I don't remember when or where I first heard that quote or even where it came from (maybe someone here can inform us about the quote).
I first heard it years ago as a child. I first began to understand what it meant, as a child, when I found my mother's best friend, who was babysitting a neighbors child, and my mother, had given the little girl my favorite Teddy Bear to play with. I had just come home for lunch from school that day and I went right over a took it away. The little girl began to cry. She reached for the bear and I saw to my horror that she only had one good hand. She had suffered a birth defect and her left hand was deformed. I felt so sorry for her that I gave her back the Teddy Bear and even let her take it with her. That was the day I began to give up my stuffed toys. I only had a few but I was into Dinky Toys and model airplanes by then. That and comic books. But still, I felt guilty over my act of selfishness and my lack of understanding over her plight.
Since then I have had other events that remind me not to feel all that sorry for myself.
Recently was watching the presentation of the Ron Santo statue at Wrigley Field. I have my share of health issues. But nothing compared to what Ron Santo went through in his 70 years of life. Losing both legs to diabetes. Bladder cancer. Heart attacks, etc. etc. His love of the Chicago Cubs was the one thing in his life that kept him going. Being able to be in the broadcast booth for the radio broadcasts.
Then last week as I was coming out of my doctors office I was reminded again. Here am I, struggling to put my walker in the back of my van, breathing hard, with my portable oxygen tank. Wishing my life was easier. And out of the office comes a man in a wheel. With no legs! He wheels up to his car and opens the hatch to get something out and goes back inside.
So once again I feel gratefull that I still have all my limbs. So I need oxygen. But at least I can carry it around and use my walker to get around. I just have to go slow.
By the way, the man in the wheel chair would probably beat me in a foot race. Because I have to go so slowly.
(30)
Dennis A. Lederle