LoLo's Sunshine

While visiting family in Alberta this past month, I took a Sunday drive and realized I was heading down the exact road where I took my first flying lesson. My lesson was an unusual one, as it occurred while I was riding my bicycle.  Nearing the location, I found myself  scanning the area and feeling a flash of the past. My thoughts returned to that June summer evening long ago…

At the young, invincible age of 14, my sister and I were pedaling our bikes for a long ride out-of-town. I was halfway across the road when a city bus’s enormous front window suddenly appeared and sent me sailing into the air. My brief flight ended with me shredding the skin on my knees, elbows and chin. My jean cut-offs offered no protection and I found myself lying in the road covered in blood.

Shortly after lying there on the pavement, I saw a lady step out of a white limo and rush over to me.  She spoke softly and instructed me to remain lying there and not to move.  I wondered if she was an angel, as white limos were rare in Edmonton.  Next came the fire department and paramedics. After further examination there was not only road rash, but a gaping hole in my ankle. Immediately the fireman put on an inflatable boot and blew up the sides to apply pressure to the injured ankle. That boot took away so much of the pain where the pedal had carved out a hole in my ankle, I never wanted to take it off!

Upon arrival at the hospital, I had to have my shorts removed. (Many of us grew up with the generation of mothers who always told us to be sure you had clean underwear on everyday. As I sat there in my underwear, I was glad I had listened to my mother that day!) After that embarrassment, I had to endure the torture of gravel being dug out of my body and my open wounds being cleansed with what felt like burning liquid. Shockingly, the x-rays revealed no broken bones.  However, due to the severity of the mangled ankle, my last stop was in the casting room.

Finally, I was able to go home.  Weeks went by and I was slowly healing, then one morning I awoke to find my toes looking really strange and the pain in my casted leg intense. A quick trip to the hospital and the doctor immediately cut the cast open. A horrific smell enveloped the room, so bad that I wanted to gag.  After swab results from the lab, the diagnosis was gangrene.  A new word I had never heard of and one associated with amputation. My summer immediately took on a more serious tone.

…To make a long story short, I kept my whole leg and gained an immense sense of gratitude! I will be forever thankful for the tender-hearted folks who helped me from the moment I kissed the pavement to the day I walked again. Especially to those faithful souls who prayed on my behalf when I didn’t really believe in prayer.  I now believe in miracles. I will always feel indebted to the wonderful community who stepped up and showered me with their love.

Fast forward many years to the present, I have learned that life is full of unexpected bumps and bruises that can sometimes take our legs out from under us. But one thing I know for sure – we are never alone in life. There are more who are with us than we can ever imagine. I have witnessed this time and time again, in my life, as well as in others’ lives. This world is full of compassionate people who step up to offer comfort and provide support in a myriad of ways. Their example has been there all along forming me into the person I am today.  Life is good!

 

 

 

 

 

 

I believe in meeting your neighbours and developing friendships, especially when you are the new kid on the block. When we relocated from Oklahoma to Oregon, we chose a different setting than before. We selected a small acreage where there was plenty of space for kids and a dog to roam. On a Saturday morning our moving van arrived, blocking half of neighborhood road. Shortly after nightfall, we finished the huge job of unloading.

Sunday came and we decided to go for a walk with the family around our property. Having an acreage, we didn’t feel the need to leash our dog as we strolled along. We had never wandered the property prior to purchasing it, so we were truly scouting out the land. Everyone was exploring on their own and all of a sudden I heard this male voice shouting urgently. Looking in the direction of the yelling, just beyond the fence, I could see a man running towards my dog. I did my best to kick into high gear and attempted to sprint uphill! I could see the man pulling something from my yellow labrador’s mouth and clutching it to his chest. When I managed to finally come face to face with this man, he informed me immediately of several facts. First, that my dog, BG, had already killed one of his chickens. Second, his other chicken, which he was hugging, was traumatized and would most likely have to remain indoors for the evening. He then stated strongly that the law in Oregon is that any dog may be shot on sight if he is found killing or wounding livestock or farm animals. He continued to add that once a dog gets a taste of chicken, he will be back for more. Then he asked if I was the neighbor from Oklahoma who was moving in.

Acknowledging that I was indeed the new neighbour from Oklahoma, I then apologized profoundly for my dog’s actions. My mind raced as to what else to say regarding his chickens. Observing his close attachment to his surviving chicken, I knew I couldn’t offer to fry up the dead chicken. Instead, I volunteered to buy him some new chickens or just pay him for the damage done. His body language made it clear that was not an option. He continued reprimanding me and questioning how I was going to contain my dog. I assured him I would build an enclosure and that this would not happen again. He retorted that I had better do so soon. I then awkwardly introduced myself, and asked for his name and phone number.

Fast forward a few days, and I finally feel like I am somewhat organized in my house and should try to improve upon my initial meeting of my neighbour Ed. I deliberate on what I should bake. I choose to make Nanaimo bars, having had rave reviews of them in the past. I drive up to this neighbour’s home, pulling into a long narrow driveway just as the sun sets. I open my door, almost stepping on his ducks while making my way to the front door. After ringing the bell, and then knocking on the door a few times for good measure, I determine no one is home. Looking at the ducks surrounding me, I opt to take my treat with me and try another day. Pulling forward in the circular drive, I find a bus blocking the way. With the sun set and no streetlights on country roads, I am forced to go in reverse along the dark, narrow driveway. I sigh in relief when I am finally near the main road. Just as I am backing down the short, steep slope connecting to the main road, I hear and feel a clunk. I stop and jump out, only to see that I have now just killed this man’s mailbox.  I mean killed, in the sense that the cement base is cracked and his unusually large, navy blue mailbox has a significant dent in one side. (Needless to say, my van incurred damages too.)  Feeling rather exasperated, I continued on home.

Arriving home, I call my neighbour, Ed, to explain what happened. Of course, he didn’t answer the phone. So, I left a message that went something like this,”Ed, this is Lois, your new neighbour, whose dog killed your chicken. I was trying to come over tonight to bring you a treat, to say I was sorry again and to hopefully try once more to meet you under better circumstances. It is with deep regret that I must tell you that I managed to kill your mailbox tonight. Please know that I will pay for a new one to be installed or my hubby, who is quite handy, could come and make the repairs. I do not dare attempt to come over again, for fear of what may die next, so if you would like your homemade treat, please come visit my home or call me.”

The next day my doorbell rang and I opened the door to a lady I had never met. She asked if I was Lois, and when I said yes, she broke out into laugher. After a few attempts, which kept ending in giggles, she managed to introduce herself as Ed’s girlfriend, Sherri. She proceeded to share with me how Ed had replayed my message over and over until he was in tears from laughing so hard. Ed had told everyone in the house that they were not to delete that message. Sherri then made me laugh when she gave me Ed’s conditions of repayment. I was to pay something like seven cents each month for the next few years and then we would be even. Not knowing Sherri and feeling just a little timid, I offered again to just pay for it upfront. Sherri started chuckling once more and told me she was here to let me know that Ed was so impressed with my honesty and prompt confession of the mailbox killing, that otherwise would have gone unexplained, that no payment was needed. However she added, if you still have the treat I will take that. I happily handed over the Nanaimo bars and thanked Sherri for coming over to my house for introductions.

Moral of the story – If at first you don’t succeed, try, and try again! And just so you know, by Christmas of that year, we were left in charge of their house and animals while they went on vacation, and no other animals were killed or injured by my dog. To this day we are still good neighbours.

 

 

 

This year, as always, I had another birthday.  Somehow, this birthday was distinctive and very poignant to me. I am not so old that I should be worried it could be my last! So as the day went on, I realized it was the sheer outpouring of love and well-wishing from the people in my life.

Continue reading “Lifelines” →

Terry Reith/CBC News via Reuters

In our world we view tragedies on the news daily, and feel saddened. We tune in for updates and hope for the best. However, we rarely internalize the situation as if we were experiencing it ourselves. Last week, the news stations aired the catastrophic fires in Fort McMurray, Alberta, Canada.

Continue reading “Humanity Prevails” →

Life at times finds us basking in the sunshine, while other days we are tutored on how to taste liquid sunshine. It has a way of schooling us, no matter our ages. Along this journey we will share smiles, laughter and perhaps a tear or two. When life’s clouds hang over you, come seek shelter. Nothing in life is better than having friends by your side, doubling the adventure. Life is full of uncertainties, but always remember the beauty of a rainbow only fills the sky after rain.

Hello friends – I thought I might share just a little bit about me so you get a glimpse of who I am. My given name is Lois, however my friends call me Lo or Lo Lo. I love life, and view it through many different lenses. My family has taught me much. Raising kids and moving around has allowed me to experience much diversity. Continue reading “About Me” →

(Finding Exciting Achievements Repeatedly)

Life for many of us, moves at such a fast pace! We roll along with it until we encounter an event or an experience that leaves an imprint of fear upon our hearts and minds, forcing us to stop and genuinely feel fear.

Depending on our circumstances, we might push it away and hope we can bravely march on in life.  Yet, still in the quiet recesses of our minds, we find ourselves revisiting that suppressed fear. Perhaps subconsciously, and then consciously; attempting to understand it. Exploring it cautiously, while endeavoring to examine whether it’s real.

Questions arise, and we are soon compelled to determine a plan of action. Can the fear just be buried again? How soon will it resurface? Is it visible or hidden from view of others? Once it does reemerge, can we be brave enough to break it down and work on it? These are the concerns each of us face.

When I was a young teenager, I had a harrowing experience.  I was riding my bicycle and met head on with a city bus.  Needless to say, the bus won that standoff and I flew in another direction.  After spending months healing, I had to find the courage to step up and face my new fears.  I had always loved cycling and never before had any issues with buses.  Suddenly, I found myself anxious whenever I was near a bus, and hesitant to ride my bike.  Fear had immobilized me!  I had to choose to move forward and get back on my bike.

Today I am choosing to face a fear of mine – to write. To be bold enough to strike out in the blog world and to share my (inner and outer) thoughts publicly.  To silence those feelings of inadequacy, to no longer allow them to create doubt within me.  To abandon comparisons of others and to truly begin to explore life’s overflowing bounties.   To enlarge upon the things in life that create sunshine in my soul.  My hope is to share what I find invigorating and perhaps to have that resonate in you, the reader. So as I’m using my fear to Find Exciting Achievements Repeatedly, come along for the ride if you wish!