I’ve never seen a ‘Chicken with its head cut off’ but that saying sure was meant for me today. My day was pre-determined when the first question I asked Suzanne was “Today is Thursday, right?” At that point, I hit the ground running in so many different directions that I knew there had to be more than just four.

Cleaning the woodstove out was first on the agenda to ensure that the living room stays toasty for the wife. Then the short-order cook whipped up a ham & cheese omelet for the customer. Clean the kitchen, get dressed and look at the note for what’s next.

At 9 am I put on my Don Quixote armor to do battle with the medical world. Two emails off to Rush staff about upcoming appointments and current concerns about her feeding tube. Then a call to make sure her CT scan Tuesday is financially covered; and finally a call to Rush financial services to ensure her surgery on the 23rd isn’t delayed because of account issues like previous events.

With that all done, move on to some regular stuff like; set up Suzanne’s new FitBit, plug in the tractor so it starts, scoop the walk, ship an eBay sale and fill the bird feeders, and Oh yea, feed Suzanne. Is it 10 am yet?

Stop for a ‘Spot-a-tea’ just to regain my bearings while I read my email, re-load the wood stove, vacuum around the stove and check in on the wife.

Out to the tool shed where I discovered one of the cats had been locked in since Monday and dug under the insulation on the roof of my woodshop to keep warm. Got him out of the shed and started the tractor to plow the lane. While doing that I saw an oil leak in the snow. In checking, I discovered it was a Texas gusher so I called a neighbor who was glad to help.

Back into the house for lunch, Suzanne tried yogurt unsuccessfully so then vegetable soup was the meal. Bologna sandwich for me, clean up, and on to the next task (did I mention, feed the woodstove?)

An email from the accountant with a number of tax-related questions was next on tap. Finishing that up in time for a good friend delivering some firewood for that stove that doesn’t stop eating it. He brought me a beer to try, which I sat down and completely forgot about.

Around 4 pm I decided to stop, sit and have a snack. A few bites in, pre-op called from Gibson Hospital preparing for Suzanne’s colonoscopy next Thursday. Question after question you always wonder if anyone has ever written any of this down before. In the middle of that conversation, a call from Rush Radiology. “Can you call me back in 5”, which she did.

Finally, supper is on the horizon. Baked fish, root vegetables, and Suzanne made Mac & Cheese. I had to find the Brickstone APA in the garage as we sat down to enjoy our meal when I realized something wasn’t finished.

The final task of the day, local chairman of the make a wish foundation. Suzanne’s wish: to have traditional Communion for what potentially will be her last time. Texting all through supper, the details are finalized for this weekend.

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.
James 1:2-3