What I am thankful for...

Alright, alright, I know it isn't Thanksgiving anymore, but who says we have to have a holiday to be reminded of the things we are thankful for. With that said I feel like this is going to become a series of posts that pop up occasionally throughout my existence. So be prepared, at any moment, for thanks being thrown forth into the atmosphere from a computer in Montana.

What I am thankful for…

-->Wives who make their sick/injured/unhealthy husbands do therapy in the hospital. <--

          If you are in the medical setting, nurse or any therapy, surely you have come across this phenomenon. The MAN is in the hospital for one reason or another. Sick, surgery, confused, you name it. The MAN doesn't want to do a thing. The MAN wants nursing to take care of them, they want to rest (which means watch TV), they don't feel good, they're tired, and most definitely in pain.
          Now, don't think I am saying that these MEN do feel good, because they are in fact in the hospital for a reason. What I am saying is that I come in to work with the MAN, the MAN is lying in bed, giving an excuse of "oh I don't feel well", "oh I don't want to", "oh I don't think that would be a good idea right now, everything hurts". Then the WOMAN pipes up.
          The WOMAN is sitting their, quietly in the corner, participating in some independent task such as knitting a full blown adult sweater, reading a novel of 1,000 pages, working on her computer…for work, etc.  The WOMAN says to the man, "Now you listen here, this young lady wants you to get up and help you, so for cryin' out loud do what she says. Jeez you act like you've already died, you're fine!" Mind you, as the WOMAN says this, the MAN dares not look at the WOMAN…no, no, eye contact is certainly avoided during this moment.
          Poof! Just like that the MAN says to me, "you know, I haaavvveee been lying here for awhile, getting up would probably do me some good".  I then say "GREAT!" The MAN continues to not acknowledge the WOMAN, acting like he, nor myself ever heard her speak. The WOMAN doesn't brag and boast "That's right you will" or "you better believe it", she too acts as if she didn't say a thing. In fact, she becomes very proud of him, sincerely, and congratulates him for being strong and willing enough to work with me, acting as if HE DID in fact come up with this idea without a blip of coaxing.
          So here we are. The MAN up and at it, ready to work, the WOMAN continues on with her chevron adult sweater masterpiece, and I….well, I got exactly what I wanted.
       

I am thankful for the great and wise WIVES of the world. 

What are you gonna do?

The above is becoming a weekly view. Once a week we get a dumping of 3-8 inches of snow at a time.    Side roads not plowed, Betsy warming up after I strip her of her snowy coat.  The thing is, snow is very efficient here, it doesn't waste any time to accumulate. I walk into the grocery store with no snow on the car, by the time I get out... two fluffy inches have covered everything in a white sheet! But as the winter is still in the beginning stages of the season, we then have 6 days in a row of 40 degrees where everything melts…allowing for me to go on a non-snowy hike. : )

Here I am with my new friend, a pediatric OT, Danielle. We did the small "College M" hike, which is right next to town. If you look closely, you can see our cute town of Bozeman above Danielle's head. 

The most important thing about the cold though is that you fully appreciate warm beverages…and desserts never hurt either. If you live here, you have to have a positive about the snow. You know it is coming, and you know it will be freezing when it does. Whether you love it because snow is fluffy and fun, because it is pretty, because it allows for great skiing and additional snowsports, because it covers the ugly brown grass…whatever it is, you've got to fully embrace the positive, because otherwise you will be one unhappy person for many many months out of the year. So, raise your glass of warm beverage, coffee, tea, hot chocolate, rum and cider, hot toddy, etc., and cheers to the cold!