Bookmarks To Treasure

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.

Back Drive

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.

77 comments

  1. Aww! How sweet! ๐Ÿ™‚ 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 ๐Ÿ™‚ 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late ๐Ÿ˜€ Still, the ‘get well’ bit applies immediately doesn’t it and at the rate you are going in two weeks might be out of date!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

  2. 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

  3. What a beautiful thoughtful gift. The social worker in me has to tell you itโ€™s okay to keep them you deserve it, but it is also okay if you want to surprise other readers with such beauty…

  4. 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 ๐Ÿ˜€
    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 ๐Ÿ˜€

    1. 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.

  5. 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. ๐Ÿ™‚ <3 oxoxoxoxox

    1. 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 ๐Ÿ™‚

  6. 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! ๐Ÿ™‚
    HUGS!!! ๐Ÿ™‚

  7. 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!

  8. 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 ๐Ÿ˜‰ )

  9. 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.

  10. 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.

Leave a Reply