Doing the grateful thing- and right now, I have a whole new appreciation for HEALTH.
If you don't have health, you really don't have anything.
My husband of 25 years, Mike Neal, is an amazing man with an amazing body. I've been accused (and not unfairly so) of marrying him for that body. Over the years he worked hard, and played hard–and old injuries turned to arthritis and wrecked mobility in his shoulder. He couldn't even surf anymore.
I know. Totally unacceptable, right?
The last five years of pain, suffering and stress finally led us to Straub Clinic on Oahu where he underwent some cutting-edge (ha!) surgery and got a new shoulder, a titanium pin stuck down inside his arm bone that is now rubbing against the “old” cup of bone and rebuilding it through constant, daily physical therapy. Fun times.
This is not an operation for the faint of heart. Yes, we were warned it would be painful, but what can you really understand when you sign all those forms?
“It's like buying a house,” Mike said. “You decide you want it and just start signing.” True, that.
We stayed in a condo in Waikiki and it went about as well as it possibly could considering the magnitude of things. I did setting research for my books, Broken Ferns and Stolen in Paradise, both set on Oahu. Stolen is almost exclusively set in downtown Honolulu and is my current Work In Progress, so I did writerly stuff like sniff the Ala Wai Canal and take note of street names, local highlights and food spots, and generally absorb atmosphere.
We got home and I promptly got sick. I was supposed to be nursing and supporting but ended up in bed myself. So as we go into the holiday, the gimp assists the gassy. Isn't that what marriage is all about?
Health is truly our greatest gift. To get up in the morning, healthy and pain free, is just awesome. If that's you today, be thankful. Deeply and truly thankful, and don't take it for granted.
Whatever your state of health today, do some small thing to make it better. There is no greater wealth. We came into the world naked, and we'll leave it naked–only the lucky ones will have extra titanium parts.
Great blog Toby, truer words were never spoken~!
Great to hear from you darlin, thanks for popping by!
Toby, I really wished you had let me know about you coming to Oahu. I would have loved to have met you. And if you were able I would have been so happy to give you a tour of the museum. I realize you were there to help your husband but next time you two come in please, don’t forget to let me know.
Oh, and I hope the shoulder is doing well.
Karen in Honolulu
Hi Karen, I did try to contact you, I replied to one of your FB posts about meeting at Ala Moana park. I should have emailed you, but I didn’t have any internet but my phone all week. I’m sorry I wanted to meet you in real life too!
Beautiful post. You can tell from your words how much your husband means to you. And those pictures! Wow. Thank you for sharing.
Sorry you got sick, and sending healing thoughts for your husband’s shoulder. Ouch… my friend had that surgery and is pain free today after tons of work. Good luck. Also, loved seeing Mike’s work, thanks for that link.
Here’s to good health, which is truly the most important thing there is.
I love it. I’ve started on a trek to be physically 25 again. It’s my 47th birthday present to myself. Work hard, play hard, live well.
Glad to hear your husband’s better…sorry to hear you’re not. Love the post and the beautiful pics! CHEERS KAFE CASTRO style to you both!
Nice post. Pain is a tough thing to live with everyday. I have rheumatoid arthritis and fibromyalgia. It hurts all the time, though the level of intensity varies.
However, just like the stunning scenery around you in Hawaii, I still find joy all around me. I see beauty in nature, people, places, books and writing. I discovered that the stereotypical ‘bad’ and ‘good’ co-exist on every plane.
I hope you both are doing a lot better.
Thanks so much for showing up to share, and being so personal. Aloha!
sorry you got sick .glad they were able to help your husband’s shoulder.Isn’t medicine great? my daughter shattered her elbow and now has a titanium one.
We are hopeful this could mean a lot is given back to him.
Hey just dropped by to follow. 🙂 Hope you both feel better soon.
Great post, Toby. Thanks for the reminder! 🙂
Great thoughts, as usual!
Right on, Toby! Arthritis can be so debilitating not to mention a pain in the arse. And we seem to take good health for granted until we feel bad. Everyday I give thanks for my health, no matter how bad or good I may feel. Hope your husband is doing great.
You’re so right. We take our health for granted until we have a problem.
If we’re still breathing, and not in pain, we’re very fortunate.
Wishing you and your husband all the best!
Hope your feeling better,and your husband will be able to surf again?alohaB
Hey Bryan, great to hear from you! Aloha. Things are all good now, a year later…:`)