Wednesday, November 15, 2006

A Blog in Pictures

The fog of anesthesia, post surgery trauma, and powerful painkillers still surrounds my temporarily addled brain. I don't have many words right now, and the words I have come in fits. But I did want to say that I woke up, and the world was basically as I left it. And I wanted to say thank you for your prayers and your words of encouragement. My poor, beleaguered wife has been taking care of me and Adam, sick with an ear and upper respiratory infection. But she looks after her boys.

Anyway, since I can barely think to write, and since I finally have a high speed Internet connection and so can post pictures without having to wait a week and a half for them to upload, I thought that this, my 200th post, should be a blog in pictures, the photographic story of my surgery and recovery. For those who fear that this will be the worst sort of voyeurism, don't worry. We didn't get any pictures of the operation itself. Just some goofy shots while waiting for the doctor to finally show up.

So, without further adieu, here is the story in pictures:






I know that the secret to true happiness is to face all situations with equanimity; that is, to not get too up in the "good" times and to not get too down in the "bad" times. Good and bad are just labels which we apply to situations to discriminate and judge. Such discrimination, such judgment, keeps us from being able to accept our present situation as it presents itself to us. We crave the good, and seek to avoid the bad. But craving good times does not, by itself, make those good times manifest. And the aversion we feel for those situations we label as bad only gives those situations more power over us, creating additional, unnecessary suffering.

As you can see from the pictures above, I was on a pretty even keel waiting for the doctor to show up!

Seriously, I've always found humor a great antidote for anxiety. Sami and I had a blast taking these pictures, laughing together like we hadn't laughed since before we got married. And my cast is great for making thumbs up and thumbs down gestures!



Sami loved the way the blue booties complimented my brown socks. Pulling the covers back, she thought this shot made me look like the Wicked Witch with a house on top of her!



While I was passed out from the combination of anesthesia still in my system and the medication I'm taking to keep my wrist from screaming at me constantly (Hey, idiot! There's a screw in here!) Sami and Adam decided to make Belgian waffles, my all time favorite breakfast! Here's Adam being a big helper. Please don't tell Child Protective Services that we let him play that close to so many knives!

I hope you've had as much fun reading this as I had writing it. But now I'm going back to bed. The fog in my head still hasn't cleared, and I should be spending most of my energy healing up. Thanks again for all your prayers and support, and I'll post something a bit more serious when the fog lifts.

4 comments:

PV said...

Get better soon, Chris.:-).

Ellie Finlay said...

MadPriest sent me over here. Your blogging commitment is truly impressive!

I hope you get well soon!

Sandalstraps said...

Thanks you, Paula.

Ellie Finlay,

Thanks for dropping by. Now that you know I'm here, hopefully you'll find something interesting to read.

Given your interest in Tibetan Buddhism, you might find this post a good read. While I've posted some more serious work on Buddhist philosophy, that piece, the story of taking my family to the Tibetan Cultural Center in Bloomington, IN, was the most fun to write.

crystal said...

Nice socks! Hope you're feeling better soon.