It's sad saying goodbye to the Olympics. They've been a pleasant companion to me the past two weeks. Not that boredom is ever a problem for me, even in these months. I can find things to complain about on bad days, but boredom is never one of them. Still, the Olympics filled the afternoons and evenings with a completely different element and I will miss them...

But just about the time I am bidding the Olympics farewell, I get a little care package from Lyric with one of my recent favorite movies, The Time Traveler's Wife. I don't watch many movies more than once (Fiddler on the Roof and The Sound of Music would be about the only exceptions), but this one was such a delight that I will be watching it again soon. As in tomorrow night. She also sent a CD that I'm listening to tonight: The Canadian Tenors. Divine harmonies.

In the month that I've been home from the hospital but still confined to my room, I've been getting a stream of flowers at the rate of one arrangement a week. They come from friends all over the country and have brightened my days more than anyone knows. But it took me about three weeks to figure out that the regularity with which they were arriving smacked of some kind of benevolent orchestration. I'm not asking any questions, I'm just enjoying the color, aroma, and kindness these bouquets represent. Thank you so much to all of you who have blessed me this way!

While I have my own thoughts about who "won" and who "lost" in Thursday's health care kabuki theater, it seems the country and the pundits are rather divided on its success. Nevertheless, I don't think it got us any closer to the Dems' goal of Health Care Reform Destruction than we were on Wednesday. So have we dodged a bullet? Or will something be pulled out of a hat at the last minute to give Madame Speaker her slim majority? If I were inclined to bet, I'd be putting my money on her. And that's not a good thing.

When I'm tempted to complain about our medical insurance, I sometimes forget how much our Tricare has been worth to us in the past eight years. The bill for my 23 days of hospitalization in December/January arrived: $420. That's the total...nothing else for doctors, tests, drugs, anything. Since '02 I've had over a dozen surgeries on my hips, legs, and other places, and our contribution has been a pittance compared to what I've received. Yes, military care can be exasperating at times, but the benefits gained from The Papa's years of service turned out to be much more valuable than we ever dreamed they'd be. Thank God for His provision.

Another blessing...Dave and Kristen (our second-oldest daughter) and their children have "moved in" with us during The Papa's latest trip to Hawaii. Because I currently need a lot of care, it's so helpful to have extra hands, cooks, drivers, nurses, etc. around. Plus the fact that they're just plain good company :-) And it's good to hear the foot-patter of the elves once again. Thanks so very much, Slaughters...

It's okay for Michelle Obama to tell us all what to eat and how much to exercise, but Barack is still sneaking out the back door for a smoke.

I haven't gotten all the way through The Help yet...but it's one of those rare pieces of fiction that I'd don't want to ever be over. So I'm listening...slo-o-o-owly.

As you enter this month that is said to come "in like a lion and out like a lamb," I hope you'll enjoy the crocuses and tulips coming up through the last of the snow. As for us here in the unfrozen south, we'll be watching for the first bluebonnets. Happy March!

Labels: Books, Family, Friendship, Health, Political Observation, TV