Day 234 Stretching the Elbow, Living the Truth

Dear friends,

"In theory there is no difference between theory and practice. In practice there is." Yogi Berra

Don’t you love Yogi Berra? Some of the things that have come out of his mouth have been American classics. The above quote is not only funny, it’s profound. How true it is! I can write about how important relationships are, but I’ve got to pick up the phone, have the lunch, write the note, help with the homework, make the time. This blog has been a great barometer of my own hypocrisy. I can tell the truth (theory), but can I live the truth (practice)? The answer is, sometimes yes, sometimes no.

There’s a huge difference between writing on my schedule “go to the gym”, and actually getting on the machine (whatever they call that one that brings your knees up really high and burns 600 calories per hour) to do the work. The theory of a beautiful garden and the reality of pulling up weeds are miles apart. (If you wish to see that played out, compare my yard to Joan the Gardener’s). Theory is flour, sugar and other stuff. Practice is stirring, mixing, baking and eventually eating one of Sister Laurie’s carrot cakes.

And regarding the really meaty matters of life, theory is “those people need someone to blot out their transgressions so they can live forever with a holy God”. Practice is a perfect God/Man bruised, bleeding and dying the death the sinner deserves. Thanks be to the Great One, who is no theorist, but a practitioner!

Stephen has gained a little bit of range of motion in his shoulder. His flexion has increased slightly too in the elbow, but the gain in extension is yet to be seen. We’re not sure how much more he’s going to get at this point. We talked a little about when the time comes for acceptance, and when it is necessary to keep fighting for more. I think it’s difficult for him to think this might be about all he’s going to get. Anyway, there is certainly no accounting for miracles. Of all people, we get that. Not to mention Dr. Rosati’s words to me at the very beginning “It will take a full year to approach the new normal.” We won’t even hit the 8 month mark until next week. Steve will see Dr. Bagchi on Wednesday, and hopefully get permission to go swimming, what with the temperature heading toward the 90’s. But as Yogi Berra says, “It ain’t the heat, it’s the humility.”

I still don’t have the final date for the Smith Family Thanks You Dessert Night, but it will either be October 16th or 23rd. Please, please block those dates till we get the final one. We’ll have some music, and some words (no long, boring speeches), and some wonderful yummies. You can meet some of the other bloggies, and first responders, nurses, friends etc.. Besides, it would give us great joy to say thank you in person!

On that note, I leave you with one last Yogi Berra quote:

"You should always go to other people's funerals, otherwise, they won't come to yours."

Your friend on the pilgrim road,

Loriann