Quote for the Week

You might not expect an inspiring quote from an athlete, but this one from Maria Sharapova after she won the French Open really touched me, especially now that my son is going through the aftermath of his stroke. For those of you who don't follow tennis, Sharapova was at the top of her game when she suffered a shoulder injury, had surgery and was out for some time.  Then she began a comeback but it was a long and difficult one.  She lost her ranking, she played poorly. Everyone assumed her career was over.  Not so.   Here is what she said:

I could have said, "I don't need this.  I have money, I have fame, I have victories.  I have Grand Slams."  But when your love for something is bigger than all these things, you continue to keep getting up in the morning when it's freezing outside, when you know it can be the most difficult day, when nothing is working, when you feel like the belief sometimes isn't there from the outside world and you seem so small.  But you can achieve great things when you don't listen to all those things.

For the first time in my life, I find it too hard to write. Two weeks ago, at 6:30 a.m. I was just awakening, groggily imagining a quiet weekend with not much to do beyond interviewing a potential new handyman. The phone jangled and suddenly I was wide awake. Caller ID showed my daughter-in-law’s cell number. I knew it was bad news. Getting up at 6:00 is simply not done in that household on a summer Saturday. The news was worse than I imagined. My son had had a stroke in the middle of the night; they were at the emergency room. My daughter was on her way to pick me up.




From that moment on, I have existed in a bubble of unreality, living one moment at a time, not allowing myself to look back, afraid to look too far forward. Thinking too much is like taking a scalpel and cutting myself open.



Despite a left hemisphere stroke, his news was pretty good. Absolutely no physical involvement. When he had his PT evaluation, the therapist began by asking him to lift his leg, stand on one foot, and eventually had him running down the hall, running up and down stairs, and doing long jumps.



His language is affected. I’ve never worked with a stroke patient—I do speech therapy with little kids--but I know there’s spontaneous improvement after an insult to the brain, and I see it every day. He will be going to TIRR for therapy—same place that Gabby Giffords went after she was shot. We’re lucky to be a few minutes from one of the best rehab centers in the country.



See how nicely I’ve written that paragraph. Just information. Nothing about the emotions. Too hard to probe that wound. I’m signing off for now. If you’ve read this, keep us in your prayers.  Thanks.

Quote for the Week

“Do the things you used to talk about doing but never did. Know when to let go and when to hold on tight. Stop rushing. Don't be intimidated to say it like it is. Stop apologizing all the time. Learn to say no, so your yes has some oomph. Spend time with the friends who lift you up, and cut loose the ones who bring you down. Stop giving your power away. Be more concerned with being interested than being interesting. Be old enough to appreciate your freedom, and young enough to enjoy it. Finally know who you are. ” 
    Kristin Armstrong

The Perfect Pet Sitter by Toby and Tiki

Dear Readers,

Our mom left us to go to Hawaii for ten days.  She didn't even offer to take us along, not that we would have enjoyed the plane trip, but Hawaii has lots of birds and fish so we would have enjoyed ourselves.  Usually when she is gone, Lori, Mom's veterinarian daughter, comes by to feed us.  She's okay but being a vet, she still makes us a little queasy.  Anyway, since they were going to Hawaii together, Mom needed to find us a sitter, and she hit the jackpot.  A friend gave her the name of Cozy Critters Pet Sitters of Bellaire, and so Beth became our sitter. 

We liked her right away, and Toby, who is the friendlier cat of the two of us, immediately jumped up beside her and licked her arm.  We weren't even pretending, planning to hiss at her when our mom was out of the picture. 

She gave Mom a little brochure with tips on how to prepare for your sitter.  What a good idea.  We think all pet sitters should be that thoughtful.

She came by, gave us our food and left a little diary, telling about our visits.  She thinks we're sweet.  We think we're in love.

If you live in the Houston area, check out Beth at http://www.cozycrittersofbellaire.com/   If you don't, eat your heart out.