Grotto blotto
Dear all - a *much* better day today. Last night Greg and I sat in bed while I began to read blog comments to him. Eventually he began to fall asleep... what a wonderful way to fall asleep, with so many words of love, care, and encouragement lulling him into quietude. When he woke in the morning, we carried on - now sitting in bed with our cafe au laits. Many wonderful blog comments and direct emails (greg.johnson AT esrf.fr) - thank you so much. As one comment pointed out, it is so very obvious we are not alone in this. And that is so very Good.
After a long reading time (!) I came out to the kitchen to discover a card and a letter - what indulgence! It was good that friends then arrived to checkup on Greg, so that we could extend the pleasure of awaited reading.
Then we embarked on Greg's first big leisure excursion: we drove with his parents up to the "Grottes de Choranche," an incredible cave system in the Vercors massif (mountain range). None of us have ever seen anything quite like it - Frank took well over a 100 photos during the 45 minute tour. Greg loved it (it had been his idea), but he also found it frustrating. I pointed out afterwards that it was about as challenging a venture as could be imagined for someone with impaired vision, no depth perception, poor lack of balance, and impaired hearing; the uneven footing, darkness, bouncing sounds from 20 school children, narrow and slippery walkways, stalagtites to dodge around and stalactites to duck under, all of course on completely new terrain... were not easy. Tiring for all of us, in the midst of the beauty. So while he was a little frustrated at how hard it had been, the rest of us were amazed at how well he had done. Perhaps this will become a familiar pattern.
We have now eaten a very full and lovely dinner, once again, and once again, I think we shall all sleep fairly well. The exercise, as much as anything, will have been particularly good for Greg.
He is on the computer now, feasting on emails. It is hard on his eye, so I don't think he'll last long - but I will quite enjoy reading more outloud. As said, they were so encouraging - and humbling - for us both. Hard to feel alone when friends of friends you've never met are worrying about you and praying for you!
Okay - Greg has just told me that I look "blotto"... which in his vocab means 'more than a little tired.' So I'm off to bed, very glad to see my husband doing so very much better than yesterday... and some of the thanks goes to you.
Love,
Kirstin
PS This is the first blog we've typed ourselves since the operation - ever so much thanks to our blog typists: Alex, Bruce, Adrienne, Jen, Amy, and Uncle Grant!
After a long reading time (!) I came out to the kitchen to discover a card and a letter - what indulgence! It was good that friends then arrived to checkup on Greg, so that we could extend the pleasure of awaited reading.
Then we embarked on Greg's first big leisure excursion: we drove with his parents up to the "Grottes de Choranche," an incredible cave system in the Vercors massif (mountain range). None of us have ever seen anything quite like it - Frank took well over a 100 photos during the 45 minute tour. Greg loved it (it had been his idea), but he also found it frustrating. I pointed out afterwards that it was about as challenging a venture as could be imagined for someone with impaired vision, no depth perception, poor lack of balance, and impaired hearing; the uneven footing, darkness, bouncing sounds from 20 school children, narrow and slippery walkways, stalagtites to dodge around and stalactites to duck under, all of course on completely new terrain... were not easy. Tiring for all of us, in the midst of the beauty. So while he was a little frustrated at how hard it had been, the rest of us were amazed at how well he had done. Perhaps this will become a familiar pattern.
We have now eaten a very full and lovely dinner, once again, and once again, I think we shall all sleep fairly well. The exercise, as much as anything, will have been particularly good for Greg.
He is on the computer now, feasting on emails. It is hard on his eye, so I don't think he'll last long - but I will quite enjoy reading more outloud. As said, they were so encouraging - and humbling - for us both. Hard to feel alone when friends of friends you've never met are worrying about you and praying for you!
Okay - Greg has just told me that I look "blotto"... which in his vocab means 'more than a little tired.' So I'm off to bed, very glad to see my husband doing so very much better than yesterday... and some of the thanks goes to you.
Love,
Kirstin
PS This is the first blog we've typed ourselves since the operation - ever so much thanks to our blog typists: Alex, Bruce, Adrienne, Jen, Amy, and Uncle Grant!
posted by Kirstin Jeffrey Johnson | 7:22 am
1 Comments:
Wow! You all have been through it. Julian and I just returned from Phx where I read the first installment (from surgery to just before New Year's) to the Lott/Gibb clan who were all in Phx for the holidays. Many comments came from the crowd such as "Why do these two get all of this garbage?!?" "They are such an amazing couple. They seem to deal with things with such heart." "I would have stuffed it by now if I were them." And so on.
You had 7 very hopeful cheerleaders in Phx this holiday (helped on just a bit by Yvonne's introduction to margaritas and yes, I remained the quietest one of the bunch... Phx is still in recovery). They kept asking me questions that I just couldn't answer, mostly along the lines of "How do they keep such good spirits?" I did attempt to remind them that you really are human and do get down, but they are in denial about it, so I gave up.
We all love you and hope the best for you. Mom has asked for the latest update and while dad does follow the blog, he is not the most loquacious man I know only giving the breifest of reports. So I've printed off these last 14 pages to share with mom (I can already see they are filled with ups and downs), and so Julian and I can go through it all and pray - even if some of it is retrospecitvely - and be as much with you as we can.
Oh and by the way, regardless of your health issues, if it weren't for Julian, my parents would have swapped us for the two of you as offspring!
So now...Heal heal heal heal heal heal... please? (my version of Benny Hinn.)
With all of our love
Duffy and Julian
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