Counting Blessings As They Happen

posted on May 27 by Linda Beck in the Guest Authors, Linda Beck category

One Saturday morning as I sat by the fountain at the corner of East Innes and Depot, I praised God again for “Free at Last.” In case you don’t remember from another story, that is the name of my new handicapped conversion van.

I’ve been thanking God a lot lately for our little city of Salisbury. I love sitting in the various lovely parks watching as people come and go. This particular morning I watched as a variety of antique cars passed by, and I remembered that there was a car show going on in Spencer at the Transportation Museum. My conversion van is a 2005 and certainly not an antique, but probably about as expensive, and certainly as special to me, as these antique cars are to their owners.

One of the blessings I enjoyed this particular morning was that I finally got to go to the Farmer’s Market downtown. Previously, I couldn’t go because my Rita van days were either Monday and Tuesday or Tuesday and Friday. I believe the market is only open on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Other folks have brought me produce out of their gardens, but I had really wanted to see this market ever since it was moved downtown.

The other blessing was getting to see a girl I used to know who has myasthenia gravis. To see her still able to help at the flower stand reminded me what myasthenia gravis took from me. But, hey, she and I are survivors!

Several times since I got my wheels, I have gone to breakfast at College Barbecue. I noticed on their rug that they have been there since 1965. This was ironic because that was part of the time my husband and I were dating and we used to enjoy curb service there.

I remembered how Joe nicknamed me “Wimpy” because I loved hamburgers. He used to kid me about being a “cheap date” because all I ever wanted was a hamburger and, of course, a Cheerwine. I believe those two items were less than a dollar back then.

After Joe died, my oldest daughter found one of the little stuffed “Wimpy” dolls and gave it to me in remembrance of her dad.

As I sat watching the fountain and listening to traffic going and coming, I wondered if citizens of Rowan County ever park and visit Salisbury’s peaceful places.
That is one blessing about being disabled, I have time (or take time) to stop and enjoy what life I have left.

It was such a perfect day and reluctantly, I decided it was time to move on. I had made plans to visit one of my disabled friends. Since we met a couple of years ago, Judy wished I could visit in her home, and finally I had transportation to do just that. Later we took our scooters to visit another friend with multiple sclerosis and we all had lunch at “Our Place” in Spencer. The little deli has kind of become a hangout place for my sister and brother, and me on Tuesdays. The food is good and the prices are reasonable.

After lunch, Judy and I decided to ride our scooters over to the Transportation Museum. Unfortunately, the car show was over. We were both amazed at how much the museum has grown since we toured it some years ago. Most of it is handicapped accessible and if you have never been there, I encourage you to visit and enjoy all the educational things that are available.

Judy returned home and I moseyed on over to see my brother, Michael. He lives in an apartment in Spencer since his stroke, and it is not handicapped accessible so I’ve never been able to visit him. We sat out in the shade and talked. He and I used to do a lot together, but with his health problems, he can no longer drive out to pick me up and take me places. And that’s just another blessing with this van; now, from time to time, I can go get him and take him places he needs, or wants, to go.

Let me tell you, folks, when I count my blessings, Michael and my sister, Mary, are at the top of the list. But right now, next to family and friends, my handicapped conversion van is my “best friend.” When I left Mike’s, it was time for me to return home. I was rather tired, but what “a day of rejoicing” it had been. That song always reminds me how good God is when we give him a little of our time!