So long, farewell, auf wiedersehn, good bye

Over a week ago I had a knee injury where I tore some ligaments. Painful yes, then and now, but I"m holding my own. The injury requires me to hobble about in excruciating pain. So doing something simple, like going to the bathroom at work and back takes me about 20 min, so something a little more elaborate and complicated, like taking a shower, is an enormous production.

All of this has taken a toll on my son as he saw me fall off the ladder and has been forced to help quite a bit. He's had to unfortunately go with me through some of these tests because I've not been able to get a babysitter. So these past few days he's begun reacting to my injury in a less than positive way. He's actually become afraid of my knee because he hates the sound of cartilage rubbing against cartilage coming from my knee when I move about the apt. I don't enjoy it either.

So as you can see, at the end of each day there are no spare minutes left for me. And I would really like to use that time to get some badly needed sleep and to spend time with my son going on Inter-planetary voyages and reading The Chronicles of Narnia aloud, instead of sitting awkwardly in a chair surfing for blog fodder.

I'll be back after the surgery and ensuing months of grueling physical therapy are over. But hey, I had fun while it lasted.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all!

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Update: I'm saving the comments within the post as the website where they were originally posted will be going down soon.

1 Thank you for the time you have spent here. You will be missed while you are gone. But I'll be here when you get back.
Posted by: Stephen Macklin at December 18, 2006 09:46 PM (Z3kjO)

2 *sigh* I'm so sorry. What a bummer to have something like this happen now. I shall miss you so very much, although I understand why you don't have the time at the moment. I hope your recovery goes much much faster and better than you anticipate and you come back soon to drop us the occasional post. {{{HUGS}}}
Posted by: Teresa at December 18, 2006 10:35 PM (gsbs5)

3 zoinks.... um... you'll still let us try to make you laugh, right?
Posted by: RSM at December 19, 2006 06:47 AM (IyNwh)

4 I will be awaiting your return and totally understand your need for a break. Wishing you and your son a very Merry Christmas and many Blessings in the New Year!
Posted by: Lemon Stand at December 19, 2006 08:41 AM (3Eu3B)

5 I'll miss you. I hope we can find a way to keep in touch.  {hug}
Posted by: _Jon at December 19, 2006 08:48 AM (cPJtC)

6 Hope you make it back soon. I will miss your sharp wit and lovely pictures. Your health is more important, but it doesn't mean I won't miss you.
Posted by: vw bug at December 19, 2006 08:52 AM (ZbLU8)

7 I'm sorry to hear that! I hope that you will keep in touch. We will await your return. In the meantime - if you need to chat - call me!
Posted by: oddybobo at December 19, 2006 09:11 AM (mZfwW)

8 Wishing you a speedy recovery. Having been thru something similar myself, I understand how the little one is reacting. I will be awaiting your return. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Posted by: Dazd at December 19, 2006 10:12 AM (Pn992)

9 Life is never fair, but it always moves onward. So many prayers are being sent you way that you cannot imagine.
Posted by: Ogre at December 19, 2006 10:14 AM (oifEm)

10 Ya know, if you leave the comments open on this post, we could have a little comment party to keep you amused... :-)
Posted by: Harvey at December 19, 2006 11:10 AM (L7a63)

11 .... good luck with getting healty again..... and Merry Christmas, ma'am.....
Posted by: Eric at December 19, 2006 12:18 PM (NlzwQ)

12 I am so sorry sweetie ... what a horrible thing to happen at anytime of the year. Get better soon, concentrate on your therapy, do all of it. Merry Christmas and a Better New Year to you.
Posted by: Quality Weenie at December 19, 2006 12:30 PM (BksWB)

13 Oh MY get better soon, and keep us posted!!
Posted by: armywifetoddlermom at December 19, 2006 01:53 PM (oSNDT)

14 I just found your site and I miss you already. I can empathize with your situation and look forward to your speedy recovery. Keep your spirits high and have a Merry Christmas and may our Lord bless you and your son with continual contentment.
Posted by: Jane at December 19, 2006 05:31 PM (1M+ds)

15 Thank you for all you have shared with us. You and your son are in my thoughts and prayers, and I wish you a speedy recovery.
Posted by: Mrs_Who at December 19, 2006 07:46 PM (GValb)

16 Wish you a Merry X'mas and Happy New Year! As well as your knee who will have a happy recovery soon :p
Posted by: hyristi at December 20, 2006 07:22 AM (o9cVQ)

17 Here's hoping your knee heals fast, and you have a wonderful Christmas and wickedly good New Year!
Posted by: Oorgo at December 20, 2006 02:06 PM (ZUQGo)

18 Circumstances: "Regretfully they tell us, But firmly they compel us To say goodbye to you." Now that song will be stuck in my head. Take care, heal fast, do what you need to do, and I hope to see you back soon, Michele.
Posted by: that1guy at December 20, 2006 06:28 PM (3UQTn)

19 Ouch! I hope you get well pronto and come back to the 'sphere real soon. In the meantime, take care of yourself and your son and have a Merry Christmas.
Posted by: Jim - PRS at December 20, 2006 08:13 PM (a6/Kb)

20 Well, since I can't seem to put a sentence together lately, either on my own blog or in anyone else's comments. So, I'll just say what Harpo would say. **honk, honk** Get well soon, m'lady.
Posted by: Tuning Spork at December 21, 2006 01:14 AM (pzBJ4)

21 I am so sorry to hear about this, and do wish you a speedy and full recovery. I, as will others, await your return.
Posted by: Laughing Wolf at December 21, 2006 08:31 AM (rkPu/)

22 Hope your recovery is quick and easy. Merry Christmas
Posted by: Gigi at December 21, 2006 04:40 PM (MGlM/)

23 Will miss you terribly. Get better soon.
Posted by: Tink at December 21, 2006 05:41 PM (vfIfd)

24 Are you back yet? :-)
Posted by: Harvey at December 22, 2006 11:13 AM (L7a63)

25 Hoping that you have a very Merry Christmas Michele.
Posted by: Sgt Hook at December 23, 2006 12:34 AM (zWjIW)

26 Rare commenter, new reader here... wishing you a speedy and smooth recovery and the best New Year ever!
Posted by: Jean at December 23, 2006 05:28 PM (Eodj2)

27 Merry Christmas, Michelle!
Posted by: Tuning Spork at December 25, 2006 02:31 PM (0AQAr)

28 Oh my. You take care and I hope that your healing goes quickly. I'll leave a light on for you, okay?
Posted by: Richmond at December 28, 2006 05:22 PM (e8QFP)

29 PLEASE!!!!! Tell us you will return at some point! I have not been reading and commenting like before, but I have been reading, so PLEASE tell us that WHEN (not IF) you are healed and STRONGER THAN BEFORE, you will return to us!
Posted by: Smokey at December 29, 2006 04:41 AM (xBtls)

30 *sets up folding chair* *waits*
Posted by: Harvey at December 29, 2006 08:17 AM (L7a63)

31 I've got a cooler Harvey, mind if I join you?
Posted by: Ogre at December 30, 2006 04:35 PM (EsWss)

An Incredible Life

Some amazing stuff has been happening to me lately, and I never would have thought to even blog about it had it not been for Tink’s blog prompt some time ago asking people to write about “something FABULOUS in your life right now!” I wonder if you all realize how wonderful your lives also seem to me?

I guess I never think to write about those “fabulous” moments because I reserve them for my journal, where I also include my thanks for them addressed to God. If I have the time, I also reflect on the impact it has had on my life. I’'ve been so busy that I haven’t had the chance to write it in my journal so I’m going to share it with you all.

A few months back I was asked by someone in my firm to donate a picture which hung outside our conference room for a small charity auction benefiting the Tsunami survivors in Sri Lanka. He had seen the picture hanging on the wall outside our conference room and thought it would be a great piece to add to that show. After having done my due diligence to determine if the organization met my fiscal and social causes criteria I agreed to give them the photograph, and to make it truly unique I agreed to also give them the negative, making the photo a one of a kind.

When I received the invitation to attend I declined, as I normally don’t go to evening events, prefering instead to be home with my son reading him a story and tucking him in bed at night. Well, the organizers didn’'t like that and began a shmoozing campaign that drove me nuts. I finally agreed to go but told them I would only stay until 8:00pm.

I show up to the event thinking it'’s this nice small charity thing and I find myself in a professional gallery with close to 200 people. As I looked around I saw incredible artwork in all mediums and amongst them is my photograph. I was dumbfounded. Later, during the auction I was absolutely speechless when I was introduced by the host using some incredible adjectives when referring to my talent, followed by the words “professional debut”. I didn’'t hear anything beyond those words as I was trying to figure out what that really meant to me. Later a work colleague told me that someone had paid $450 for my photo. That too was amazing, because whenever I take a picture it‘s for my own personal pleasure. I post a few pictures on my Postcards website because I ultimately want to share them with you.

On the ride home that night I thought how nice it was to be amongst other artists, talking the creative talk, and receiving appreciation and validation for my artistic expression. But to me taking pictures is simply one of the many artistic things I'’ve loved to do since I was a kid. In looking back I have received awards in different amateur competitions for: photography, videography, short stories, poetry, and singing…, but this is the first time I've been called an "artist" out loud by someone else.

Suddenly, as the car wound up onto the bridge, leaving Manhattan behind us, I finally realized I was actually living the life I had always dreamed of... – an artist’s life. All my life I have struggled to get to a place where I would have a little bit of time for my creative expression, only to have my many responsibilities thwart those efforts. I'’ve been so good at carving out small chunks of time whenever I could, that I didn'’t realize I was living the life I always wanted. Funny how it took one simple photograph and blog prompt to make me realize that.

Oh, and just because you haven't seen my name in your comment box doesn't mean I haven't been reading you! I have, but since I'm sitting in meetings reading I really can't start tapping away on my phone otherwise they'll know I'm not really paying attention. But soon, prepare for the onslaught of comments that I sometimes do to help boost your rankings and to let you know my thoughts when I read your posts. Some of your stuff really makes a dull or dreary day better, like when the side effects from my chemo is kicking my butt. At those times you especially come in handy because as I'm sitting on the john sideways, leaning my back against the side wall, waiting for my nausea to subside and praying my lunch stays down, I read you guys! I read you as a distraction so I can focus on you rather than how I'm feeling; I read you for laughs; to know what's going on in your lives; and just to appreciate the special people that you are in my life!

So thank you from the bottom of my heart for being who you are - Amazing Individuals - and for sharing of yourselves! God bless you all!

My Son’s 4th Letter to Santa

Dear Santa:

How are you? I’m fine. I’m looking forward to your visit. I can’t wait because I have been very very good this year. I have been so good I even got a Citizen of the Month award and go my picture in my local paper for returning money I found in the playground!

Here is the list of what I would like to get for Christmas. I know its more than my 5 gift limit but please remember that I have been very, very good and I returned the money I found. Please put an X next to the gifts you are giving me with the gifts so I will know which gifts I have to thank you for. I made a copy of this letter for my aunts and uncles so they can get me whatever gifts you don’t give me. I know a few of them are expensive so if you want you can get me only one gift and my mommy and aunts and uncles will get me the rest. Okay here is the list: [snip]

[snip] I wrote this long list just in case there were a few toys you could not find you could then get the others.

Thanks a lot Santa! Oh and to make it easier for you I asked the super to leave the roof door unlocked Christmas eve.

P. S. BTW, I would like the rainbow colored launcher.
P. P. S. I have a surprise for you when you visit. I have some very special treats for you this year.
P. P. P. S. I’'m sorry but it’s not cookies and milk.
P. P. P. P. S. We are leaving out some fresh fruit salad to help you stay healthy and give you lots of energy.

Yes, he did speak to the Super about leaving the roof door unlocked. It was also really hard not to laugh when I read my son's handwritten letter in front of him.