I was tempted this past weekend to re-read Dr. Spencer
Johnson’s best seller, “Who Moved My Cheese” which I have on a bookshelf
somewhere in the house. It’s all about adapting to change. I read it initially when I moved from Cedar
Rapids to Des Moines in 2001 and it came to mind almost immediately as the
events of the past week began to unfold.
My wife had knee replacement surgery December 7 and the
anticipation (or worry) about the event quickly gave way to a major case of
being scatter brained because the office was 10 minutes from the hospital. While my thoughts, wishes and concerns for
her were of course number 1 on the priority list, there are those
responsibilities in the office that require at least passing attention when it
comes to situations such as those from last week.
I probably should read the book again.
I was in what felt
like no man’s land. I couldn’t
concentrate at the office and when I was at the hospital I couldn’t stop
checking my office email.
Judy came home Wednesday afternoon. By Sunday we had the routine down and she has
been improving on a daily basis. I even
got a bell for her to ring if she needed something. (She hasn’t used it) But the period between Wednesday and Sunday
got dicey at times because routines were disrupted, new requests surfaced and
concerns over recovery remained.
I probably should read the book again.
While the changes of the past week were challenging there
was also the opportunity for growth. Because
throughout the past week and hopefully going forward, the role of caretaker
actually helped us grow a little closer to each other. And unless I am mistaken, growing closer and
relying on each other is what is supposed to happen in a marriage. There will be ripples in the water in the
future but if the focus is on learning from them and growing from them,
bring on the ripples.
Maybe, to be safe, I should read the book again.
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