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Norma’s
Journal
Today February 8th,
2023 started out just like most other days.
We woke and began to fall into out normal routines.
Just the usual stuff we all take for granted…
Northwestern Mutual’s Central
and Western Regional Meetings were wrapping up in Minneapolis, MN this morning.
We opted not to attend in person, so watched virtually…in the comfort and
warmth of our own home.
Today, 15 years ago on
February 8, 2008 started out just like most other days as well.
We were younger then and both had arrived to our workplaces by 10am.
Shortly after I spoke with her on the phone that morning, Norma suffered her
career ending life threatening brain aneurysm.
It’s all in my “blog” that friend Dan Pearson helped set up for us at:
www.normaireland.org
By God’s Grace, Norma Survived.
So, as I worked
all day from home today, in the back of my mind, I was feeling guilty.
I thought to myself “I should be spending more time with Norma to enjoy
her company and to thank and Honor God for his Grace.”
At about 5pm, I threw in the
towel to address my guilt and put down my phone and pen.
I wandered out to the kitchen and sat beside her at our center island to
offer her a bribe…I was going to provide dinner tonight…because she should not
have to cook on such a momentous occasion!
I asked what she would like and beaming she replied “Fireside Grill!”
Deal! Done! Bribe accepted!
As we sit side by side, I
pulled up Norma’s website and asked her if she would like to go back in time to
revisit my diary of her “event.”
She says “sure!” I begin reading an
entry dated 2/27/08. The day she is
released from UIC to come back home.
It’s been several years since
we have looked at this and she claims she doesn’t remember reading this…she
tears up on several occasions….me too!
I continue to read out loud to Norma:
Monday 3/3/08: Gee- Time for eats and treats again? Ginger, Mom, Norma, and I
have dinner at 8:30pm.
Norma heads
up for bed.
I follow her upstairs
to get ready.
I flip on the TV and
tune into Channel 11-WTTW.
The
program is titled “My Music, My Generation, the 60’s.” Bingo, that’s us!
As I turn up the volume, the song playing is “What the World Needs Now is
Love, Sweet Love.”
Norma stands by
our bedside, next to her nightstand, and starts walking towards me.
I ask her to dance.
She
smiles and stretches her arm around my neck.
I pull her close and we stand in place and sway to the beat of the music.
My eyes swell up with tears of joy, it’s the best dance I’ve ever had!
We crawl into bed and she places a pillow on my chest and I gently rub her head
as we enjoy more sixties music.
As
I comfort her I feel the stitches and scars that remind me of the skill of her
surgeons whose hands were touched my God’s grace so she could live.
Norma drifts off to sleep and I ask God, “Why me?
Why have you blessed me so?”
We are so fortunate!
Youtube Link:
Seen on American Idol "What the World Needs Now"
Composed by Burt Bacharach
Editor’s note: After writing this draft for our journal, I learned that Burt Bacharach,
the Master Composer of “What the World Needs Now” passed away at age 94 from
natural causes…on February 8, 2023…15 years to the day that Norma suffered her “event.”
Monday 3/3/08 continued- It’s now 11:40pm on Monday night.
I/m writing my thoughts for the day down on paper for a change, to make
sure I don’t miss anything.
I’m
down in our new basement theater and turn the TV on to keep me company while I
write.
I tune into Ghost.
As timing would have it, Patrick Swayze and Demi Moore are dancing to the
music of “Unchained Melody” ~ one of the all time greatest love songs.
I think of my dance with Norma just three hours earlier, and now it is clear to
me.
Life is all about the dance.
So my advice to you, my family and friends, is to dance while you can, ad
to dance often.
Don’t take the gift
of life for granted as we often times do with those we love.
We have been given a gift-many are not as fortunate as we. Have you all
taken time for those special hugs I recommended a couple of weeks past? If not,
what are you waiting for?
God bless
and good night.
Back to 2/8/23-
So now it’s dinner time. I call in
our order, prepare our dining area in our family room consisting of 3 TV trays
each for Mom, Norma, and I, put on my coat, open the garage door and slide in
behind the wheel of our 2006 Lexus 470GX, Norma’s “Chalkboard Mobile” and I am
on my way.
As I pull out of our garage, I
turn on the radio and it’s tuned in to 93.9FM.
What I hear next takes my breathe away….
“And time goes by so
slowly, and time can do so much…are you still mine?
I need your love, I need your love, God speed your love to me…”
It was Unchained Melody by The Righteous Brothers. What are the odds? Timing is everything…and time goes by so slowly, and time can do so much…take time for those you love.
