An extra day

  

Do you ever wish there were more hours in your day? More days in your week - well, maybe in your weekend?

  I need to be honest and admit I don't have a whole lot going on. I work four ten-hour days, and don't have a lot of responsibilities outside of work other than housework. I do find myself wishing time would slow down and the days didn't go by so fast...especially days off. Seriously.

 If you had some extra hours, what would you do with them? What about 24 hours, as in a whole extra day?

  Good news, people: since this is leap year, you get that. A whole extra day. Thanks to this every four years having an extra day in it, we all get an extra day in this new year approaching like a freight train. (It does seem time goes faster the older we get.)

Speaking of which.....do you know how long this leap year thing has been going on? Since 46 B.C. And the credit goes to good old Julius Caesar. I wonder of my good friend Shirley Dye was around to help with that decision? 😀 Many years later in the late1500's, it was changed to only years divisible by 400. (I was being silly before. It makes much more sense that Shirley Dye was around for that decision).😎

 Ever wonder what people do for birthdays that are born on February 29? By the way, they are called a leapling or leaper. Most of them observe their birthdays on February 28, and some on March 1.

So, now that you have an extra day allotted to you in 2024, what are you going to do with it?

  I asked myself that question a couple of leap years ago....I think 8 years ago. I didn't do it on February 29 - you don't have to take it as your extra day, any day will work. I reserved a night's stay at the Dutch Host Inn in Sugarcreek, Ohio, the Amish part of Ohio. I am around an hour from there. This inn has package deals during the slower times of the year, and February happens to be a slower time. (Because what sane person wants to go anywhere in the winter unless it is to a warmer climate?!)

 The package prices vary on the part of the week you go. Weekends are more. And they knock off a bit for one person. So for somewhere between $90 +, you get the night's stay at a nice inn, your choice of three different restaurants for supper and breakfast, and several other free things such as bread, candles, cheese, bologna, serving spoons, BBQ sauce, and more. Usually around 20 or so businesses participate. You are given an envelope of coupons and a map, and go all over Holmes County, Ohio getting free stuff. When I was a security guard at the hospital, the other guards called it my Amish scavenger hunt. It is fun.
Oh. I just looked at the current packages. Prices have gone up a bit since I have gone. Yikes. Definitely cheaper to spend my extra day off at my bachelor pad. Unless I take the nephews out to eat. 😀

Of course, these days I prefer to stay home and enjoy the solitude. I will probably use my extra day to read, though my perfect day is spending time with my family.

But seriously: This new year does have a whole extra day. What are you going to do with it? A lot of people have tons more responsibilities than single old avoiding people me...but at least attempt to do something special that day. Get a babysitter and do something special. If you are female, get a babysitter for your kids AND husband, and get some "you" time. If you are a married guy, tell the little wife you are going hunting or whatever married guys do if they can escape for a few hours. 😎 

Seize that extra day and do something special with it. 

I for one do plan on asking for an extra day off at some point. I have a 9 day vacation starting Saturday, but that doesn't count.

Blue Christmas

  

A few years ago, I saw a church sign advertising a Blue Christmas service. I was curious, and looked it up:

"Blue Christmas Service is a Western Christian tradition that happens on or around the longest night of the year, usually December 21 the Winter Solstice. It is about comforting fellow Christians who are grieving and struggling to find joy and hope during the season."

  I love Christmas, but have been struggling this year to get in the mood. I was late listening to Christmas music - and I usually start in late September or early October. I didn't feel like decorating, and wasn't going to....but that didn't set well with my nieces. The youngest and oldest with her baby (my great niece!) came over last week and put my tree and other decorations up while I babysat. That kind of kick-started me, so I have decorated more and have gotten into the mood more. And finally did my Christmas shopping.

 My depression has been really bad, and seasonal depression seems to be jumping on also. I work Christmas day. Again. The Buzard family Christmas is going to be crammed into a few hours Christmas Eve between Sunday dinner and the Christmas Candlelight service. I am still not extremely in the mood.

 But I have my whole family. And I am thankful for that. So I really don't have it that bad. There will be a lot of people facing Christmas for the first time this year without a loved one. And others still grieving from other years.

  I have a friend at work - she actually works in my doctor's office, which is in the hospital. She is a great person, and one of my favorite people at the hospital. Five years ago, her husband passed away suddenly. She isn't one of those people who remarried before the grass grew over the burial plot. She is still sad a lot of days. I give her a hug once in a while when I know she is having a bad day with it. She told me recently that it is really hard on the yearly occasions. Holidays, his birthday, their anniversary. Thankfully she has two little great grandkids that help, but she and many others struggle with grief at this time of year, missing someone who will not be at the family gatherings. There will be no gift under the tree to or from them.

 I stopped at the local grocery store after work last night, and asked the lady ringing me up "Are you ready for Christmas?" She made a face, and said "well, I haven't really celebrated the last few years since my dad passed away around Christmas." I made some sympathetic comments, and then told her about these Blue Christmas services some churches have. She seemed interested and said she might check it out.

  As so many of us celebrate, make merry, and get into the season, it doesn't really occur to a lot of us that not everyone feels merry this time of year. Many are sad and grieving because of losses of loved ones this year, or other years. There is no time limit on grief. Some people seem to move on more easily, and others never seem to. And there is nothing wrong with that.

 These last few years have been tough on a lot of people. Covid has affected so many so differently. My entire family has had it twice. I had it bad enough the first time that I was admitted to the hospital I work at for 5 days, but no one else in the family had it very bad other than me the fist time. But others lost family members to it. And many of them are still grieving over their loss.

 There is something we all need to remember at this time of year. The celebrating, gift giving, decking the halls - that is all well and good, as long as you keep Christ in your Christmas. But, to use a much overused phrase - remember the Reason for the Season. All of these people grieving and sad....they are part of the reason Jesus came. He came for us. God sent His only Son to this earth as an innocent baby that would grow up and die for the sins of the world. "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life."(ESV)

 That is Christmas. Not the lights, parties, gift exchanges. It is about the Savior who can save, heal, comfort. One doesn't need all the celebrating to observe Christmas. We can all kneel at the manger, worship the Savior, and seek his comfort and help.

 There was sadness and grief the first Christmas. When the wise men came seeking Jesus all those years ago, King Herod had all the babies in the area of Bethlehem killed.

 So let's be considerate of those grieving during the holidays. Do something nice for them. They may not feel like attending a Christmas party or service, but a small gift, supper dropped off, a gift card, etc. might help them a little.

Chatting with "Sally"

 

I have met a lot of interesting people working at the hospital for the last 10 years. I was security, ER greeter, then for the last seven years I have been working at the information desk in the main lobby.

These COVID years have been rough with a lot of rude and mean people taking their unhappiness about the rules and restrictions out on whoever is at the front desk. The biggie right now is the age limit. You must be at least 12 years old to visit patients, with the exception of maternity. And man, have I taken many a verbal beating over that.

However, there are a lot of nice people who come through the main lobby.

And "Sally" is a recent one. That isn't her name, but is the name the transport van gave me when they came to pick her up. That didn't make it easy to track her down.😊

It turns out she decided to be seen in the the ER after she had been done with an appointment, and was not ready to leave. Sally is an African American lady in her 60's who is in a motorized wheelchair (She looks older than her 63 years, but I wouldn't tell her that). I assume the wheelchair is mostly because she has two prosthetic feet. Though she can walk some on them. She demonstrated for me and others. I chatted with her for a few, then went back to my desk.

She came out to the lobby later to wait for her ride, and parked by my desk. And we chatted on between people coming and leaving. I found her to be an interesting lady. Three time cancer survivor. Double foot amputee. Three heart attacks. And she gives God the credit for making it through it all. She has an amazing outlook in life.

She fostered 30-some kids in her lifetime.

Both of her parents died in her arms.

She told me about her family, and I talked about mine. I showed her pictures of Addie, my 11 month old niece.

We talked about food and recipes. I swear any conversation I am in goes around to food at some point.

And we talked about life. Trials and hard times.

We talked about Noah Galloway, a military guy who lost part of an arm and leg in an IED explosion, who turned to alcohol and self pity. Then one day as he looked at himself in the mirror, he had the thought that he should be thankful for what he had left, instead of being bitter about what he lost. He started training for marathons and other activities, and became the first double amputee to appear on the cover of Men's Health.

We talked about Joni Eareckson Tada and Nick Vujicic. She, paralyzed from the neck down since 1976. He, born with no arms or legs. Both of them used by God. And how all of us can accomplish things no matter our condition or lot in life.

I left for the day before her ride came.

With my jacket on and backpack slung over my shoulder, I stopped by her wheelchair. "Well, Miss 'Sally', it has been nice chatting with you. I hope your ride comes soon, but have Ashley in the ER call again if not."

She held her arms out, and said " I enjoyed talking to you also. Give me a hug!"

I leaned down and gave her a hug, and she said "You give good hugs!"

I wished her a good night, and headed for home, my day and life all the better for meeting that very nice and sweet lady.

She will definitely be one of those good people that will stick in my mind.