How I Spent My Vacation

It's been three weeks since I broke my leg and three weeks since I've had to work for a living. The first week was covered by sick leave and the last two are covered by vacation pay. Now, granted, I would have loved to have spent that time going to some wonderful getaway, but a quiet stay-cation at home is not so bad. So far I've knitted a scarf. Now I'm working on a blanket--I didn't know that's what I was knitting at first. I bought four more skeins of yarn at Seattle Yarn Gallery so that I can keep working on the blanket. I've watched episodes of Quantum Leap - The Complete First Season from Netflix on my computer as Sam Beckett (Scott Bakula) rights the wrongs of history.
I'm also listening to Three Cups of Tea: One Man's Mission to Fight Terrorism and Build Nations One School at a Time, an audio book that I've had on my shelf for months. It's 11 Cd's so it takes awhile and it's great to knit to. If I listen to audio books in the car I get lost in the book and forget my driving so I need home-time for such things. I've heard so much about the book from my son who has met Greg Mortenson and from many other people. I can blissfully knit on as I listen and get lost in the book without running into anything. Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin also comes in book form. I highly recommend it.
I start back to work on Thursday. It will be so good to see my customers and my co-workers. I've missed the store. There's a kind of energy at the check-out line. The customers flow through, each a different experience. I see friends from the church and the neighborhood. I see my regulars and learn their names. There is the occasional grouch but for the most part I like my job.

On the receiving end of care

"Your broken leg sure is a lot of work," My husband exclaimed yesterday. I agree. He's had to be my chauffeur, my cook, my launderer, my go-fer, my dog-walker, and my dishwasher. Mr. D has kept up with his household chores and now he is doing mine. I can do some things like folding laundry, making my own tea, and my own personal care. I so wish that I could do more. It's almost more difficult to be on the receiving end of care than it is to be on the giving end. Mr. D at times has had his injuries and I've had to do more of his chores but that only means that I have insight into his frustrations.

Ah, yes, the truth comes out, I am frustrated. I like walking the dog. I like doing laundry with my cool, less than a year-old washer with space age buttons that is downstairs. I like driving where I want to go when I want to go. I like making the one-mile round trip to the library on foot. Those things I like and I hate asking for things. This sister wants to do it for herself!

Soooooooo, what is God trying to teach me this Lent? What am I learning? I have all the time in the world for prayer and reflection. My street is quiet. Mr. D is at work. I knew about the cross of pain and the cross of disability from knowing people who struggled with both but I don't think I knew the cross of dependence. I knew it intellectually but I didn't know it in my heart. I'm learning. I'm learning that pain is distracting. It's difficult to keep my full attention when my leg keeps reminding me of its injury. I'm learning to slow down because I can't go fast with my crutches and I'm learning that the important people will wait for me. I am more fully aware that I am loved, not only by God, but by my family and friends who are God's hands and feet. My faith community prays for me. Wow!

Keeping busy

My new knitting supplies

It has been one tough week. Last week Saturday I was all dressed and ready to go to work. I took Lady to the mailbox and read the mail while walking home. We started going down the hill to our house when I slipped in the mud. The first words out of my mouth were not worthy of a faith and family blog. I made my way into our house, my pants covered with mud. I had twisted my ankle and in the process broke my upper fibula. My husband took me to urgent care where they took x-rays of the lower leg, taped up my ankle, and sent me home on crutches. I told the doctor that my upper leg hurt but he didn't pay much attention to that. I think he saw me as a "garden variety sprain" and looked no further. My ankle got better daily but my leg hurt like crazy. One night our cat stepped on my bone while I was in a sound sleep and I practically went through the roof. I went back to my doctor, had an x-ray taken of my upper leg, and low and behold, I had a spiral fracture of the fibula. I should be in a lot less pain in another week or so and completely healed by six weeks. I don't need a cast because my leg muscles hold my bone in place. I'll continue to hobble along on crutches and watch Netflix DVD's and on-demand.

My injury gives me a lot of time on my hands. I'm off work for a couple of weeks so I'm taking up the hobby that saved me when I was unemployed, knitting. It's one of the only things you can do while watching TV and still feel productive. It is also very relaxing. Mind you, the only thing I know how to knit is long scarves or perhaps blankets. I probably should get some knitting books like Stitch 'N Bitch: The Knitter's Handbook or Knitting Without Tears: Basic Techniques and Easy-to-Follow Directions for Garments to Fit All Sizes but I don't think I can read, watch TV, and knit at the same time.

Rose

I have no words of wisdom today and no stories to tell. I thought I would post this picture.

Recession Blues

Everytime I turn around I hear about people out of work or people who know people who are out of work. The New York Times has an opinion piece today to help the unemployed. It's called "Out of Work? Read a Recession Blog. Or, Better Yet, Write One" by Adam Cohen. A person might as well have something to read in between looking for jobs or comforting friends who are out of theirs. There is a lot of misery to go around. I still have my job but our hours have been cut. We are supposed to have a well-maintained store with everything in stock and fast check-out but aren't given the time it takes to keep it that way. Even though I whine I am very thankful to have a job and I know that other people at other jobs are having their hours cut as well.
The good news is that the sun peeked out a little today. Lady and I got our walk and bus ride in. Canine company is the best in trying times.