Thursday, December 4 and moving on

Well, another month is upon us. It is a time to celebrate for me. This week, one year ago, I had my last surgery and spent 6 days in the hospital. I am so glad that this is behind me and I can still breathe on my own. That is a great thing to have behind me. My boss looked at my backlog of jobs to do and was happy with what I have done lately. He asked me if I could help with the upcoming turn-around that is being planned right now. It does not start until August of 2009, but they want it completely planned out before the end of the year. This is one of those BIG things that I have not had a lot of experience with. I got to climb up a couple of towers to get pictures of stuff up there and put a job together to get the item taken care of. It takes me a long time to get up and down these, but I made it. My boss was not happy that I did this because he knows how I am and how I will push to do things. I told him I was OK with it even though I am slow at it. It does make my shoulder hurt, but it is progress that I can do it. One of my co-workers said he was so glad that I was able to climb again. It is not as easy as it used to be and makes me hurt, but making it is a feat for me. He and I talked a lot about how I was when I was down and he knew some of it, but had only heard a little bit of the truth. I talked to him and explained a lot of things in detail because I know him well enough to know he could handle it. It is tough thing to talk about when someone can't handle it, but since I lived through it all and know MOST of it first hand, I don't mind telling the story. He said he has noticed my mood and how I have such a good outlook on things. I went back to the "train story" that I have told before. (If you don't know my "train story", don't be afraid to ask...) I told him how when I first woke up that I did not know my wife and kids at first, but they tell me that they could tell when I did. I was so sure at that time that I could do anything. I just needed someone coming to see me to help me up so I could "escape". Of course, they all loved me enough to know better than to try this. I finally was able to get up on my own and try to walk out. Betty came in and found me passed out in a pool of blood on the floor. I just knew I could make it. The truth hurts sometimes and the floor does, too. This did not convince me I was not ready but the net bed they put me in helped get me around.
Some of these memories will be with me forever and I am proud to say that I remember a lot of them. God was with me then as he is now. He helps me daily to move on and move upward. My mind is not quite as good as it used to be, but I hope with time, I will be better there, too.
My love to all of you. Have a safe of joyous Christmas time this year. Just remember WHY this is a holiday. This is the time when our Great One was born. Smile and appreciate every day.
Mark 12/4/08