Unexpected... Unexpected...
[Mood Platter] Series 16 ▲ Life is full of changes, and there are imaginable and unexpected experiences at every stage.
pushed (one)
There will be many stages in life; with different experiences, your mentality will change accordingly. Roughly speaking, it can be divided into two parts: the imaginable and the unexpected.
I remember that in the past, it was the brave men who walked up the stairs, especially downstairs, at a very fast speed. When they arrived, they would skip a few steps and end up jumping to the ground in one fell swoop! Nowadays, I have to hold on to the handrail tightly when going up and down the stairs, and I am afraid that if I don't pay attention, I will fall and step on the air. That is unbearable.
「歲月」如同流水，潺潺、緩緩地改變著你我的內裡和外觀。二、三十年沒見的老同學，雖然還是可以與從前的記憶連線，但究竟不似從前。說甚麼看起來都沒變，應該都是善意的謊言，開心就好。對我而言，外表變化屬於「想得到」，例如視茫茫、髮蒼蒼等等，但令人感到無奈的，則是「想不到」的變化。
In recent years, my legs have often been sore and numb when walking. I originally thought it was muscle pain caused by the side effects of medication. Finally, X-rays were taken, and the mystery was revealed. It was confirmed that the fourth and fifth lumbar discs were herniated. This is a common chronic degenerative disease of the spine that can cause symptoms such as sciatica and numbness in the feet. In 2023, I took a long-distance flight from Boston back to Taiwan for more than 17 hours, and after two weeks of sedentary painting work, my physical discomfort became even more severe.
I went to my old friend's office and before we even chatted for a few words, the other party saw my condition and said, "I know a chiropractor. I'll take you there!" After the friend put down the phone, he said, "It's a good idea for you." Luckily, the master happens to be free." He called a taxi and went straight. A friend told the doctor, "We haven't seen each other for four years, but we didn't expect to meet here!" It happened that my friend's cervical vertebra also needed repair, so the two of them started to receive treatment in different beds.
在那間麻雀雖小五臟俱全的「工作室」中，我注意到牆上掛著一張賈伯斯的黑白照片，顯得有些詭異，不禁心中好奇：究竟為甚麼呢？莫非師傅加入了甚麼神祕組織？再次造訪推拿時忍不住問：「為甚麼你要掛賈某的相片？」師傅讓我上前仔細看照片上的一行小字：「感謝賈伯斯發明蘋果手機，為我帶來財富！」原來如此！
People are busy looking down at their mobile phones all day long, creating an endless stream of patients in the clinic. This is really unexpected and humorous! To paraphrase the master's words: "These days, mobile phones are equivalent to the organs of the human body." Several follow-up visits actually refreshed my understanding of the body. It turns out that it’s not just the elderly who need to repair their bodies. There are also some young patients who seek medical treatment due to improper fitness, work injuries, or long-term video game playing. Well, aren't the three engineers with dark eyes the best representatives?
Being pushed (Part 2)
I never thought that I, who was good at walking, would end up in the situation I am in today. From then on, I began to rely on "seats". The empty blue charity seats on the MRT seem extremely humane. Before entering the train, I often pray in my heart: "Lord, have mercy on me and give me a seat!" As I walk on the road, I look at sidewalks, buildings, and buildings with seats. The service desk, restaurant waiting area... will also automatically like and comment. This is a civilized society that is considerate of the elderly and the weak. I never thought that "seat" would become an "important position" in life. There is one kind of seat that must be given high thanks - that is the airport wheelchair service!
I have extensive experience walking in airports. No matter how big the airport is, no matter how complicated the transfer is, I can't be bothered by it. However, time has not given us the chance to walk as fast as before. Fortunately, we can still request wheelchair service. With the help of this service, we can still board the plane without missing a beat.
This time I returned to Taiwan from the East United States. An experienced friend learned that I would have a connecting flight in Chicago and reminded me in advance that I needed to apply for a wheelchair. Chicago's airport is indeed quite challenging, and I have to transfer to another terminal. I was lucky enough to meet a kind young "promoter" who took me to a more convenient route. Unexpectedly, as I was walking, I was stopped by the guard staff and told that I had to go through the passage on the other side. I asked the pusher in confusion: "Does this employee have such power?" The reply: "Actually, no, she just thinks she does. I just don't want to have a dispute with her. Don't worry, I will send you to the boarding gate." "It was a really long journey; there were elevator rides and parking. I told the young man: "You are really my angel. Without your help, I would never have been able to do it." I really want to write down his name and ask the boss to give him a raise!
Riding a wheelchair at the Chicago airport was a first-time experience in my life. I deeply feel that it is really a kind act for people with limited mobility to receive this service! On the return trip from Taiwan to Boston, I had to transfer at San Francisco Airport (one of the top ten airports in the United States) and had to check my luggage again. Of course, I must request a wheelchair again.
This time the staff serving the wheelchair changed stairs three times, and finally two staff members took me to the boarding gate; one pushed the two suitcases, and the other pushed me. It’s really not easy! Quickly give them a not-so-small tip to express your gratitude. Don’t ignore this step, because the role of tip is to make people feel at ease and happy. The two-person team also thoughtfully stopped to give me time to use the restroom and buy food for the wait. Don’t ignore this link, because after changing to a domestic flight, you will continue to fly for six hours without any meals.
The first time I "contacted" with a wheelchair, the feeling was quite subtle. I didn't expect that I was in a situation where I needed to be "pushed", and I was pushed twice: by the masseur and the airport staff - pushed! Those who are promoted like me are grateful. This is also a small blessing in the helplessness.
As mentioned earlier, there are many transfer procedures at San Francisco Airport, so the "wheelchair group" experienced some waiting time. A lady next to me must be a frequent visitor to the wheelchair. She seemed a little impatient and said, "I have to stop here every time!" Then she asked, "How long will I have to stop?" The staff did not give an exact answer, so she said, "Old man. "Stand up with crutches and leave! The person accompanying her should be her daughter. She apologized and hurriedly followed her. It seems that this lady's physical condition does not really require a wheelchair, but she is getting a little advantage and being nice. This made me very puzzled and even a little angry. I didn't expect that someone would waste "human resources" like this.
how was your day
Talking to a sister about lumbar disc herniation: With this disease, one cannot stand for a long time, cannot sit for a long time, cannot lift heavy objects, cannot..., cannot.... The sister is very afraid that she will become "like me" when she gets old, so she needs to take precautions, so she needs to exercise well now. I want to tell her that everything is unpredictable, and instead of worrying about unknown things in the future, it is better to do what needs to be done now. People take many things for granted and don’t appreciate them until they are lost. Instead of complaining and regretting for what you have lost, it is better to be grateful for what you once had.
I have been suffering from tinnitus for nearly ten years. I am fortunate to have experienced what it is like to be in a completely noiseless wilderness and experience true silence and condensation of the air. Regardless of whether tinnitus can be eliminated in the future, I will treasure that experience.
Before leaving Taiwan, I went for another "repair". When we were leaving, the masseur said to me: "Don't be afraid, you can coexist peacefully with it! Take good care of yourself." I believe that God's grace will be enough, just like when the Israelites left Egypt, what they expected was a mighty blessing. How do large groups of people survive in the wilderness? But what I didn’t expect was what the Lord God said in Deuteronomy 29:5: “I have led you in the wilderness forty years, and your clothes have not worn out, and your shoes have not worn out.”
I often hear a saying: "Nine out of ten things in life are unsatisfactory." My interpretation: There should be no "very satisfactory" things in the world. Eighty or nine of them may go as expected, but how do you deal with the unexpected one or two " Unsatisfactory"? Although the days are as narrow as the hand of a hand, in the hands of God, as the days are, so are the powers!
So, please do your best for what you want, and trust in the unexpected!