Tuesday, August 29, 2006

Things I Have Learned The Hard Way


What I'll be wearing for the next three to six months.


I’ve learned a lot over the past two weeks. There I was bopping along—worries, stresses, too much work, not enough down-time, and wham-bam life was turned upside down, to the point of not even being recognizable. About two week ago, I started having serious headaches. My Doctor thought it was a bad sinus infection. I bought into that until the headaches started getting worse. You know how they tell you that when you can honestly say, “I have the worse headache I’ve ever had,” you should go to the emergency room immediately? Well, I didn’t—at least not immediately. The result was that I ended up being transferred from one hospital to another by ambulance, rushed into surgery, and given a tres chic haircut, (translate shaved head) and two drains coming out of my head to relieve the pressure from bleeding in my head. It’s a blessing that I don’t remember any of it, but I do remember some things that will be with me in the years ahead:
1. When you are flat on your back in a hospital bed, there are no faces you want to see more than the loving, smiling faces of husband, children and grandchildren, all saying, “We love you,” and “Come on Mom you can do it!”

2. When my head is wrapped, mummy-style, in bandages I look a little like Charlie Brown—you know, the kid with the round head. Don't want to do that again!

3. Nothing is more important than living a stress free, calm, relaxed life. I was a workaholic, and now I realize that the importance of work just doesn’t compare with the importance of being happy and enjoying life

4. I have staples zig-zagging across the top of my head, and I keep waiting for the little train to come out of one ear and zip across to the other ear. From this I learned that when incapacitated I’ll use almost anything to entertain myself.


5. Nothing can stop me from knitting! I was concerned that I might not be able to focus my eyes on knitting for weeks or months. When I discovered that I could knit without any problems I was a “happy camper.” My best advice is to do what makes you happy, and if knitting does that for you, as it does for me, don’t let anything prevent you from it.

6. Bald is beautiful! Except for said train tracks on the top, my head doesn’t look half bad! I think we can get used to almost anything when we consider the alternatives.

7. From now on I will take life one day at a time. One day’s problems are enough for anyone to handle. In addition, when I contemplate problems for the first time, I will do it with a smile and a feeling of “whatever.”

I have new life plans: I plan never to let things overwhelm me again. I plan to look for the best in every person and every situation. I plan to maintain this attitude in any way possible, and to always, always remember that LIFE IS GOOD! I've learned all the life lessons I want to for a while.

7 comments:

Jenn said...

Oh my goodness! I'm so glad you're OK - what a scary experience! In times of worry I remember, "Just keep knitting, just keep knitting," as I find that if my hands are occupied my brain usually is too.
Thinking of you!

Carol said...

Ooooh! Talk about the forces of fate giving you a wake-up call! That sucks! Nothing like a life-or-death reminder to enjoy the life part. Here's to you r speedy, happy recovery.

Valerie Polichar said...

So glad you're still with us. And heck, you look chic in that hat and the sunnies... nothing like an abrupt, involuntary Change of Perspective, huh?

Katherine said...

So true Valerie! There's nothing like the realities that are forced on us to make us rethink life in general. This was a real wake up call!

wendy said...

WOWSERS!!!
I'm so glad that you're mending and I hope they found out why.

Two odd things keep popping into my head...one, at least the head heals extremely fast (you could of had a foot thing which could take years to heal), and two, what a perfect excuse to knit up some hats...like these http://www.anniemodesitt.com/patterns/

Sending you good mojo!

Julie said...

You'll be surprised how very quickly your hair will grow back. I had "minor" brain surgery some years ago myself and now there's only a teensy thin line where hair doesn't grow but it's not at all noticeable. Take it easy with lifting for a good while and best wishes for a speedy recovery!

kathy b said...

OH only the best wishes to you. I too am struggling just a bit now and your contemplation WHATEVER strategy is going to be adopted as of RIGHT NOW>

Thanks for the honesty and help.

Glad you like your stash.