Ten days ago my husband, Tom was in a car accident. While he was waiting in traffic, his car was rear-ended. The airbags of his car didn’t deploy, and we later learned that airbags don't deploy in rear end crashes. His steering wheel pushed into his upper body. Tom suffered pulmonary contusions (bruising of his lungs and chest) and was hospitalized for two days.
Fortunately, he is recovering. When Tom was being admitted to the hospital, one of the questions asked was “What do you need right now?” Tom quickly responded with “I need to have dinner with my wife and walk our dog.” His list of needs expanded as the day progressed and later included “I need to be OFF the liquid diet and be eating REAL food.” His list surprisingly never included a car to replace his inoperable one.
There is nothing like an accident to put things in perceptive. It forced us to appreciate what is important in life—simple every day things such as eating dinner as a family and walking the dog. It is seldom material things that are among our favorites; more often it is visiting and sharing experiences with friends and family that are the highlights of our lives.
Yesterday, Tom and I received one of our favorite things as a Christmas gift. In March, we adopted Rusty, a fearful and nervous English Springer Spaniel, from a local animal rescue. Rusty was abused by one of his previous owners. He was terrified when he saw a leash or a belt and skittish around all men. Trying to get him on a leash (even with a no-pull harness) and out for a walk seemed like an insurmountable task. However, we persevered and were able to get Rusty out for a walk a handful of times since Thanksgiving. Yesterday, Christmas Day, Tom and I took a family walk with Rusty, and we both repeatedly said, “This is the exactly what I wanted for Christmas – to take Rusty for a walk on a leash.” Rusty may also have even enjoyed it as I observed his wagging tail and his smiling face.
I’m challenging myself to identify my favorite things (and people and experiences) and fill my life with them in 2012. I challenge you to do the same. Check out “My Favorite Things” from the show “The Sound of Music” as well as the humorous version as performed by Julie Andrews at the Radio City Music Hall, New York, in October 2004.
MY FAVORITE THINGS From the Broadway Show "The Sound Of Music" (1959) (Richard Rodgers/Oscar Hammerstein II)
Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens
Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens
Brown paper packages tied up with strings
These are a few of my favorite things
Cream colored ponies and crisp apple streudels
Doorbells and sleigh bells and schnitzel with noodles
Wild geese that fly with the moon on their wings
These are a few of my favorite things
Girls in white dresses with blue satin sashes
Snowflakes that stay on my nose and eyelashes
Silver white winters that melt into springs
These are a few of my favorite things
When the dog bites, when the bee stings
When I'm feeling sad
I simply remember my favorite things
And then I don't feel so bad
Humorous version as performed by Julie Andrews at the Radio City Music Hall, New York, in October 2004:
Maalox and nose drops and needles for knitting
Walkers and handrails and new dental fittings
Bundles of magazines tied up in string
These are a few of my favorite things
Cadillacs and cataracts and hearing aids and glasses
Polident and Fixodent and false teeth in glasses
Pacemakers, golf carts and porches with swings
These are a few of my favorite things
When the pipes leak, when the bones creak
When the knees go bad
I simply remember my favorite things
And then I don't feel so bad
Hot tea and crumpets and corn pads for bunions
No spicy hot food or food cooked with onions
Bathrobes and heating pads and hot meals they bring
These are a few of my favorite things
Back pains, confused brains, and no fear of sinnin'
Thin bones and fractures and hair that is thinnin'
And we won't mention our short shrunken frames
When we remember our favorite things
When the joints ache, when the hips break
When the eyes grow dim
Then I remember the great life I've had
And then I don't feel so bad
Ten days ago my husband, Tom was in a car accident. While he was waiting in traffic, his car was rear-ended. The airbags of his car didn’t deploy, and we later learned that airbags don't deploy in rear end crashes. His steering wheel pushed into his upper body. Tom suffered pulmonary contusions (bruising of his lungs and chest) and was hospitalized for two days.
Fortunately, he is recovering. When Tom was being admitted to the hospital, one of the questions asked was “What do you need right now?” Tom quickly responded with “I need to have dinner with my wife and walk our dog.” His list of needs expanded as the day progressed and later included “I need to be OFF the liquid diet and be eating REAL food.” His list surprisingly never included a car to replace his inoperable one.
There is nothing like an accident to put things in perceptive. It forced us to appreciate what is important in life—simple every day things such as eating dinner as a family and walking the dog. It is seldom material things that are among our favorites; more often it is visiting and sharing experiences with friends and family that are the highlights of our lives.
Yesterday, Tom and I received one of our favorite things as a Christmas gift. In March, we adopted Rusty, a fearful and nervous English Springer Spaniel, from a local animal rescue. Rusty was abused by one of his previous owners. He was terrified when he saw a leash or a belt and skittish around all men. Trying to get him on a leash (even with a no-pull harness) and out for a walk seemed like an insurmountable task. However, we persevered and were able to get Rusty out for a walk a handful of times since Thanksgiving. Yesterday, Christmas Day, Tom and I took a family walk with Rusty, and we both repeatedly said, “This is the exactly what I wanted for Christmas – to take Rusty for a walk on a leash.” Rusty may also have even enjoyed it as I observed his wagging tail and his smiling face.
I’m challenging myself to identify my favorite things (and people and experiences) and fill my life with them in 2012. I challenge you to do the same. Check out “My Favorite Things” from the show “The Sound of Music” as well as the humorous version as performed by Julie Andrews at the Radio City Music Hall, New York, in October 2004.
MY FAVORITE THINGS From the Broadway Show "The Sound Of Music" (1959) (Richard Rodgers/Oscar Hammerstein II)
Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens
Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens
Brown paper packages tied up with strings
These are a few of my favorite things
Cream colored ponies and crisp apple streudels
Doorbells and sleigh bells and schnitzel with noodles
Wild geese that fly with the moon on their wings
These are a few of my favorite things
Girls in white dresses with blue satin sashes
Snowflakes that stay on my nose and eyelashes
Silver white winters that melt into springs
These are a few of my favorite things
When the dog bites, when the bee stings
When I'm feeling sad
I simply remember my favorite things
And then I don't feel so bad
Humorous version as performed by Julie Andrews at the Radio City Music Hall, New York, in October 2004:
Maalox and nose drops and needles for knitting
Walkers and handrails and new dental fittings
Bundles of magazines tied up in string
These are a few of my favorite things
Cadillacs and cataracts and hearing aids and glasses
Polident and Fixodent and false teeth in glasses
Pacemakers, golf carts and porches with swings
These are a few of my favorite things
When the pipes leak, when the bones creak
When the knees go bad
I simply remember my favorite things
And then I don't feel so bad
Hot tea and crumpets and corn pads for bunions
No spicy hot food or food cooked with onions
Bathrobes and heating pads and hot meals they bring
These are a few of my favorite things
Back pains, confused brains, and no fear of sinnin'
Thin bones and fractures and hair that is thinnin'
And we won't mention our short shrunken frames
When we remember our favorite things
When the joints ache, when the hips break
When the eyes grow dim
Then I remember the great life I've had
And then I don't feel so bad