Our Christmas here in TX had a couple of wrenches thrown in as well. But each one gives us a reason to count blessings.
A couple of months ago, my father-in-law was diagnosed w/ colon cancer. Pat and I were running back and forth to Indiana to sit in on doctor consults, check out the medical facilities, and help out around the house, before and after his surgery. He's going to be fine (those corn-fed crotchety old farmers are hard to keep down!) but people came pretty unglued for a while.
5 days before Christmas my Mom calls to tell me that she's having a cataract removed. ("Uh, Mom? When were you going to tell me you were having ANY trouble w/ your eyes???") She was cleared to travel the day after the 8-minute surgery (they arrived on Christmas Eve) and she and Dad are taking a vacation at our house. She needs to have the other eye done and due to that evil empire known as insurance, Dad may not be able to afford it. Fortunately, Pat and I can pick this one up. She'll be able to see better than she has since high school!
Finally, Dec 22, a major squall line came through SE Texas that is the worst I've seen since moving here in 1990. Except for having our power out for 4 hours, we escaped w/out major problems. Some people around the city had trees through their houses.
This all sucked, but I'll tell you--sometimes you need something major like this to get your attention about the blessings you really *do* have in life.
Hope everyone has a happy (happier?) 2003!
Adrienne
