Beginning

Since we are just beginning this journey together, I thought I would start out by sharing some things I have written previously, so you could get a taste of my writing and see if you want to return to my blog. For today, I am posting something I wrote in December 2019. I shared this with the hospice staff with whom I work on a daily basis.

This morning I drove out to rural Minnesota to visit a patient.  There had been a light snow earlier this morning, causing my tires to refuse to find the necessary traction to climb up my patient’s snow-covered, steep driveway.  After making it halfway up her drive way and coming to a standstill, I tried to back down, and I realized, sickeningly that I was instead sliding into the ditch.  The car ended up with the driver’s side down in the ditch.  The car was resting at a angle with me on the downward end of the angle, so I decided to get out of the car.  I attempted to crawl uphill out of the passenger side front door, but I kept struggling with getting my feet tangled up in the steering wheel, the shift lever and the center console.  I did eventually get out of the car, but I ended up kind of sliding out on my belly like a snake.  (It’s okay – you can laugh – I’m sure it looked hysterical!) 

My first thought was, “Well, what do I do now?”  My second thought was, “My company has a procedure for everything.  I wonder if they have a procedure for this?!?!?!”  So, I called the office.  Evidently, the procedure for when one goes into the ditch is to get yourself out again! 

Anyway, I called a tow truck and got pulled out.  From the time I went into the ditch to the time I got out was less than an hour.  Yay!

But, here comes the inspirational part.  I was forced to just “wait” for a time.  In my time of waiting (and contrary to the busyness and hustle and bustle of the holiday season), I stopped to look and listen.  I discovered I could hear something that sounded like gurgling, so I decided to explore while I waited. On the other side of the road from where I was, there was a tiny stream that was open and running.  And the view (as shown in the attached photos) was beautiful.  Nature put on her best winter clothes today!

I encourage you to stop, breathe, wait, rest, look and listen during this hectic time of year.  There may be beautiful surprises waiting for you. So check out these pictures!