Snowstorms and Illness

Today we had a good old fashioned blizzard - yep a full on 14 inches of heavy, wet snow! When I was a kid I couldn't wait for such storms, it meant a day off from school. As an adult it isn't such a joyful event.




I realize that what I am about to say can apply to healthy people to a degree as well when you are talking about such large amounts of snow, but allow me to rant anyway:

• On a good day I can barely lift groceries to bring them in from the car, so you can imagine that shoveling heavy snow isn't possible for me.
• Of course the blizzard had to hit on the day I have an appointment with my pain management specialist, and I am having trouble with my medication so I needed to see him today.
• This being New York, nothing but school closes for snow, so the doctor's office wasn't exactly thrilled that I cancelled my appointment, despite the fact I couldn't get out my door, no less my driveway.
• My landlord is supposed to have snow removal service as part of the price of our rent, however the service is spotty at best. Sometimes they arrive the day AFTER a storm ends sometimes they don't arrive at all.
• My mother and I are stuck in the house until we can find someone to shovel us out, or the snow removal people make their appearance.

I understand this isn't the end of the world, but it another frustration of being ill and not being able to do things others can. Because the illnesses I have aren't obvious to others (thus the term "invisible illnesses") my neighbors assume that I am a young, healthy person and don't offer to help with the snow. I don't blame them for this, and if I knew them better, I would probably ask for help, but I don't know them and feel awkward going up to a stranger to explain my personal medical history and ask for help. Frankly , with as much snow as we've gotten I would feel guilty asking anyone without a snow blower, because it is really exhausting work. It is just another thing I can't do and it means that I will have to wait another week in pain to see my doctor.

On the flip side, I am grateful that we have a warm roof over our heads. Because we had advance warning the storm was coming we have food to eat and will be alright if we are stuck indoors for a few days. I know that many people aren't so blessed, they are cold or hungry or worse. So I am going to try to look at the part of my glass that is half full and not the empty part. Harder to do when I am in pain, but good practice for me, especially in this season of Lent. So for the moment, thank you God for supplying me with another lesson in humility and thankfulness, please help me to use it to learn how deeply you love me and care for me, even when I think I am forgotten - You never forget me!

Fighting With Myself

Well we've had another round of snow here in New York. Not exactly a news flash for January weather, but an annoyance all the same. It wasn't a tremendous storm, we got a couple of inches of the white, powdery stuff. What is driving me crazy is my inability to do anything about clearing it away. I had written last month about my attempt at shoveling and how sick I had made myself. I know I really need to clear the stoops and walkways off to make it possible to get out tomorrow, but I know I am physically unable to do it. My landlord has a crew that is supposed to come by and do it, but they haven't shown. Given that it is a weekend, and a holiday one at that, I expect they aren't coming. Tonight the temperatures will dip down even lower and we will have icing, making it more treacherous. I hate my inability to do anything about it. So I sit and stew over what I can't do. Silly isn't it? I hate feeling helpless!