Thankful Tuesday | Perle Champion

It’s Thankful Tuesday.

“I’m thankful for serendipitous moments in my life, where things could’ve gone the other way.”
– Rick Springfield to do list journal

This quote resonated loudly for me on this Thankful Tuesday, as my injured hand healed right up and I’m typing away as usual today.

I fell off a chair on an old wooden porch Friday night. As we all shifted our chairs around to watch the fireworks (thunder on the mountain) around 9 that night, the leg of my chair caught on the old porch and I slid off breaking my fall with my right hand. Things could have gone really wrong, but they went my way instead of the other way – a truly serendipitous moment.

I could have fallen down the stairs – I did not.
I could have broken my hand or something else – I did not.
I could have shattered my glass as I usually have a real glass – I chose plastic so it did not.

I was helped to my feet, the chair righted, wine glass refilled and we all watched the gorgeous fireworks and celebrated the 4^th of July. I stayed awhile and continued my long walk home via another friend’s house, and thought no more about it until Saturday morning when the hand was hurting and slightly swollen.

It was not bruised and the pain did not feel like a break. I kept it on ice the entire day and most of the night favoring it as I prepped food and did other minor chores – you have no idea just how much the right hand little finger does in a day. I have new respect for that digit.

Fortunately, I had an ARC (advanced reading copy) of a book I promised to review for a friend loaded on my Tablet, so the enforced tenure on the couch with one hand on ice was not total torture. I alternated between the ice-pack and tall glass of iced wine, which helped. Did more of the same on Sunday, but not as intense and it was obviously healing.

I slept with then hand wrapped flat in a silk scarf Saturday and Sunday nights and today the swelling is pretty much gone and I’m just shy of making a perfect fist again.

I am thankful for serendipitous moments where things that could have gone so wrong, went just right.

What are your grateful for?

What Are You Thankful For?

“Thank you is the best prayer that anyone can say…” – Alice Walker

It’s the only one I ever say. Just before I turn the bedside lamp off at midnight every night, I write at least
5 things in my gratitude journal that I am grateful for.

Last Tuesday evening’s list lead with two items that are often repeated in my journal as well as out loud on any given day.

Thank you for the strong healthy body and mind that are mine.
Thank you for my mother’s continued excellent health.

I am thankful that at 65, I am healthy and strong as is my 81 year-old mother. Once a week on a Tuesday or a Wednesday, I pick her up around 9 or 10 a.m., and we’re off.

My gift to her and, truth be told, to me is a day of doing whatever she wants to do, going wherever she wants to go. I know for sure, that we will:

Shop. The stores and malls may vary, but she is a consummate ‘Mallee’ who loves to go ‘saleing’.
Eat & Drink. We’ll stop for lunch and a beer or two at whatever restaurant strikes her fancy.
1. China Buffet for a Tsing Tao beer and all you can eat, and boy can she eat. At 5’2” and size 8 you’d never know.
2. Jim ‘n’ Nicks for Taco Tuesdays’ fried catfish tacos and Modelo or Acapulco for Fajitas and Dos Equis.
Shop some more – Birmingham has a plethora of large and small malls and then there are the vintage stores and Salvation Army stores, etc.
Party. We invariable stop for a happy hour which includes bar food or appetizer and something good and wet.
1. Bonefish grill is a favorite for Whiskey n Soda tall and an order or two of Bang-Bang Shrimp.
2. Dodiyo’s for Wine or a Stella Artois and pizzette and hummus.
3. Brio’s for a Peroni, bread and olive oil and shrimp cocktail.
Shop. We always stop at Publix grocery store up the block from her house for miscellaneous grocery items on the way home. She buys a six pack and I a bottle of wine to take home.