Home again, home again, jiggety-jig!

Home again, home again, jiggety-jig! I have traveled far and been away for too many surgeries to count, and now I am back home again. There is nothing so sweet and comforting as "home." 

My surgery went well. I was in the hospital from Wednesday, the 11th until Saturday, the 14th. Peder and Aurelia came to the hospital to get me in a snow storm—the biggest snowfall ever in the twin cities April books. After stopping by my house to pick up a couple of things, they drove me to the Minnesota Masonic Home where I spent the past 10 days. 

While at the Masonic Home, I was given physical and occupational therapy each twice a day. This was a work-out for me, but I wanted so much to get back on my feet so I did everything that was asked of me. In the off times, not right away, of course, I went on long walks—one day I logged over a mile. It was on these walks I discovered two museums for the Minnesota Masonic Home. I found the history fascinating.

The smaller museum showed me how the home came to be. The Masons of Minnesota purchased the large estate of Marion Savage, the owner of famed race horse, Dan Patch, in 1918, to be used as a home for the infirmed. As there was more need, more buildings were added, and eventually the original stately home was demolished, due to deterioration. Just recently, in 2016, a multimillion dollar addition was added that includes a beautiful 500 seat auditorium and a fabulous museum of the Masons.

Bonnie trying out my walker and Nancy sporting my brace

My stay at the Masonic Home was very good. I was given three good meals each day, and could have snacks whenever I chose. I had many visitors, received cards and flowers, and enjoyed meeting all of the people in my wing. Each day for meals I chose to sit at a different table so that I could meet the other patients. Each person was there for one illness or another and I tried to encourage them to keep on with their therapy to get stronger each day. The nursing staff and therapy team were really good. Of course, a few of them stood out to me. One particular aid, Glenda, was a very dear woman, and she shared photos of her family with me. 

But as I stated at the beginning, it is so good to be back home again. Nels really missed me, and I missed him. Oh, and while I was away, nearly all of the snow melted. The weather has gotten really nice!