Belated Appreciation

By Barbara A. Killmeyer

Sometimes situations force us to stop and think about the various things in life that we have always taken for granted. This is one of those times for me. Due to some foot surgery, it is necessary for me to avoid putting any weight on my left foot. This means that I’m pretty much confined to my recliner. I have a walker to help me hop from one room to another if I have to, but I do that as little as possible. A few things I appreciate that I never gave much thought to before are: walking out of the house, going up stairs, going out to get the mail, and my bed. Since I can’t go up the stairs, I’ve had to sleep on my recliner. Going out of the house is such a major project now that I go out only for doctor appointments. One good thing about my forced inactivity is that I know in a month or so I will be back to doing my normal activities. For me this is only temporary, but I have a new appreciation for those who must live permanently with disabilities. I applaud you for your courage and will

One good thing about this is that I have had plenty of time to think. After all, a person can only watch so much television or read so many books. My mind has wandered back over the years to the many people who have made a difference in my life and have helped to mold me into the person I eventually became. Of course parents, grandparents and various other relatives come to mind, but there is a group of women that I don’t believe I ever thought of in that way before, and I now realize what a great influence they had on me. I was fortunate enough to be taught for 12 years by the Sisters of Divine Providence. Like any school child, I didn’t know how lucky I was to have those wonderful nuns to guide me, not only through school work, but also through life lessons. I have finally come to appreciate what I was given so many years ago. I wish I could thank each of them for what they did for me.

I’m looking forward to autumn and to returning to my regular routine, and I know that when that happens, I’ll have a greater appreciation for the things I’ve been taking for granted.

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