Storm Sisters

I have learned much in the past two months—I have learned about Storm Sisters.

There were many days in December and January when I could not go to work, to the grocery store, or to church. But a beautiful thing happened to me: friends called me on the phone, sent cards and emails, took me to doctor appointments, loaned me a walker, cleaned my house, brought meals and ate with me, helped me get some Christmas decorations out, and—this one blows me away—drove to my doctor's office to pick up the hand written prescription for a narcotic drug and then took it to the drug store, only to have to wait (or be told to come back in an hour and a half) while the druggist phoned a federal office and a state office. They had to supply their driver's license for identification, and when picking up the drug, had to give my age and address. This was all news for me!

One particular day, Nancy and Julie, two of my co-workers, who are also my friends, brought lunch from Culver's and together we shared our meals and caught up on all the news. Julie gave me a gift bag and said it was my surprise. After eating, I opened it and found a card with a scripture verse in Julie's handwriting (I have left this on my dining room table where I can read it during breakfast and lunch.), a chocolate bar, an apple and a clementine, a package of microwave popcorn, and a book, Storm Sisters: Friends Through All Seasons, by Afton Rorvik. This book was dear to Julie since the author is an editor Julie once worked with and this was her first book. Inside the front cover was a note from Afton to Julie. It was very personal. Underneath it, Julie wrote a note to me, letting me know I had many Storm Sisters who wanted to come to my aid. It's a wonderful book relating the struggles and challenges she (the author) went through when her mother was dying.

I never expected my handicap to last so long. It surprises me that my Storm Sisters are still coming to my aid. If and when I ever get back to good health, I know what I have to do. I have to be a Storm Sister to others.