Dear Reader:
Early yesterday morning, when I walked into my “office” to check on the blog before eating breakfast, I looked out the window (by the computer) and saw this beautiful foggy scene. I felt compelled to throw on my robe and shoes to walk outside in the dense fog for a few minutes and enjoy the muted silence that only a foggy morning can bring.
The peeks of light I saw in the fog-riddled garden came from two moon flowers that bloomed during the night.
My Oak-leaf Hydrangea has suffered all summer from the heat….no matter how much extra water it got…it just never seemed to be enough. Then along comes the storm of all storms… with more rain than we have ever seen before….and it is finally happy….turning pretty fall colors before my eyes.
Tuesday was a bright beautiful day but I fell into a “fog” of confusion brought on by my pharmacy and all the drugs I take.
A few weeks ago I had the nicest call from a CVS representative saying that she had been assigned my “case” and realized that my prescriptions were coming in all month within days of each other and that I must be running to CVS a minimum of twice a week.
I told her I was and I would give anything to get these prescriptions coordinated so I could just pick up the whole “enchilada” at one time per month. So….in the ensuing minutes following my plea for help, I literally counted the pills in each prescription bottle and then the CVS “rep” did the math (thank goodness.) I was told that Oct. 13 would get us the closest to one monthly time to refill all the prescriptions.
I thanked her profusely and a week later got an email reminder that October 13 would be the first monthly prescription pick-up date. (The problem was I was still getting CVS telephone calls telling me that I had a prescription waiting for pick-up.)
Since I didn’t need any immediate prescriptions….I held out for the right date and when I got there yesterday….there was just one prescription waiting for me. Confused…I explained what had happened and even showed her the email message on my Iphone. She talked to the manager and came back and said I didn’t have any other prescriptions due until November.
When I explained that this wouldn’t work…since I only had a handful of pills in each bottle left….she said I would need to check with my doctors about this…..?????
I could feel the fog of frustration rolling in…..and all the way home I was mentally fussing about this to myself and I kept muttering “It’s ALWAYS something!”
Suddenly a little “epiphany” shot through my mind….” Becky…in life you can always count on “something” to come along, something good, something not-so-good, but as long as you are alive…”something” will come along. It is how you react to that “something” that alters your life throughout it.”
Before arriving at CVS I had just come from my regular oncology check-up. Dr. Silgals is so happy about the way my body has accepted a drug that was originally intended for a different type of cancer (with few and minimal side effects)…and it is still keeping my “little c” in check. He called me his “Poster Girl” and jokingly told me to keep up the good work…I was making him look good!”
So within a matter of minutes…I had let myself get worked up over some computer glitch when I just received such a glowing report from my oncologist. I shook my head…”Really Becky…Come on girl…what’s wrong with you?’
Jackson has also discovered the secret of “It’s ALWAYS something.” Now, if anybody is entitled, to blow off some steam with this expression…it is my beloved Ya friend, Jackson. For Pete’s Sake…she just lost her home to the flood and has no flood insurance. She is a retired school teacher living off her SC retirement and social security pensions.
She is still caught up in the “Waiting Place,” (as Dr. Seuss would call it,)waiting on FEMA to let her know if she can re-build or if she has to tear her home down. (Please pray she can re-build!) Of all the people I know ..Jackson has more right to lament “It’s always something”…more than anyone else.
Instead…she, too, has discovered …..“Thank you God…it IS always something and someone out there to help.”
Jackson told me on the phone the other afternoon that she feels like a zombie walking around….because the amount of caring and love she has felt from family, close friends, and strangers has just blown her over.
She said that she doesn’t even know how to react to this much compassion….”Thank you” feels totally inadequate…how do you begin to thank family, friends, and total strangers showing up to work 12 hour days…with no pay…they are there simply to help you try to get your home ready to rebuild?
To to quite honest…I can’t begin to remember all the groups Jackson named on the phone that have shown up….churches (filled with adults and youth groups) youth sports teams, neighbors, and extended family who return daily to slug it out with the mud.
A group of librarians from USC came in and got as many of Jackson’s family pictures as possible (that they deemed salvageable) and sat down and cleaned them on the door steps….Then they took some back to the library and returned with them in a box…fully restored.
Jackson did want me to give a ‘shout-out’ to one organization started by Franklin Graham (Billy Graham’s son) …called Samaritan’s Purse. This group is saving her thousands of dollars by removing the mold under the floor foundation, thus making it possible for construction crews to replace floor boards once the signal is given…they are doing a lot of what she would have had to pay ServPro to do.
(She is still having ServPro do some of the work bu Samaritan’s Purse has done a tremendous amount of this required work ahead of time.)
Jackson has made one astute observation (that she shared with me)….When all is said and done...cockroaches and old credit cards survive when nothing else does!
…Miraculously Matthew (Jackson’s son) found her rings she had left on her bedside table before leaving for Edisto. (in the mud on the ground by her bedside table.)
Here is the link to Jackson’s GoGundMe page if you would like to help out: https://www.gofundme.com/td67b58k
So until tomorrow….”Yes…It IS Always Something” and we should give God praise and thanks for that very reason!
“Today is my favorite day” Winnie the Pooh
- Jackson said the winks are coming so fast that God must surely be getting dizzy!
- As of last evening “Legally Pink” is at 86%….we have raised $1304 of the $1500 goal set for the team. We are doing good and thank all of you for your support and contributions….it makes the planning worth it.
- If you would still like to participate….here is the information for you. You just might be the one who takes our team over the top!!!Susan G. Komen Lowcountry Race for the Cure – 50 Folly Road Charleston, SC 29407Electronic donation:
ichaseferalcats
John Turner
Legally Ohm
Becky Dingle