Thursday, January 7, 2010

Balanced Blessings

The good news was that I spent my first day back in the holler in my pajamas in front of the fire.
The bad news was that I was still unshowered and in my pajamas when Richard asked me to take him to the emergency room.

The good news was that Richard didn’t feel sick enough for me to call the EMTs.
The bad news was that this meant I had to drive after dark on our two-lane mountain serpentine roads.

The good news was that we had enough gas in the tank to get us to the hospital.
The bad news was that when Richard was finally settled in CCU, at 2:30 in the morning, my car wouldn’t run because I had no more gas in the tank.

The good news was that I was in a well-lit parking lot.
The bad news was that it was less than twenty degrees in that parking lot.

The good news was that we have AAA roadside assistance coverage.
The bad news was that the tow truck arrived without a can of gas.

The good news was the tow truck driver said he’d tow me to the nearest gas station.
The bad news was he couldn’t position the tow truck properly to tow my van out of its parking place.

The good news was the tow truck driver was able to shake the van enough to shift sufficient fuel to the engine to back the car up.
The bad news was that was all the gas the van had.

The good news was I had a credit card.
The bad news was the tow truck driver had a gas card that didn’t work.

The good news was there’s a very comfortable hotel not very far from the hospital.
The bad news was the desk attendant forgot to give me the hospital patient family discount.

The good news was the hotel provided toothbrushes, toothpaste and deodorant.
The bad news was I didn’t have a change of clothes or underwear.

The good news was there’s a WalMart close by where I purchased a change of underwear and clothes.
The bad news was that the need for these items was precipitated by Richard having to stay in CCU, and icy roads here and in the holler.
The good news is the doctors are treating Richard’s pneumonia.
The bad news is they didn’t coordinate with his post transplant care providers before doing so.

On balance, I’d say the good outweighed the bad.