“A Swift Kick in the Rear”

How Lucky are we some days? There are days when you get up and dwell on all the things not right in your life then something comes right out of the blue and makes you realize how lucky you really are.

Years ago I ended up in a hospital in the Midwest for an illness. I was a long way from home and really down in the dumps feeling very, very, sorry for myself.

I was walking down this long hospital corridor looking downward contemplating my sorry lot in life feeling pretty sad.  I wasn’t looking where I was going and almost ran into a wheelchair pushed by an attendant. I looked up and the first thing I noticed was the person in the wheelchair had no legs below the knees. As my gaze went up further I was met by a pair of sparkling blue eyes and white hair. This beautiful lady had the most wonderful smile you ever saw and she said, “Good Morning, Dear.” I walked down the hall a little further and it hit me, if she had something to smile about, what the hell was the matter with me.

Later that day I discovered she was on the terminal cancer wing of the hospital. Yes a good swift kick in the rear is good for us sometimes. I never saw this little old Lady again, but the lesson learned is precious even today. The illness I have is one that all I have to do is to adhere to some simple things and I will be OK. Some people are surely not that lucky.

You would think that one time would do it, but there have been a good many kicks in the rear to keep me on track. I am sure thankful today for each and every one of them. This one that occurred over 40 some years ago is one of the Greatest.

This is a few years past my “Kick in the Rear”

Hopefully a little smarter, later on…