery.  It was really neat to see that they were thinking of me.  Sickness and injury are never fun to go through, but when you are lucky enough to have so many good friends, relatives and co-workers who are thinking of you, it makes the bad parts so much better.  My heartfelt thanks to all who took the time to send me a card, make a call or get flowers for me.  It is making my recovery so much easier.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

Planter from my friends at MTHS.