Stronger than the storm!

For the first time in almost 2 weeks,I donned a shirt and tie today.A family with whom we are friendly will be celebrating their son's Aufruf today.

"Aufruf (Yiddish: אויפרוף ofrif,oyfruf, ufruf/ifrif or אויפרופן ofrifn), which in Yiddish means "calling up", is the Jewish custom of a groom being called up in the synagogue for an aliyah, i.e., recitation of a blessing over theTorah.[1] In the Ashkenazic Jewish community the aufruf ceremony is usually held on the Shabbat before the wedding; but can also be held on a Monday or Thursday."-Wikepedia

This meant that I had to get dressed before Susan left for work.

While my hand is improving daily,I still can't use it at all, which makes getting dressed challenging.I have learned to ask for and accept her assistance as frustrating as this may be.As I get better every day, I find myself becoming more and more engaged in life.During the days when the pain was at it's apex,I was less human.It was as if I was a wounded animal,who had crawled away to either heal or die.I could barely hold conversations.My attention span was limited to what was immediately in front of me.My dress and demeanor was slovenly.It was an awful,albeit necessary place to be.

On a daily basis, this is improving. Putting on nice clothes today,especially my shirt and tie, is a major stepping stone on the road to normalcy.

It's not just my appearance that suffered during these 2 weeks.My attitude and effectiveness were also less than admirable.Happy and healthy had been overridden by miserable and in constant pain.I was not clear headed in my moment to moment never mind long term decision making.I am more and more convinced that this played a major role in my hitting the tree setting off a chain of events that left me feeling as if life were spiraling out of control.

Today, I feel like I have weathered the brunt of the storm.The tsunami which overwhelmed me has receded and I can begin the process of cleaning up and getting back to a more normal life.

Paraphrasing what we in New Jersey were fond of saying after Hurricane Sandy.....I will be stronger from this storm.It kicked my butt......however, my butt can take it!

Shabbat Shalom!