“In sickness and in health.” I am not sick but these last few weeks Jim has stepped forward to do so much more than his fair share around here as I struggle with mobility and some pain. I ask him to pick up things from the floor or to bring me things from another room as he is enroute to wherever I am sitting. He helps with the cooking and laundry. He drives me places and gives me his arm when we are walking any distance. Even with a cane, I feel more secure with his arm too. I have not used my walker in public places yet. Yesterday he even went into the library with me to help me scan the shelves and find my volumes from top and bottom shelves.
I hope that if the day comes that I need to care for him in the way he has cared for me, I can do so with the same amount of patience and good will he has shown.
And because the many pre-surgery instructions include no alcohol for a week before the operation, Jim has joined me in abstinence. I didn’t think I would mind giving up my happy hour wine, but I have to say that the last two nights we have had very nice dinners of salmon and asparagus and shrimp and asparagus, and I really missed my glass of Pinot Grigio to complement my meal. I hope this requirement does not go for a long time past the surgery too. Jim has watched the required video twice and is prepared to be my “support person” and “coach.” I guess this means he will remind me to do my exercises and to use the ice packs and to not stand or walk too long or far.
Plus Jim has had to listen to me speak of my worries and concerns over and over again. I do tend to have to talk things through and aloud and who else is going to listen to me? My journals provide an outlet and emailing friends has helped. But he is bearing the brunt of my therapy needs! I welcome his hugs!
“For better and for worse.” May it soon be “for better!”
No comments:
Post a Comment