I couldn't agree with you more. Mary -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of [email protected] Sent: Monday, January 26, 2009 9:52 AM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [PD-LIFE] Quitting Smoking & Heaps of Lessons Yeah, Mary, you got it. That is when you finally get out of the forest so you can see all the trees together for a beautiful picture. We all have a path and a purpose. That is my take, anyway. Not all agree and that is fine. All are at a different level as we progress. I am finding those on the same level as I am as my life progresses and I pay attention to those around me. We tend to gather those of like thought around us. It is truly amazing when you take the time to reflect. What a story. Connie -----Original Message----- From: Mary Sayman <[email protected]> To: [email protected] Sent: Mon, 26 Jan 2009 12:44 am Subject: [PD-LIFE] Quitting Smoking & Heaps of Lessons Hip, Hip, Hooray for you, too, Sue. One really, really has to want to quit efore it will happen. Like you, my world sort of caved in all at once: I had my accident, reaking my leg in 8 places (I had never had a broken bone in my entire ife); I quit smoking cold turkey after something like 35 years; I went hrough menopause at the same time (damn those night sweats!!!); I had lways worked and there I was cut off from everyone and everything because veryone I knew worked; I was on crutches for 13 weeks not even allowed to ouch my toe to the floor; and I had never had to have any one do anything or me because I had always been the competent, able-bodied caretaker of veryone else, but here I was dependent on the Medi-Van to transport me20to octors' appointments, and later my fiancé to take me to PT. It took me two ours every morning to take a bath and get dressed which included aneuvering the tub seat in and out of the shower. It exhausted me, but I id it all on my own every day. I hired a friend to come in once a week to lean the bathroom and vacuum for me. My fiancé did the laundry and brought e everything to fold then he put it away; I loaded the dishwasher, ran it, nd unloaded it by sitting on a 24" stool. I fed myself during the day by utting things from the frig on the table, from the table to the stove, from he stove to the counter, then back again when I was through. I used a unch bag to carry my food and drink mugs in because I could hang on to the andle and still be able to grip the handgrip on the crutches. A year after he accident, I had to have more surgery; then six weeks later, I fell in he bathroom and broke my foot on the same leg that had been broken. I was ack on crutches for another three months because I broke the lis-franks oint in four places and chipped the ankle bone on both sides. I was eginning to think I'd never get back to work, but I finally made it after 2 months. A year later, my fiancé told me he was leaving (after 14 years), nd I discovered that he left me for a married woman with small children who as still living with her husband. Go figure that one out!!! Life surely is strange some times,=2 0and it can surely dish out the lessons in big hurry. I guess God never gives you more than you can handle. If you hink it is, He's right there to lift you up. I learned a lot about myself n the four years after my accident; and I learned a lot about life. I hink I see the 'big picture' a lot more clearly now that I have 'matured'. OL God sent me Angels to provide strength and encouragement; and when I no onger needed their services, He took them away. It has pretty much been hat way all of my life. I am so very Blessed. Hugs, ary -----Original Message----- rom: [email protected] mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of [email protected] ent: Sunday, January 25, 2009 2:53 PM o: [email protected] ubject: Re: [PD-LIFE] Old things, age, and life YAY, MARY~for quitting smoking! it's one of the hardest things to do... i quit new years eve 1992~while attending school and going through a ivorce, with a 3 year old at home...probably a good thing i didn't take too uch on at one time, huh? LOL...weird thing is, i went from almost 2 packs day to zero on a spur of the moment decision and have never wanted another igarette.... sue in cloudy, mild NE Florida) -- ..frame every so-called disaster with these words~in 5 years will this atter? -------------- Original message -------------- rom: "Mary Sayman" <[email protected]> It will be 8 years in July since I've had a cigarette. One of the best hings I ever did. Hugs,=2 0 Mary ------------------------------ o unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the uotes in the subject and the body of the message ------------------------------ o unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to [email protected] ith the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of he message ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message