Normal Is A Good Thing

Don't sell normal short, normal is good and don't ever, ever think normal is boring.  When you don't have normal, you yearn for it, when life is turned upside down and seems to be spinning out of control, you long for normal.   With that being said, my life has been anything but normal these past couple of weeks.  First, getting sick, which is so far from normal for me.  I have evaded sickness in all forms for easily the last 5 years and honestly I have been extremely lucky most of my life in avoiding all types of sickness.  Heck, I haven't even had chicken pox or mumps as a child, so does that give you a hint as to how "healthy" I have been most of my life.  I did have a bout with pnemonia back in the 70's, but that was so long ago I almost forgot about it.  (but it sure convinced me to give up smoking at the time).

Anyway, getting sick was definitely abnormal for me, and after 2 weeks of battling whatever, I am still....still coughing.  Not nearly as much and I can probably count on 2 hands how many times I have coughed today which is a good thing but feeling normal again will be a welcome change.  But the really not normal for me, was the ordeal my sweetie just went through.  I can happily (with caution) say that he is back at his nursing home facility and resting comfortably as of this afternoon. After the rush to the hospital last Wednesday, the thoughts of losing him, the gathering of family and saying our goodbyes, and then to have him rally and prove to us that he was definitely not ready to leave, not normal.  Spending long days at the hospital, sometimes alone, sometimes with family or friends, not normal.  Eating hospital cafeteria food, day after day, not normal.  Don't get me wrong, I am not complaining (well maybe a little) but life as I knew it was not normal.  About the only normal act I did this past week was to capture a few images of the beautiful high-bush cranberries on the bushes along the road-way into the hospital garage parking lot.  Ofcourse anyone that witnessed this probably thought I was totally abnormal.

I know each of us experience and perhaps struggle through periods in our lives that are considered "not normal", sometimes those times are wonderful, sometimes, not so much, and I have learned to cherish the "normal" times, when life is stable.  I know that life for my sweetie will never really be normal again, he is completely dependent for his basic needs, dressing, eating, cleanliness.  I must trust those around him to care for him and meet his needs, and to make his life as "normal" as possible for as long as possible.  So don't sell normal short...it's a good thing and definitely not boring.

Thank you so much for leaving such wonderful comments, your thoughts and prayers were a welcome read after almost losing my sweetie.  When life returns to "normal" I will certainly re-visit all of you.

Until next time....