LOOKIN’ AROUND by Syd Iwan I have learned so many interesting things this week. First and foremost, I’ve finally figured out how to sleep comfortably in one of those awful hospital chairs. You know, the kind that has wooden armrests so your arms go to sleep and tingle within minutes of using them. Some of them also have such strong springs that if you push them back into the reclining position, they snap you right back upright unless the upper part of your body weighs over 200 pounds. If you get one of those bad ones, you are flat out of luck unless you tie it down with a cement block or have learned how to sleep sitting up. If you are fortunate enough to get a weaker spring, then you may be in business. Here’s what you need to sleep in a semi-cooperative hospital chair, namely three pillows, a small sheet, blanket or bedspread, and a sweatshirt or towel. You first place the chair where it has enough space to recline. Then you drape the sheet or other covering over your feet and legs and, after reclining the chair, grab the pillows. Pick the thinnest pillow for behind your head, and position the other two over the wooden armrests. Place them at an angle so the corners meet over your lap, and rest your arms on them at the same angle as the pillows are situated. Finally spread the sweatshirt or towel over your chest and arms and cover completely if the room is cold. If it is warm, you might not need it at all or the covering over your feet. If you follow these simple instructions, you are apt to be very comfortable indeed and sleep like a baby. Such, at least, has been my experience this week. I’ve even felt rested in the mornings, and my dreams have been sweet. The one minor difficulty with all this splendor is that it has to be replaced every time you get up to go to the bathroom or help with your son’s care. I’m getting pretty efficient at getting settled back in by now, of course, so it doesn’t take very long. At first it was a little tedious, but now it’s just routine. Then we come to rocks. There are rock borders all around the hospital and, in fact, all over town. They must all come from the same place because the assortment of stones, pebbles etc. is always fairly much alike. It’s about what I’m used to from the ranch except all gathered together in bunches. I’ve had time to observe them closely when taking breaks from son Chance’s room and sitting on a wall or something sipping coffee. Must of the rocks are fairly humdrum and not very exciting. A few have interesting colors, streaks, or embedded materials. What has been catching my eye, though, are the occasional small flat round ones that are grayish-brown with white flecks. I once started looking for a perfectly formed one of those for the lack of anything better to do, and I’ve been looking for the perfect specimen ever since. I haven’t yet found a completely round one that is unchipped, but I’m bound to sooner or later, don’t you imagine? I have found a heart shaped one that went into my pocket along with a nice oval. What I plan to do is let these three pebbles roll around with my knife, keys, and loose change there in my pocket until they get all smooth and nice. This may take a considerable amount of time, of course, but it should happen eventually. I know a little about polishing rocks since we had a tumbler some years ago in which you place rocks, grit, and water and then let the thing roll slowly around for many weeks until the rocks are polished. My pocket isn’t as active as a tumbler, but given enough time the result should be the same, I would think. I didn’t really know what to do with those polished rocks from long ago, come to think of it, so the whole affair is somewhat an exercise in futility. That’s okay. It gives me something to think about and work towards. That is useful when tending someone in the hospital. The whole business also reminds me of God’s efforts to polish us up a bit. He puts us through hard times occasionally to smooth off the rough edges and make us shine. I wonder if I’m shiny yet. Must be getting close. It looks possible that Chance’s stay may end shortly which is fine since we’ve already been here about two weeks. Heaven knows that’s long enough, but now I have a nice collection of rocks and know how to sleep comfortably in a hospital chair. That’s probably a good thing, and getting Chance back to better health is even better.
Posted on: Mon, 02 Sep 2013 13:17:43 +0000