Therapy Thoughts–Sereni~Tea

day #14 post op

serenity: the state of calmness or peace; the absence of trouble or disturbance

I am putting a lot of effort into thinking positive thoughts.  Though I have missed the comfort and joys of home and family—not to mention Laurel’s dance recital and today’s swim meet, but I’ll get over that, someday– I’ve just realized that since coming to rehab I have experienced  an unrecognized and heretofor unappreciated serenity. Who expects that in rehab?  And yet, it is as real as the 23 staples that hold my incision together.

Laurel lining up for her first event

My bad knee has been replaced with a good one, my therapist is making it work, the nurses monitor all aspects of my health, the CNA’s are at my beck and call, my family and friends  have smothered me with love, visits, calls, cards, flowers and prayers.   How could I not be serene?

This realization came to me today. Having just completed my third and last therapy session of the day, I  stretched out on my hospital bed to relax for a few moments.   The lavender booklet, next to the roses in the photo, caught my eye so I perused the contents.  It was sent to me by my dearly loved Aunt Rheeta, who lives in Indiana.

The presentation is very feminine, which is to be expected with the title Women and God, Moments of Grace, 25 Devotions.  It opens with some detailed advice on making a good pot of tea and a recipe for vanilla scones, then begins the devotions, each built on a “tea/ty” concept such as beauty (beau-tea), identity, heredity, modesty, creativity, productivity…you get the picture. 

The premise is to make yourself a cup of tea and enjoy the daily devotion.  Each includes a definition of the word, an illustrative anecdote and a supporting scripture.  After a thoughtful read, my suspicions  have been confirmed.  I am serene.

As I look at my assortment of goodies, pictured above, I cannot help but grin.  With Alastair’s newly framed 15 month portrait,  zinnias and rudbeckias from Trish’s garden, my newly arrived book from Amazon, The Well Trained Mind,  A Guide to Classical Education,  get well cards, roses from Bob for our 42nd anniversary AND my fabulous new English from the Roots Up  (Latin and Greek root words) flashcards,  I am all set.  Add to this picture the Jon-Jon I am smocking for Alastair and powerful  pain pills—well, you can see that serene and contented is all I can be.

I wish the same for you.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Post Script:  Last year, Laurel placed 5th out of 6 at her first swim  meet.  David, the boy next door, swaggered up to her and pointed out that he had placed second, better than she.   Laurel looked right at him and replied, “Well, 5 is a bigger number than 2 so I beat you!”  We did not disabuse her of this reckoning.  This year, however, she knows full well about ordinal numbers and how that all works.