good news!

Well, I have some great news. Papa Bear is feeling much better! It was pretty scary at times but day by day he's been getting better. This morning he was back to himself, telling funny stories, and giving the nurses grief.

This morning he told me about the time he was in the hospital years ago in the same room with a man who'd made it his business to collect leftovers from other patient's trays. He'd go around after each meal and pick up all the food he wanted from the trays waiting to be picked up outside the rooms throughout the whole hospital. He had a basin under his bed that he'd filled with ice to keep the perishables cool. He lined the window sills with all the other goodies. One time when my father went to the bathroom, the crazy man switched my father's milk with one of the ones under his bed. My father took a sip and it seemed a little warm and tasted a little funky. His neighbor piped up and said that since Daddy was drinking his right away he'd switched it with an older one. And another time one of my father's friends came for a visit and brought him a nice bowl of fresh fruit. My father left the room and when he came back the crazy man had eaten it all.

Some of Daddy's famous hospital stories are pretty colorful...and lots have gory and disgusting details. Most can't be repeated here. But really, they aren't nearly as funny when I tell them as they are when he tells you about them. Especially when he starts laughing so hard he can hardly finish telling you. Oh, those are the stories I love the best.

I'm so very happy that he's back to his dear self. I know that the day will come someday and I'll try to prepare for it. But for now, oh my dear God, I thank you for your grace.

And to you, my very sweet friends, my whole family thanks you so much for your well wishes and prayers! What a great bunch of friends you are. My niece told me once that she'd pray for something for me and then she said "and Amy, it'll happen because God listens to my prayers."