Grateful

This has been a pretty interesting summer — and everyone has heard the Chinese curse, "May you live in interesting times."

David and I were thrilled to be married June 19. The day was perfect on so many levels. Most importantly, we were together. I couldn't think of anything that would have kept me from that.

There were a couple of things that tried to derail me from the joys of married life: a broken foot (a week after the nuptials) and emergency abdominal surgery (a month and a day after the wedding). One was hard enough, but the two together were formidable — especially when physicians look at only the part they're treating.

Then I had a reality check. I read computer bulletin board postings that began, "I'm 16 and I got my colostomy for my 10th birthday" and "I have been diagnosed with Crohn's disease" or "I'm in stage 2 colon cancer."

Suddenly, I realized just how fortunate I am. My interruptions are temporary.

Sure, I have a few cool new scars, and I'll have to make up a good story in case someone sees them and asks. ("Ninjas" worked for my foot, but probably not for abdominal scars.)

Plus, I am actually walking with a natty new cane now, and standing in the shower and driving myself.

Maybe I can't carry the groceries up the stairs, but that just means I shop for less or not assist the flagging economy myself.

So vacuuming will have to wait until someone is available (and, with the cats lacking opposable thumbs, I see David's name being tossed in the ring for that task).

So I'm a little slower than before. It was all that darting about that got me in trouble in the first place.

So I have to wait to start running for a few more months. That just means I train with David until the ice recedes and I can run the streets safely again. I probably overdid it anyway. (Wait, who said that?)

I'm not saying I'm happy that things happened as they did. Oh, no — catch me on a cranky day and I'll give you what-fer. Right now is not what I anticipated, and I have no illusion that it will pass quickly enough for my liking. There hasn't been enough frolicking for my liking (but is there ever enough, really?). I'm supposed to be drenched in the thrill of being a newlywed, swimming in clear waters in my new bikini, basking in the glow of wedded bliss. So far, I'm zero for three.

However, David has been fabulous. He has tended to me with loving care and I have wanted for nothing (except for Cake Batter ice cream, but that's a different story).

So we stretch out our honeymoon for a little while longer. I can live with that.

I'm just grateful that I will one day leave it all behind. And I'll still have David. I am definitely on the winning end of that situation.