Taking the Time to Say: Thank You!

Recently I was having yet another bout of insomnia at around 1 in the morning (that happens quite a bit) and decided to get up and do some browsing on the Web.

While on Google, I "happened" to find my way to a Doctors Review site. It got me thinking about a doctor I had met many years ago when I ended up in the emergency ward at 5 AM with what I thought at the time was either a heart attack or stroke (it was neither, just a lot of stress-related physical symptoms...long story).

Back to the "thank you" theme of this post. After finding this doctor's name on the review site and reading many glowing (they really were) reviews (and not one negative one!) from patients he had treated and cared for over the years, I decided to try to locate an email address for him. I wanted to send a note of thanks for his kindness and compassion on that very difficult night, so many years ago.



My email:

Many years ago, I ended up at the ..... Hospital emergency room at around 5AM, suffering from what I thought at the time was either a heart attack or stroke (it was neither, just way too much stress in my life). I had the good fortune to have you as the emergency room doctor who attended to me that night.

I was reading some reviews of doctors and came across your name. I vividly remember you and that night. You were so kind, professional and reassuring, I never forgot it. It appears from the reviews I was reading tonight, that I am not the only one who has been impressed by how you conduct yourself as a doctor. If I didn’t thank you that night (Oct. 1998) I just wanted to say that now. My sincere thanks to you for helping me so much on what was probably the most difficult night of my life. I lived to tell the tale though! I’m so glad you were there.

And the Dr.'s reply:

Thank you so much for your kind words! You made my day Geraldine. I will speaking to my Dad later today (both of my folks are well) and I will pass on your greetings.
Take care. R....


I've left out the names for confidentiality. Coincidentally,  I happened to know his parents, wonderful people.

It left me with such a good feeling to have been able to reconnect and to express my sincere appreciation, after all these years. I needed the care of a truly compassionate and professional doctor that night and that's exactly what happened.

If there's someone who you've always wanted to say thanks to and it got forgotten along the way for whatever reason, it really is worth the time and small effort to write a note, email or make a phone call. I'm so glad that I did....

There are Positive Messages Everywhere...

         
...even on building walls.
                             

                                   

Even though I'm not a fan of graffiti in most cases (this one looked like chalk though, so easy to remove) I did like this example I saw recently:

What positive messages did you note during your week?

re·sil·ience  n. 1. The ability to recover quickly from illness, change, or misfortune; buoyancy. 2. The property of a material that enables it to resume its original shape or position after being bent, stretched, or compressed; elasticity.

Courtesy of: The Free Dictionary.
                      

PS: I made some updates at my other blogs today. If you like haiku poetry, you might also enjoying stopping by over at My Poetic Path. A lucky talisman poem awaits!

Speaking of Toast...

                   
...in yesterday's post, that is!

                                           

                                                  

This photo and post from my recipe/craft blog came to mind.
                                            

Some of the best things in life are the most basic of pleasures.

What could be finer or more satisfying than freshly made and lovingly served:

Toast, Jam and Tea


Savor the Simple Pleasures.


Wishing you a wonderful Weekend!

                              
PS: A very easy jam recipe is included in the link above.

A Gerber Daisy Haiku

                                                            

This beautiful gerber daisy was a pretty and thoughtful gift that I received from a couple of friends. They dropped it off, as a much-needed "pick me up" for the day (I was having a less than happy one). It certainly did that and went on to weather the winter on the bathroom window sill, leaves crumpled and flowers nowhere in sight.

And then, to once again emerge in all it's loveliness.

Daisies of all types and colors, always make me smile.

                               

Wishing you a Wonderful Spring Day!

Also submitted for: Today's Flowers

There's a Song in Your Heart, Let it Out!

                                     
I have always loved to sing !

Many years ago I sang on a semi-professional basis for quite some time. I was also a finalist (twice) in one of Canada's prestigious country music competitions: Big Country Music Awards in the 80's.

Let me tell you, I belted out a respectable rendition of some of the musical hits of the time like: Desperado, Someday Soon, Stand By Your Man and Catch the Wind to name but a few. What fun it was and what an unexpected pleasure to find that other people (including some who had been in the biz for a long time) thought I had a talent for singing too.

Years later, in 2000 I decided to get back into singing and took more voice lessons, in a more classical vein this time. What a joy it was to rediscover the freedom and pleasure of singing!

 Of course I've always tried to remember to "lighten up the day" with a song, humming along to a CD, singing while driving etc. The times I really remember the true joy of singing are many and varied. One thing I did not know until recently were the many health benefits associated with singing.

This article was very interesting, listing various health benefits directly related to singing including: improved memory, lung capacity and lowering blood pressure to name but three. It includes an extensive list of health benefits of singing and just one of many lists/articles that  I found online.

Whether you consider yourself a singer or not, it's a great way to improve each day and your life. And it doesn't have to cost a dime! Even if you start in the shower and go from there, you might surprise yourself and go on to share your singing voice with the world. You just never know! It's all good.

Rooftop Conference!

" Hey gang, the sky looks pretty clear.

 Maybe we should stop and rest a spell."

                       

                                   

"Daaaah gone it, wrong again!"

                         

                    

These birds seemed to be discussing the weather. 

 They waaaaaas country birds!

Hope it's clear sailing, wherever you are.