Strangers in paradise

A hidden wonderful service. Your old columnist, following major heart surgery earlier this year, was directed to go to a program called cardio rehabilitation. At the time I thought what in the world that was all about? After all I was a farm kid who grew up working as in physical labor. That has been kinda my nature, work in the shop, tend to the lawn, physical labor or maybe just brute strength and awkwardness. I never have been a fan of gyms and workout machines. Actually I love walking to enjoy the countryside wherever we have happened to reside.So following the doctor’s advice it was off to McCook’s hospital and their special unit called Cardio Rehab. Staffed by a crew of Registered Nurses all female. RNs all with the patience of Job the pretty ladies patiently led me into learning to operate their workout machines. The how to program the things to ever increase their resistance and through sweat and effort to build back muscle tone and flexibility once again. All that while being connected to heart monitors and a regular checking of vital signs. There was also a series of videos teaching signs of a possible impending heart attack, recommended diet, exercises and more. All good stuff and I’d recommend the learning to all my friends to be aware on their journey through life.

Still the best part of the rehab program is the neat ladies running it. They gently cajole and encourage with smiles and a great sense of humor. Just the good kind of people that get into your heart allegorically speaking. For sure I’ll continue when the Medicare runs out because they offer a very economical follow on program, self-pay, and all the cajoling and lectures continue. I need the encouragement.

Oh it is a wonderful change of pace for Grannie Annie and Papa at our house. Our son has been a long time resident of California but his Nebraska roots tug at him often. With the Covid-19 pandemic instructions from on high California style he is able to work, via computer and telephone from his home office plus when the pandemic hit schools were suspended and virtual learning took the place of traditional in room classes. Mom works in a vital job at night so dad tended to monitoring his three rambunctious youngsters doing their virtual learning from home as well as his full time job. Rather overwhelming.

Well this old guy’s heart ached for dear family and I suggested that he bring his family to McCook and enroll his children into our great school system. A 6th grader, an 8th grader and a sophomore all eager to come and were enthusiastically accepted by the powers that be in our school system. Tough to find a place to rent for a one semester stay, our son also looked into buying a home, but with a nice place yet in California it doesn’t make a lot of sense to do that short term either. With two girls multiple bathrooms are a vital necessity! So it is that our second family is now living in our basement and all is well. Grandpa is happy and well Grannie is a little more realistic about the work involved to make the arrangement a success.

Still the Covid pandemic has been a consideration. The thinking was that if a Covid outbreak occurred in the schools “those California kids” would be sure to get the blame. Then too we grandparents are in that highly susceptible age and health group and they for sure didn’t want to infect us. The answer was to live in a motel for a week plus in order to be tested before moving beyond the social distancing and wearing of masks as recommended. The tests were duly taken and hallelujah the results all came back negative.

We all hope and pray that this adventure will be a success. Meanwhile grandpa is enjoying every minute. Teach the 16 year old how to drive and get her license and just think of teaching your own loved one to drive the Los Angles traffic.

Maybe introduce them all to general aviation, They in turn can improve the older generation’s computer skills. Teach them Nebraska values of which their dad talks so much about while surrounded by his adopted California speak lifestyle. We pray that it will turn out to be a wonderful adventure.

That is how I saw it.

Dick Trail