A memo to our readers: On how life can rearrange one’s priorities
By James P. Gannon
If you have lived long enough you probably have noticed that every once in a while Life rises up and whacks you upside the head just to remind you that you are not in charge.
We got such a reminder this weekend when our priorities were rapidly reordered by a thing as mundane as a concrete curb. This particular concrete curb in a parking lot in Sperryville got in the way of my wife Joan’s foot, tripping her and sending her down hard to the pavement.
The result was a broken hip. A trip to the emergency room at Fauquier Hospital in Warrenton soon provided x-ray evidence of the damage, which led to Sunday morning surgery to repair it. The surgeon reports the operation was successful and Joan is resting comfortably in a spacious private room in the comfortable confines of this fine new hospital.
Like all of us who live with the illusion that we can plan for the future–tomorrow, next month, five years from now–we are somewhat shocked to have Life come along with another of its head-whacks, though we should have gotten wise by now. As the bumper sticker says, **** happens.
Life will reorder your priorities whenever it takes a mind to, and when it does you just put your assumptions and schedules in the trash bin and start over. All of which is a roundabout way of saying, Dear Reader, that you’ve been pushed down the priority list a bit.
Today’s schedule, for instance, had us attending the county Board of Supervisors meeting and reporting on all the matters to come before our worthy elected officials. Sorry–we’ll be at the hospital this afternoon. In the days to come, you might not find us tracking every news nugget in Rappahannock County and rushing to the computer to tell you. We’ll try to get back to that in time, but in the meantime I commend you to whatever The Rappahannock News has to offer.
We beg your indulgence and understanding. Those unwilling to indulge and understand may apply for a full refund.
Oh, wait…..you don’t pay anything for RappVoice, do you? That’s the trouble with the Free Lunch…everyone gets used to it.
-- James P. GannonComments
Comment from wonka13
Time: April 9, 2008, 9:50 am
Our Prayers and hopes for a speedy recovery go out to you and Joan. Your memo gives a fresh reminder to us to examine our to-do list. RappVoice has become a part of information stream and this is a reminder of how we sometimes under appreciate this journalistic gift.
Bill and Diane Earle
Comment from realneil
Time: April 11, 2008, 11:25 am
A speedy recovery to Joan and a well deserved free pass to you James. We enjoy and await your stories but understand that the welfare of a loved one is paramount.
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