Irony

I left Crossfit feeling defeated and sorry for myself. I've had persistent pain in my right shoulder that has recently gotten worse.  I originally thought it was residual from the bicep tendon I ruptured in January.  However, it hasn't gone away and lately I've started thinking it’s a Rotator Cuff issue.  As I drove to Manor Care to see Gram, I was thinking about the impending MRI that I’m having Friday and wondering what the results will be.  A Rotator Cuff injury – even without surgery – is a long recovery.  If surgery is needed, it’s much longer.  In either case, I would likely need to consider giving up Crossfit.  That angers me.  And that, along with the work-related drama that’s occurred over the last few weeks has exacerbated my anger. Poor me.

As I walked my cranky ass into the facility, Sandy directed me to Gram who was down the hallway near her room.  As I approached, I noticed something odd; she was wheeling her wheelchair down the hallway with her eyes closed!  As I snapped a photo of her, I couldn't help but to smile.  This woman always cheers me up!

We sat in the hallway in front of the nurse’s station and Gram toyed with the bottle of Gatorade that she stole from me.  She drank some, but mostly just kept taking the lid off and putting it back on. 

While we sat there, I heard Harry, who was down the hall, singing, of all things, “The Sun Will Come Out Tomorrow.”  (I had previously referred to Harry as the “Gay One,” since I didn't know his name and he struck me as such.  Then, for a while, I wasn't so sure.  It could have just been that I interpreted his over-the-top friendliness as gayness.  Tonight’s rendition of that show tune, however, may prove my original notion to be correct). 

Sandy brought some ice cream for Gram.  It’s funny how something as simple as watching Gram eat ice cream can lift my spirits.  She’s so much fun to just watch.  She was so focused on getting the hard ice cream out of the container with the plastic spoon that she was deep in her own world, stopping only occasionally to offer some to me.  (I would graciously say, “No, thank you.”)  As she devoured the ice cream, I was catching a glimpse of red on her fingers out of the corner of my eye.   At first I thought it was blood.  Then I remembered that Monica had painted her nails last week and what I was seeing was remnants of the polish.  Again, I smiled.

As I prepared to leave, Chris, one of my favorite aides, stepped behind the nurse’s station and I overheard him saying that his blood pressure was very high – something like 160/120.  That’s crazy.  He's 31!  Stefanie told him to sit for a while.  He said he didn’t feel well. Eventually, the whole gang gathered around the station – Gary, Carol, Sandy, Stefanie and some others.  They were all concerned about Chris and urging him to talk to his doctor about it.  I was concerned too.

But amidst all the commotion at the nurse’s station, Gram was still quietly going about digging the ice cream out of the cup and eating it.  Then, once again, in the background, Harry began blurting out “The Sun Will Come Out Tomorrow.”  I kissed Gram on the forehead and said what I usually say, “I have to go to work; I’ll see you when I get home.”  “I guess,” she retorted, still intensely focused on the ice cream.

As I walked down the hall and toward the exit, my mood was better.  I thought, “Yes, this too, shall pass.  The sun WILL come out tomorrow.”  I opened the door to go outside.  SNOW!!