Bodacious Boomer

Brett in Austin 2009

I got an email from my friend Kenna today. It was an invitation to join Nancy’s Renal Rangers. It’s a group of folks that are going to be participating in the National Kidney Walk on September 20th. I’ve actually met Nancy, Kenna’s friend. She’s a great woman who has had a kidney transplant. Doug and I will be participating on Sept. 20th. I’ve never been in a “walk” before and although it starts at 7am, I’m looking forward to it.

I spoke to my friend Michelle yesterday who is a flight attendant with Continental. She told me of her friend who is hospitalized with necrotizing fasciitis, the flesh eating bacteria. She developed the infection after some routine dental work. So far she’s lost half her tongue. I’m not even sure if you can talk if you’ve only got half your tongue. Of course she’s fighting for her life, so the ability to speak probably isn’t very important at this juncture.

I listen to the news everyday and keep up with world events at CNN.com. I read about absolutely horrible things everyday. But somehow, they all seem far away even if they’re in Houston. These last two things really gave me a wake-up call. I would say that on the whole, I am a happy person and have a pretty good outlook on life. However, I still tend to let minor things get me down sometimes. I don’t really care about possessions per se.

I’m already done with my “big house” stage thank God, and now live in a one-story half the size. I don’t have to have the latest or great new toy that comes out. I always wanted a flashy sports car. However, in reality, someone else would probably like it more and I’d get jacked for it. (Not to mention extricating myself from one wouldn’t be a pretty site anyway.) Since we got married on the spur of the moment I never even got a wedding ring. I guess people think I’ve been living in sin for over 25 years. I couldn’t care less.

Right after Brett’s stroke in 1985, Doug and I decided to be self-employed, since Brett had to go to therapy 5 days a week, twice a day. Being only 2 yrs. old with his life in front of him, his rehab became our entire world. No employer was going to give us the time we needed to deal with all his medical needs. One of his therapy appointments was over 70 miles away. Our income has looked like an EKG over the years. We’re pushing sixty now and don’t have pensions waiting for us or big 401K’s. Sometimes I get really stressed out bummed about that. Then I have a day like today.

Today was like an invisible slap in the face. One that I have to admit, I’d been needing. I’d been feeling sorry for myself. Then I remembered Nancy, who’d had kidney disease and Michele’s friend with the God-awful infection. Then I spoke to Brett, our son. He was telling me about the DJ gigs he has lined up and how well he is doing. This is the same person that we were told would never walk or talk again 25 years ago. (He left the hospital tied in a wheelchair with his head lolling on his shoulder.) I’ve got a daughter who’s been happy in a relationship for the past four years and who makes straight A’s in college. I got 6 crazy dogs and 1 crazy friend who’s like a sister to me. I’ve got a husband who loves me and sees me through rose colored glasses. Life is good. I was just to stupid to see it.