Taking It For Granted

This morning I woke up with a sore neck.
That doesn't actually describe the excruciating pain that shoots through my soul every time I try to turn my head.
I don't know what I did, but it sure wasn't good.
Driving to the store to get some ibuprofen was what I imagine Medieval torture was like.
Yes, yes! I'll tell you what you want to know! Just make it stop!
It actually feels like I broke something, but I'm a walking and a talking so it's probably not that bad.
It just feels like it is.
Actually, I'm sort of used to this kind of debilitating pain. See, I also used to be affected by gout every once in a while and let me tell you brothers and sisters, that is no walk in the park.
It feels more like strolling over flaming cactus plants.
Steve Martin's Cruel Shoes comes to mind.
Get gout, get familiar with the word hobble.
So anyways, my neck is really hurting and it feels like needles are being inserted into my eyes or something and I start thinking about what it's like to be healthy.
I mean most of the time I'm a pretty healthy guy.
Well, there is the dialysis part but other than that, I'm doing all right. Better in fact, than I've ever been doing.
I'm sitting here thinking about how I'm going to miss out on riding my bike today and it sort of hits me.
I have to make the best of every day.
Okay, it didn't really hit me today, it just seemed like a good time to bring it up.
You don't know how much you can miss the simple things like walking normally or turning your head until that ability is taken away.
If you've every had to get around on crutches you know what I mean. Stairs can be a major obstacle but just think, before, you could run up and down those puppies.
I had a hard time brushing my teeth this morning!
Most of the time, we go through life relatively pain free, but there are some who battle daily, just to get by.
I happen to work with someone like that.
Everyday, I watch this person struggle to do things that us normals could do in a snap and I feel humbled.
You couldn't pay me enough money to make me go through what this person goes through. Yet, every morning, that person gets on a bus and comes to school.
All of a sudden my neck ain't hurting so bad.
If you know what I mean.
My neck is going to(hopefully) get better.
I don't even want to think about what it would be like to have to live like this on a permanent basis.
My head would probably explode or something.
I'll bet this is how it felt when Elecktra King was turning the screws on James Bond's neck.
Actually, now that I mention it, if you told me I had to endure this kind of pain to see Sophie Marceau naked, I'd probably buy a ticket.
Anyways, every once in a while when you are out doing whatever it is you do, stop and think about how great it is to have all your faculties.
Wiggle your fingers and your toes, do a pirouette or some cartwheels or maybe a back flip with a quarter twist and take a deep breath and enjoy it.
When it's gone, it'll be the simple things you miss the most.