I had a shower this morning.
Only those who have for any length of time been confined to strip washes and a head over the kitchen sink can fully appreciate the joy expressed in that statement.
At the southern end of the garden stretches the Back Drive which, as far as I am concerned might have been Antarctica for the last few weeks. I have usually opened the gate at the bottom for Aaron on a Sunday morning so he can bring his van in without having to jump out to open it. This morning he was able to drive straight in.
I have to admit to having dozed off on the odd occasion during the second half of England’s World Cup Wrestling match against Panama this afternoon.
It is not my birthday for a fortnight, yet yesterday I received what looked like a card from our good friend Paulineย https://thecontentedcrafter.comย ย Well, at this time there has also been Father’s Day and the need for Get Well cards. I received a get well card from Jessica and Imogen and a Father’s Day card from Louisa, both before Dad’s Day. I opened them both. One a little early. I considered Pauline’s, all the way from New Zealand, must be wishing me well, so I opened it this morning to find that it was
both for my birthday and for getting better. A beautifully crafted handmade card came with three wonderful bookmarks. Now I have a dilemma. I normally leave bookmarks in books as a surprise for the next reader. How can I possibly do that with these?
I didn’t go to sleep while watching the highlights of the fifth One Day (cricket) International between England and Australia.
After this we dined on a rack of pork spare ribs in barbecue sauce, served on Jackie’s superb vegetable rice.
Such a good post! Wonderful to receive cards and little gifts.
Very many thanks, Laurie
Aww! How sweet! ๐ And I’m really happy to hear you opened those gates for Aaron. It’s a lovely surprise to see the bookmarks in your header – they look quite nice ๐ International post has been so erratic lately – it took two months to get some cards delivered to Canada for instance – that I have been running ahead of myself in order not to be late ๐ Still, the ‘get well’ bit applies immediately doesn’t it and at the rate you are going in two weeks might be out of date! Leave ’em in the books I say and when you run out I’ll send some more xo
Thanks very much, Pauline. They do look good, don’t they. I will leave them in the books – but only those worthy of them ๐ XX
They are stunning, Pauline. You are just all kinds of fabulous.
xo Jodie ๐
๐
Aw…Pauline is so thoughtful. The bookmarks are lovely! As for the pleasure of a shower, I can certainly relate, Derrick.
Thanks very much, Jill ๐
Sounds like good news on all fronts, Derrick.
Thanks very much, Helen
I also leave bookmarks in the books for the next reader, but agree with you, gifts are the exeption of the rule.
Thanks a lot, Bridget. Pauline has given her blessing ๐
This is so cool, and nothing I have ever encountered or have thought to do. Thank you for giving me the idea, both of you.
You’re welcome!
: )
Congratulations on your squeaky clean demeanor and continued freedom and recovery ๐
๐ Thanks very much, Val
Yes, that first shower at home is stupendous, I do so remember, after my broken ankles episodes. Well done Derrick. I adore receiving hand crafted articles, the personal touch always warms my heart
Very many thanks, Ivor
I love them. They are beautiful
They certainly are, Drew. Thanks very much
What a beautiful thoughtful gift. The social worker in me has to tell you itโs okay to keep them you deserve it, but it is also okay if you want to surprise other readers with such beauty…
Quite so, on both counts, msw. Thanks very much
Those bookmarks are too pretty to part with!
Aren’t they? But now I have Pauline’s blessing they can stay in my books until I’m gone. Many thanks, Leslie
Congratulations on your shower, Derrick. Seems like a long time coming for you.
Yes, it was. A question of standing unaided
Would you believe I only missed out having my morning shower ONCE when I had my total gastrectomy? Admittedly I had the assistance of a nurse, but for the first few mornings, and it was a bit awkward with all those pipes and tubes hanging about, but we managed.
Believe it or not the hardest thing was having a shave, not that that would worry you ๐
That dinner sounds good, I’m planning on the same menu one evening this week. The War Office loves it for some reason beyond my ken, but why did you omit what you drank? Getting slack are we? Dotage approaching?
I watched the Dodgers v The Mets.
Play Ball ๐
That is amazing, Brian. Congratulations on your cleanliness. Actually, I am right off booze at the moment. Jackie has bought some mini bottles of Malbec. I drank the first one while watching the Aussie whitewash, so that doesn’t count. Thanks a lot.
Slowly but surely life begins to return to its normal rhythms, with increasing renewedd autonomy, and the joyful return of one’s treasured creature comforts. I’m so pleased to hear and see signs of your continuing recovery dear Derrick!!! May the journey continue to be a steady and successful climb to health and wholeness! Love and prayers for such from across the pond in a distant land called Texas. ๐ <3 oxoxoxoxox
Very many thanks, Natalie XX
Youโre so welcome my friendโฃ๏ธ๐๐น
ฮave a nice week!!!!
Thanks a lot, Efi. You too
Pauline’s card is lovely. Glad to hear you are making such good progress.
Many thanks, John
What great bookmarks. One of the things I miss about reading books now I have switched to kindle is not having interesting book marks.
Thanks very much, Eric
Just love the book marks!!
Many thanks, Anne. I’ve e-mailed Mark to suggest he fixes a date with me. Still taking forever to recover, but physio thinks I’m doing well, and I can certainly sit with him while he takes the pics ๐
Thoughtful gifts, they’re lovely Derrick!
They are indeed. Thanks very much, Arlene
Oh, the bookmarks are so beautiful! You must keep them always!
They are the start of your birthday celebration! Keep celebrating right up until THE DAY! ๐
HUGS!!! ๐
Thanks very much, Carolyn
Some cherished bookmarks can never be given away, Derrick. I have a silver one given to me as one of my retirement gifts. It is engraved with “Enjoy Retirement” and has a small holder on top for a picture. So I took a photo of the picnic bench where I used to read on break-time.
Don’t have your address, so can’t send a card – therefore here’s my Happy Birthday – Happy Father’s Day and Happy to be on Recovery Card!
Very many thanks, GP. Much appreciated
What a wonderful surprise! I couldnโt part with Paulineโs creations, either. They are far too beautiful!
Many thanks, Cheryl
Oh how you must have loved that shower ….
๐ Yep. Many thanks, Osyth
I am fully with you about the beautiful bookmarks. And washing in full after a ban imposed by practicioners of medicine.
๐ Many thanks, Uma
So many good things in this post. What lovely and thoughtful gifts – and that shower must have been total bliss. (The ribs sound pretty good as well ๐ )
Thanks very much, Sandra
Lovely bookmarks and the good news about shower. Happy for you.
Many thanks, Rupali
Isn’t it lovely to appreciate a shower? Only hard times give us that. xoxo
Many thanks, Jodie ๐
: )
The bookmarks are so attractive – what a wonderful gift!
Thanks a lot, Clare
Those cards are so lovely derrick! Yeah for the shower!
Thank you very much, Lynn
Oh that first shower!!! It’s almost orgasmic ๐ and utterly exhausting!
So it should be if it approaches orgasmic ๐ Many thanks, Widders
It’s a nice dilemma to have. If you liked re-reading books over and over, you could leave it inside a favourite, but I remember you saying there are too many book-shaped fish in the sea for that. Very happy to see you getting better enough for a shower (pauses to wonder if ‘better enough’ ought to be written)… you get my drift.
I get your drift, Susan. A perfectly good phrase in the context. Many thanks
I understand completely about the shower! I’m glad you are getting about.
The bookmarks are beautiful–how thoughtful of Pauline!
Many thanks, Merril. Pauline is very much like that
How time so easily slips. I clearly remember the contentment and relief that came from the first shower after my hip replacements. Then, so quickly, that moment passed. This brought it back to me. I thank you for that and congratulate you on that milestone.
Thanks very much, Ellen. I’m banking on forgetting this period to enable me to face the next one ๐
you can’t…those are lovely
Thanks very much, Lisa
The book marks are beautiful. I am glad you are better now. Regards
Thanks very much, Lakshmi – on both counts ๐