As the Wheel Creaks

Soon, I must find a topic other than my recent medical trauma, but here goes one more post.

It's simple really: just that I have been reminded of the cycles of life, the wheel of time as it were. You see, I remember visiting my Dad when he underwent the very same surgery. He was older than I, in his late seventies, if I've recalled correctly, so I was concerned. Because his surgeon had told me that he would recover better with lots of family support, I took three days off work to spend as much time with him as possible. (Not to worry: we were permitted this time by our contract, and it was deducted from my sick time anyway.) When it was all over, he said that the time we had spent together was a real highlight for him. I think he actually said, "The highlight of my year." Maybe it wasn't a very good year, eh?

The point is that family rallied around, and, of course, they have done that for me too, even though I am much younger now than Dad was then. Cuppa has been and continues to be her usual rock-like self: "Let me go upstairs and get that for you." Thesha and Theboy visited both nights and have continued to be supportive ever since: "Dad you shouldn't be lifting that, let me get it." The A-team has called from Vancouver and sent a little care package, and I am touched.

While I won't go as far as Dad and call the experience a highlight, I think I understand. It is, indeed, very satisfying to experience such concern and support. What isn't so especially wonderful is to have the wheel of time turn so relentlessly. It was one thing for it to be old Dad's turn to undergo that operation, but it's somewhat sobering to have my own turn come around.