Freak injury.

Of course, I know that finger injuries are very common and can occur in a variety of ways.

The most common of which could involve getting a finger caught in a car door or hitting it with a hammer.

Or get caught in a drill, like what happened to me!

Oh, I also believe that the occurrence of an injury at work is an unlikely event. I am one of those people who think that workplaces are generally safe places to spend 7 or 8 hours of your day.

But when I injured my finger last week, I become more conscious of my surrounding and how I go about my work. I would check where the machines are plugged and how I can turn it off in case I need to.

When my finger got caught in the drill, I cannot turn the machine off because I can't locate the off switch, and the machine was plugged way out in the back where I cannot reach because I can't move with my hand stuck to the drill press. When help come they have to loosen the drill bit and not pull it out of my finger for fear of damaging it further.

When I finally removed the drill bit myself, my first line of defense is accessing just how much damage I have done to it. The pain was just over whelming. It was throbbing all the way to the emergency.

Upon my arrival at the hospital, they evaluated the wound, my vital signs was taken and an X-ray of my finger was ordered by the physician.

Result? Broken finger and a cut artery.

They also injected my hand a large dose of anesthesia just so they can clean my finger, squeeze out blood and apply medication to it. I was in too much pain that a light touch would send me squirming and twitching.

Since the doctor finds a fracture on the X-ray I was referred to an Orthopedic doctor to treat my fracture. But those guys in the emergency had my finger splinted and the doctor prescribed me pain medicine.

I was back to work after a day's rest. The company assign me a lighter job which allows me to work one-handed.

Reminiscing.

Ken brought home a box last week which her mom had set aside for him. He told me each kid had one.

Ken call it a Pandora's box. I call it a treasure box.

As I sort through the contents of the box, I was struck at how much information it gave me about my husband's past and what influenced or formed him who he is today.

Inside the box is his baby book, his "first" achievement records( first word, first solid food, first ride, first toy, etc.), his school notes and drawings, old pictures, and a lot more... its like a window into his past. A window into the spirit of his childhood. There are so much memories inside that box that are captured forever in pictures and scribbled notes.

But they don’t end there. Her mom had wonderfully chronicled Ken's achievements from toddler to young adulthood that we can both looked fondly back. There was an honorable and dignified shot of Ken receiving his first communion, the time he was an altar boy, when he was drafted to the army, and many more that elicit smile even from him as he looked through them.

There’s indeed something about memories that stirs and inspires the soul. I am sure glad that my mother-in-law take special effort to keep all these memorabilia of her seven kids as they are the most accessible and detailed physical forms of memories. It makes for easy reminiscing if one is in the mood. It may be bittersweet to gaze back at the past, as they have the power to conjure up memories. Sometimes painful, but it can be a joyful activity too. The box was filled with faces and places of times long gone.

If a picture is worth a thousand words, then that box is worth a dictionary.

Ken just lost his mom. She may not be beside us again, but what she left us can help us at least momentarily feel close to her again. Not to mention that as mortals ourselves, we hope that our loved ones will look back at pictures of us with the same fondness after we pass on from this life.

Thank you Joan for this wonderful gift. You will always be remembered.

Another funeral.

Today we buried Joan Roger Mikolai.

It was also her birthday.

She was 83 years old.

My mother-in-law died last Saturday. It was unfortunate that I did not get to know her well but from what I heard from people at the church, I knew that her life was rich, strong, and full of spirit and love.

The service was simple with her family and friends gathered round.

Help!

Our lovely Ford truck, perfect in every way, had a flat tire in Interstate 35 yesterday on our way to the hospital in Minneapolis.

Ken had to very slowly maneuver his truck to the emergency lane, away from the ongoing traffic and park there to wait for help to come.

At first I wasn't worried because Ken is mechanically minded - till I realized that he wears a pacemaker. Oh uh.

I am sure you too are aware that car manufacturers of today uses air tools to tighten the lugs on a wheel, which make them near impossible to remove with a simple lug wretch provided with the car jack. The tight lug bolts provide a safety factor, but has made it almost impossible for someone to change his or her own tire. Especially someone with a pacemaker.

Interestingly, in a matter of seconds a highway patrol eases behind us to check on us and offer help. He said he can call a back-up that would replace the tire. By this time though, Ken is already on the phone talking to a Ford representative asking for roadside assistance. We gave them our location and within 20 minutes a truck turns up with a friendly mechanic driving it. He inspects the tire, open the back seat of our car to get the jack, remove the spare tire from the back of the truck, replaced the busted one and had Ken sign the service form and off we go.

The whole process only took about 15 minutes. We did not even leave our seats the whole time and we did not pay a thing!

This really amazes me because we don't have such road side services in the Philippines. If your car breaks down, or have a flat tire, or anything goes wrong, you can't expect that help will be on its way in a matter of minutes. Unless you call a relative or a friend. What will appear is the towing service who will ripped you off with exorbitant fee so you can get your car from their impounding area and then you can bring it to the mechanic.

So while we are speeding toward Faribault City, I was thinking, I would add this to the list of things I love about living in the US. In this day and age when I may encounter danger on this country's highways and biways, having the assurance that help is on the way in a matter of minutes is indeed very comforting.

Let's admit it. A car is a machine. This means, no matter how new and sophisticated it is, or how well maintained it is, there is always a chance of something going wrong with it.

Thank you America/Ford for the roadside assistance.

Finally got my license.

I drive to our local supermarket today - by myself!

Yes, I passed my road test last week on my first try. Woot, woot!

I never really pictured myself driving a car because just the thought of it scared me. I just couldn't do it. I was too nervous. I thought at my age, ha, ha, I was just too old to catch on.

But I live in a city that has no public transport, hence getting a driver's license is a must-have otherwise, I won't be able to go anywhere without asking someone to drive for me.

Yes, I knew the time had come and I was determined to pass the test; I just had no idea how I would do it.

Fortunately, Wells is a wonderful place to learn to drive with wide road and countrysides. Besides, I have Ken who is a very good teacher. I feel comfortable to make mistakes because I know he will not bite my head off if I do something ridiculous like reverse into a lamp post.

It was Dec. 2, a Friday when I took the test. When I got my schedule I was a little apprehensive because I know that it normally snow during this month. But on that particular day, the sun was bright and the sky clear. And snow had not fallen in this part of the state yet.

I practiced for weeks prior to my schedule. I am aware that i'll be tested for my basic skills of the road. So I was very mindful of fully stopping at the stop sign and also signaling properly before leaving and re-entering the parking lot. I also practiced to parallel park, and to do a three point turn. I made sure I practiced these two maneuvers the most days before my road test.

It paid off, because I managed to ace them both.

I could say that my road test was a very pleasant experience. The instructor was very nice and he made me feel at ease. I was calm, but alert. If I was nervous, I know I will be bound to make a mistake. But because I was relaxed, I allow things to just happen. I listened to my instructor, signalling when he asked me to turn left or right, stopped at stop signs, parked when he asked me to, and did the maneuvers.

When I eased my car at the parking lot, he said: "you did very well, you passed the test!"

I was so happy but only muttered a simple "thank you".

The next day, we had snow. Flakes would be the wrong word because, within minutes, the snow blanketed our entire neighborhood in a layer of white. Had it occurred yesterday it would be difficult to see where the lines of the road marked the two lanes and to think that I haven't driven in a snow laden road.

Phew!

Not a very Black Friday.

I did expect that last Friday the shopping malls will be filled with shoppers who are trying to find great bargains. That people will fill up the highways, the parking lots and the check out lines. People who will fight over specific sale items just to get one. People who will push and shove others to be first in line. People who will trample others just trying to get into stores.

But to my surprise, the stores I went to don't have much shoppers. Or maybe because I got to the stores late in the afternoon when all those door busters prices they are offering are almost over. I was very glad though that those great deals I saw in newspapers ads were still available and I don't have to wake up early or stand in line to get them. Exciting!

I actually don't have a list of things to buy because Ken and I did our big shopping two days ago. We bought new appliances for our kitchen - refrigerator, gas stove and micro wave oven. We are also going to change our cabinet doors and kitchen counter to give our kitchen a total facelift.

But just the same, it is still a thrill to scour the aisle for cheap stuff and hunt for bargains.

So, would I go shopping again on Black Friday next year?

Hell, yes!

Another Thanksgiving day.

What are the things I am thankful for?

Hmmmm...

For such a simple question, the answer is many, simple and other times, complicated.

The first thing that would come to my mind is the love of Jesus. I have seen how His love work miracles in my life and I am grateful for that. He has been a source of constant strength for me.

I am also thankful for my family. Good or bad, my family helps to keep me centered. They help me remember who I am, and who I want to be. My family and I have been through some hard times. Like most other families, we also sometime don't always see eye to eye, but at the end of the day, we are there for each other. In there own special way, every single person in my family has been instrumental in shaping me into the person I am today and I thank them for that.

I am thankful for the times that I have been through and conquered, because they have made me into a stronger person. My life has been a long journey and along the way I have faced obstacles, road blocks and forks in the road that I have dealt with and I have learned from those choices I have made.

I am thankful for my health and the health of those who mean so much to me. I am most grateful for and most blessed by Ken with whom I share my love and laughter. A husband and friend who in his fierce loyalty and supportive love have always kept my heart full of joy and warmth.

So, no matter how dim or dull my surrounding seem right now because of the winter season, I have so much to be thankful for. All I have to do is look at what is right in front of me - Ken enjoying his bowl of popcorn!

Happy Thanksgiving Day, everyone.