My Three Week Stay At A Nursing Home

     I could tell you what a horrible experience it was. Three weeks in rehab in a nursing home for my broken foot, that is still a problem. I am back at home now and happy even though still off my foot.

     Since Thanksgiving is right around the corner, I want to write about a young man named George who managed to lift the spirits of everyone he came in contact with.

     George was admitted to the home because of obesity problems with his legs. He is a huge man with a heart twice his size. He belonged to our smoker’s group of six. We were allowed to go outside six times a day. Those were the happiest moments of my stay in a dismal environment.

     George had you laughing constantly. Silly jokes, funny jokes, but most of all it was his love of people that brought joy to all of us. He loved to make fun of himself too. Not in a derogatory manner. He was a proud man, coping with a disability that made you love him all the more.

     I will probably never see George again, but I’ll remember him forever.

    “Say nice things about me,” he’d joke. That was the easiest part – if you met him you'd forget his size because his huge heart made knowing him a pleasure.

     Happy Thanksgiving to all.

 

                                                                        Audrey

Where There's A Will, There's A Way

Where there's a will, there's a way!

     Just when I had hope my foot was healing, I had a bad setback. It was my own fault – I actually forgot the foot was still broken. Since I wasn’t having any pain, I began to move around more freely. No more going up and down stairs on my backside. I just started walking up and down. Since daughter Barbara was coming down for a quickie visit, I washed sheets, made the bed, mopped the bathroom floor. When both Pam and Barbara were here, I ran around like a crazy fool, happiness in my heart. Well, now I’m paying for it.

     Overnight my foot swelled, the pain became intense. Back to the doctor. X-rays showed I had “flattened” the bone to the point that it became a secondary break. Doctor’s orders, no walking for two weeks. All I can do is keep my foot elevated. For the first day I was very obedient, but then it struck me – I wanted to use my computer to write and still keep the foot elevated. My solution was simple. I just propped it on the wastebasket nest to the computer.

     So now I’m still obeying doctor’s orders with the satisfaction of being able to write again!


Note: I sent the photo to my friend Jane and this was her response with a little graphic to go with it.


You are a very clever lady! Four sayings come to mind:
1. Necessity is the mother of invention.
2.Where there's a will, there's a way!
3.Winston Churchill says: Attitude is a little thing that can make a big difference.
4.When you come to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on.

 

Music In My Life

 

  

 

I'm not sure why, but I thought a lot about my husband today. Probably because I'm cooped up alone with a broken foot. I was remembering how much music meant to my life. Music touched my heart every time I felt emotion. If nothing else, I was a romantic.

           On the first real date I had with my future husband, I should have realized that I was not dating a romantic. We went to a small restaurant in New York City where they had dancing. At one point, as we were dancing, I started to softly sing into his ear, “I've got you under my skin.”

He pushed me slightly back, looked down on me and asked, “You got Cooties?”

Right then and there I should have realized ours would be a marriage of fidelity and unspoken words of romance. He was a marvelously unromantic husband.

For our thirtieth anniversary, I wanted to tell him what those years meant to me. Kenny Rogers had just put out a new cassette. I played it until I came to the song “Through The Years.” I put it secretly in his car cassette. It would be the first song he'd hear on his way to work. I couldn't wait for him to listen to the words. He would know how much I loved him.

That evening when he got home I asked him what he thought of the song.

His answer? “That guy's got a really good voice.” No mention of the particular song I had chosen. What do you do with a guy like that? You love him and know he loves you even if he never says so. 

 

        

Das Boot



Not my boot, but similar, for a broken foot! Not on crutches thank goodness.

        Last week I broke my right foot. It's been hard getting around, but since there is nothing I can do about it, I'm not going to complain

.
       Actually, there is a humorous side to all this if I look at it the right way.

       Picture me crawling around on my hands and knees like an eighty-five-year old baby because I can't stand up due to the pain. My cat "Blossom" is following me around, purring like she's my soul mate. We seem to be on level ground now. If I suddenly start lapping at her food bowl, I'll be ready for the men in the little white coats.

       I am still concerned walking up and down on the thirteen steps.
Another thing to picture – me going up and down each stair on my backside. One step at a time, pushing myself from stair to stair with my arms. Maybe I'll get some muscles back. My arms will always be flabby, but a little more strength would be nice.

       There was a light in my day when the taxi driver picked me up to go to the clinic. He was friendly and helpful. When we got to the clinic, he hung around until the nurse brought out a wheelchair. By my second trip with him we had become buddies.

       Seems he wants to become a writer, but wasn't sure how to go about getting started. Wow! That was right up my alley. I forgot my pain and started advising him. Told him if he wrote only twenty-five words each and every day, he would soon find his mind thinking up ideas. I gave him a book called "If I Can Write, You Can Write." It's the book I used to get started - best book on the market.

      He left happy and I felt blessed. Everything happens for a reason. Who knows, maybe one day he'll be this generation's Ernest Hemmingway.

My New Release on Amazon "Tales of Love & Mystery"

 Available on Amazon

 and Kindle

This collection of eight short stories is a fast paced journey through the hearts and minds of a variety of characters that will draw you in and keep you reading. From an ethereal young boy to a demon child, from a wheel chair ridden young woman to a motorcycle lover, the action and dialog zip along.

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My Latest Release on Amazon!

My daughter Pam collected eight of my favorite short stories and designed my new book. From cover to loading the book to Amazon and Kindle, she did it all. If you click on the link under the book photo, you will go to Amazon where you can peek inside. I am thrilled to have a second book completed. Pam is in the process of starting her own business to help authors get their books in print!

First Book Signing At River House on Matanzas Bay

My first book signing!

 

I had my first official book signing at the Christmas in July craft show last Wednesday at the magnificent River House located on Matanzas Bay. As always, the folks there were gracious and wonderful. It was a great morning and I enjoyed meeting all the other vendors. Looking forward to doing this show again in December. Working on my new book. Stay tuned....

 

My table set-up


 

A Very Special Award

Thanks to my friend Jane for this great honor! After my post about rats the other day, I received this via e-mail!

First place ... in rat killing
 presented to Audrey Frank, St. Augustine's finest in rodent extermination!