The new blog is set up. Running. And should be wrinkle free. This blog remains... for Jim to return to.
In the meantime, you can encourage, send your thoughts and prayers and get updates here in chapter 2:
Onemorenutintheroadacontinuedjourney.blogspot.com
The simplest way is to follow, just like you did here on Jim's original blog. We hope you do. Follow. Your support and prayers have helped get him to where he is now, and we thank you.
From both of us,
The Nut & Eyeroller
It's chapter 2 for this blog. Not for Jim. Although...it very well could be.
Without getting into the why's, where's, and what the heck's...I am initiating a new blog that is in my control. For Jim. A spin off of his desire to always look on the bright side and find the shiny pennies in life. His blog, for example. Now, I take it for a new ride.
A continued journey.
Treasure hunters, positive thinkers, grateful people who recognize even the tiny copper, shiny penny as a blessing... All welcome here.
Let's get started.
onemorenutintheroadacontinuedjourney.blogspot.com
(A tech note here: I'm still ironing out wrinkles so that you can comment, follow, add your username if you like, and have the right sized screen! If you have a problem, message me or make a comment, and I can track it down. So bear with me, and we will continue to spread goodwill, positive attitudes, multiple smiles, and make them wonder what we're up to.)
Some weakness, some...for lack of a better description...bull-headedness, sagging head, and strong desires to sleep. And, a few other added spices. One day can be all that. And, it was. Monday.
Tuesday, he was right back to moving forward. Tired, but expected. Warmer physically and emotionally. More cooperative and engaging.
Wednesday. Unremarkable.
Then it was Thursday. I had a couple of stops to make on the way to the facility. One of which was to pick up my purchase of a nice, but inexpensive current laptop to let Jim navigate a keyboard and stimulate the old geek cells. He zoomed in and went straight to some shortcuts. There was a little frustration because he couldn't pull up the internet until I connected my hotspot, but he sure tried despite that. We used it later to watch clips from "Annie Get Your Gun", and I watched him smile big, and make comments about how much he loved the performance of Betty Hutton. Solitaire on the screen was less entertaining. "I hope this gets more interesting."
But, he was exceptionally engaged, sharp and very current a lot of the day. That happens more often now, and he asked about a few things he obviously was concerned about. Was everything OK? Did I need anything? Then there were bill paying questions. He needed to deposit a check. That would not be considered current thinking for some, but if you know, Jim, it's pretty standard every day. Lest he forget. He worries about that. Sure, he can mix it up with thinking he needs to put a time log in. , But remember, he's basically lost almost 4 months. What part of your life would you wake up to after "sleeping" that long?
When these questions come up, I just let him know it's all being taken care of, and everything is going to be fine. He needs only to work with God and focus his energy on getting well and healing. He knows something happened because he sees himself differently in the mirror. He examines what he sees, turning his head to different angles, looking at himself in the eyes. He knows there is an indentation on his forehead. And bumps on his scalp. He comments on them. And, he asks me to put Melaleuca oil them to help fix them.
It can be difficult to watch this. But, it is part of the awakening.
The most exciting part of the day was that we were able to walk... holding hands... just the two of us. No walker. The physical therapist was behind us with a chair... just in case. But, we walked. Jim standing fairly straight and tall... with one brief, sit down on a lobby loveseat, about 300 feet down around and back. It wasn't pretty. There were no trees, or flowers, or bunnies in bushes. No sunset, skyline or view of note. But, I'll take that walk down a tiled hall as one of the most memorable. And, I'm happy to share that with you.
Over the years, we have missed at least two opportunities to hear the Fort Worth Symphony perform one of Jim's favorite classical pieces. Stravinsky's, "The Firebird ". Either we would be gone and traveling, had other plans on the same evening, or we already had our season package selected and did not fit in another performance. Finally... he booked it. We had it on our calendar for 6 months.
April 22, 2023 should have been a lovely evening at the Bass Hall, but we did not see the performance that Jim was really looking forward to. That day was one week to the day after the collision that changed our life path. Jim was in the ICU and partially conscious at best, lucky and blessed to hear anything. Firebird would have to wait again. I donated the tickets on his behalf.
I tried playing the piece for him from time to time as part of the musical stimulus I was providing to help him heal and stimulate his brain. Interestingly, he mostly scowled or tightened his facial muscles, and it appeared to do the opposite of my intention. Too much stimulation? Too much staccato? I'm not certain, but it was not the time.
But he has progressed so much over the last three and a half months that I opened a YouTube "Firebird" performance by the LA Symphony Orchestra last evening during dinner. He was fixated with the video. The conductor's movements. The colors and musical instruments. Certainly the emotion of it. And, without any promotion, he started tapping out the note rhythms including pauses and intensity...perfectly.
To most people going about their daily business and trying to keep all the balls in the air, tapping out of rhythm isn't a blip on their radar. Who doesn't tap out a rhythm now and then? Did Jim remember it is Stravinsky? No. Did he recall the title, "The Firebird"? Still no. But, deep inside he knew it... Felt it. Tapped it out on the table top. That's a far cry from a scowl. And, he is a far cry from where he was that evening in April.
God is good.
Jim has always been very stealthy...as he prefers to call it. Prides himself really, as to how clever he can be to hide a gift while we are shopping. Something he thinks I would like or made mention of in passing, then quietly tuck the purchase under the opposite arm that wraps me or holds my hand. Swapping the package back-and-forth as needed to try to keep the secret, and having so much fun pulling it off. Even if I saw it, or caught on to the game, I would never let on. It was too delightful letting him go on with it. Then when my birthday came, I would be surprised all over again and make a big deal about how clever he was. Like a magician. Slight of hand, in a good way.
So a week ago, we had a visitor at the facility and were gifted some mini blueberry muffins and a bin of sugary cookies to shard with the staff. The word... Sugar... stood out like a red flag, and I kept them sealed but we enjoyed a blueberry mini muffin.
It was time for an afternoon nap, and I left the cookie bin on the table in the middle of Jim's room, grabbed the laundry of the day and told him I'd be back shortly and have a good nap. About 2 hours later, I returned with clean laundry to hang, and noticed his sleeping position was different. That's unusual. A half eaten cookie on the nightstand.
The cookie bin was still on the table, but the seal was broken and the lid was loose. Hmmm.
There are really two options. Somebody helped themselves.... Or another somebody helped himself.
Yesterday, in talking with a Tech who is very attentive, lots of fun and very observant, she noticed. I was working with Jim on using the phone. She was curious if he knew how to call me. He was curious as to why he should call me when I was standing there in the room.🙄 Phone on the table, he went straight to the contacts icon...my photo on top of the page...phone icon...ring ring. He made quick work of that request.
Continuing the chat with the tech about the cookie incident, she let me know that he is sometimes sitting on the edge of the bed when she arrives in the morning. Often, she told me, the middle closet door is open, the wheelchair is moved to the other side of the room and some other items can be moved. So again, two options. Elves. Or Jim is getting out of bed on his own and exploring.
I think we can safely rule out elves, and narrow the suspect list to one.
One clever, healing and resourceful man who is still stealthy. And, continues to be clever and find ways to surprise me. I think God is getting a kick out of Jim as well.
