Sunday, February 20, 2011

This Week I Learned


'A true friend knows your weaknesses but shows you your strength; feels your fears but fortifies your faith; sees your anxieties but frees your spirit; recognises your disabilities but emphasises your possibilities' - William Arthur Ward

It has been some time since we have spent a day at home; I have missed being online. Haydn is determined to purchase a motor vehicle to replace the Mitsubishi Pajero 4WD as quickly as possible. He is very aware that not having a second vehicle adds to my feelings of isolation. The plan to sell the Pajero in order to free up some cash was not well thought through; as retirees our expenses exceed our income. Thankfully, we receive a regular income from the complex containing 5 industrial sheds. There is also a superannuation fund that we endeavour not to touch. It is possible to spend the income should it be necessary. Haydn is mindful of the cost of health care in this country; there will always be money put aside should we need it. We plan to use some of the money from the sale of the vehicle for holidays. In the 15 years we have been together, we have had one week away, apart from a wonderful honeymoon in Tasmania in 1996. No! We are definitely not living the 'high' life. Quite simply, farming 67 hectares does not produce income. Haydn has worked and saved all his life. The fruits of his labour are obvious when you drive onto the farm. He is doing what he loves. I am thrilled to see him have this opportunity.


The Nissan Maxima, as winner of Wheels Car of the Year for the past two years, caught Haydn's eye; we have now made the discovery there are very few second-hand vehicles available. We have been 'on the go' and online for over a month. Finding low kilometres, with full service history, is almost impossibility! Fleet vehicles are' hit and miss' when it comes to service. Haydn is of the 'old' school and changes the oil every 5,000 kilometres. As a result of this we have travelled to Sydney twice in the past week. Along with other activities, including looking at every car lot in Newcastle/Lake Macquarie, it seems to have caught up with me. As a result, I decided to take a 'raincheck' on lunch with my Breast Cancer Support Group today. I spent a leisurely day at home which included time for meditation. It was all about 'me!'


At last! I am getting to the thought behind today's post! Yesterday I learned that IT IS possible to make a huge contribution with an almost useless right hand. We called into a shopping centre on the Central Coast for lunch and some groceries. As I was paying for my things I observed Haydn who stood transfixed, eyes on the check-out operator, who managed to 'swing' a three litre bottle of milk, a  six pack of yogurt and all other groceries into the plastic bag with her left hand. She had somehow managed to open the bag with an almost useless right hand. I watched, inspired and fascinated, determined to come home and do better myself. In fact it is my intention to call the store in order to see if it is possible to speak personally to this young woman. I would like to know if she is naturally left handed or has she developed these skills in order to 'survive' in this, sometimes, tough world?  She was amazing!

23 comments:

Jerry Carlin said...

You are pretty amazing too, Cheryl!

Rama Ananth said...

Wow!
That sure is an inspiration, and if i were you I would also call up and speak to her if possible. Great to hear you had some "My Time" to meditate and be by yourself.
And Jerry says you too are an amazing person, don't underestimate your skills.
Love, Rama.

Kaz said...

Chez love the quote.I know you Chez you will connect with her.Have to agree you are truely amazing and a gorgeous lady a dear friend.

Love ya Kaz.xo

Beth L. Gainer said...

Chez,

Nice posting! That woman handling the groceries with basically one hand is amazing, and it perhaps would be a good idea to speak with her.

I'm glad you had a well-deserved "me" day. You have earned it. Loved the quote at the beginning of the posting.

Anonymous said...

Wow thatt woman sounds amading... but then so are you :) you are so insperational!!!

Anonymous said...

What a great story Chez! Thank you so much for sharing it. We can all learn from others - I learn from you with each post. Love and hugs to you.
xoxoxo

Alli said...

Cheryl I have a Nissan Maxima, I'll ship it over to Aussie Land! My car is a silvery green nice colour and inside too. My friend Humphrey gave me the car last year for Adam but Adam is determined to buy his own vehicle. Once he figures out insurance etc he will have a change of heart I'm sure lol.
Good that you had some "Me" time on the weekend.. :) Love Alli...........XXXXOOO

Cheryl said...

Thank you StonePost. I like to believe we are all doing our best.

Cheryl said...

Rama as we will be going to Sydney again Friday we will have the opportunity to call in to the shopping centre. I anticipate it will give me the opportunity to speak to her, or management about having her call me.
Thankfully, my 'mind set' allows me to take time each day for prayer and reflection.
Love and gratitude Chez xo

Cheryl said...

Kaz you are such a sweetie and I thank you xo

Cheryl said...

Beth, it seems I gain much strength from these fabulous quotes. Although I do not necessarily save them to a file, I do find it easy to find one that I like when I want it.
Both Haydn and I were fascinated by the check out operator. Her right hand was virtually useless, just as mine is. As I mentioned, we stood mesmorised.
I think you would agree, the time taken for ourselves reaps rewards.
Love and gratitude xo

Cheryl said...

Emmy, I think I actually thought about curling up in the faetal position when this first happened. I soon realised it would not hasten my 'time'so I had best get on with life.
Hugs Chez xo

Cheryl said...

Audrey, as I learn from you my friend.
Love and gratitude always. Thanks for being so special. Chez xo

Cheryl said...

Alli, if our Maxima turns out to be what we think it will, then I would suggest you think twice about allowing Adam to drive it. I would be encouraging him to do what he intends and save for another vehicle for himself. Another of my friends told me it was the vehicle they bought for their daughter as her first car. Here, they are a little 'up' market, a little too expensive for a 'first' vehicle.
We did manage to get one that was driven by Nissan Executives and has just under 15,000km's on the clock. Allelulia! Wheels again.
Love and friendship always special lady. Chez xo

diane b said...

It is great to hear you sounding quite cheerful and positive. Keep it p.

Julie Goodale said...

I used to have a rock climbing partner who had a deformed arm/hand. Her forearm was shortened & withered, and the hand was small and malformed. But she was an ER doc & rock climber! She just figured out what she could do (and how to maximize it) and how to compensate. I suppose it's easier when it's something you're born with, though. You never know anything different, so don't really know what you've lost.
Inspiration sometimes comes at the most unexpected times.

Diane Rodgers said...

Hi Cheryl,

Somehow I missed this posting???? Kept looking for a new one...oh well found it now! Just wanting you to know I am praying today for your report from the doc....It will be ok....you are such a strong lady and I know you are now going to master using your left arm and hand!
So happy you found that car too! Yes! You guys have the patience to wait for the exact right one! Enjoy your new wheels!

Love to you as always,
Diane
xox

Cheryl said...

Thanks Diane. Not rebounding is not much fun so the only way is up.

Cheryl said...

Julie you are so right! Inspiration can come at the most unexpected times. There is no doubt that being born with any disability must make learning to live with it easier in some ways. I have become more determined than ever to overcome my limitations. Thankfully! I have had my moments.

Cheryl said...

Hi Di, for some reason this entry did not go through to my fb page using networked blogs. This has been a tough week so I have been absent from these pages. Hopefully, now that we have picked up the new wheels I will have time to focus on getting things sorted, including setting up the new computer with my voice recognition software. Won't that be wonderful?
Love and friendship always Chez xo

Paul C said...

What a poignant quote about a true friendship. There is a lot of subtlety of action there.

Cheryl said...

Paul, I believe there was a very valuable lesson on friendship learned when we became expatriates living in Singapore. I am thankful for that experience.

Ronni Gordon said...

Ever see the movie "My Left Foot" with Daniel Day-Lewis? It is totally amazing.