‘Twas the Night Before Surgery

Guest writer: Beth Littlejohn, the youngest daughter

Well, it was the night before surgery and a storm was brewing, headed toward the Windy Knoll. The neighbors came to share the basement. We had a nice visit, but it was late when they deemed it time to try to go home. No storm yet.

Mother and Daddy went to bed but I was worried about the weather and sat in Daddy’s recliner to rest the backache I had cause earlier in the day. Lugging 40 pounds of cat litter in a huff did not work out well for me.. But I digress!

I cruised the channels, away from the threats of bad weather. I drifted off to sleep for a few minutes. It must have been about 12:30 AM when the phone startled me out of my slumber. A dear friend of the family told me to get on a local station as the weather threat was back in earnest. Back I go to the storm watch and drift off again.

About 1:15 AM all manner of craziness began. When I jerked straight up in the recliner it was pitch black in the house! The power was out. The cordless phone was making enough racket that the dead could have heard it. My cell phone was honking about a tornado in the area. Then Mother’s cell phone rang with an emergency message. Still my parents slept the restful sleep of no noises.

So now it is 1:30 AM. And what was I to do? Wake them? Just go to bed and pray four the storm to pass by? I finally decided to wake them. I stumbled noisily into the bedroom of my parents and whispered for Daddy to wake up. Now remember that both parents wear hearing aids. He could not hear me so I shook him. He was awake in a flash and grabbed my arm. I was not hurt but I was startled. I know he was too. Remember it was pitch black.

Well, my parents decided to sleep through the storm in the comfort of their bed. We were fortunate. The storm took down some branches but wew were safe.

Daddy woke me at around 5:00 AM to begin the surgery day.

It is late Tuesday evening now and I am about to rest in my own bed. My sister, Donna, is at the Windy Knoll with Daddy and Mother is resting in the hospital. The surgery went very well and a full recovery is expected. Much thanks to friends Emily and Brother Mitchell, for helping us pass the time while Mother was in surgery. Thanks to you kind readers for your thoughts and prayers. Mother is doing fine!

Life at the Windy Knoll is without its matriarch at the moment but she will be home by the weekend. I will keep you posted.

Illness and recover also happen while country living!