The feel of my own sheets.

Soft pillows without

a rubbery covering.

Luna curled beside me.

Blessed quiet with no

beeping machines, no

wakeups at 3 a.m. for 

chest x-rays, or a roommate

with the TV blaring.

No tangle of tubes and

no more poking and prodding.

A daughter who took over 

communication with family

and friends. A son who experienced

the trauma of post-surgery complications

without alarming me. The Betty Brigade 

bringing delicious food each day.

A husband who changed

the sheets. Sleep, blessed sleep!

Daughters and granddaughter

changing my bandages with

calmness and professionalism.

Quiet visits from my circle of women.

And the list continues to grow.

Oh, do we ever take for

granted the small blessings

of this life. I thought I was 

aware of them but this 

“unwelcome visitor” has 

seared their importance

into my very being and 

I am thankful for that.

(But not for the “unwelcome visitor!”)