How The World Has Changed

  -Once in awhile, I think that,even though I do want to be healed and live a "normal" life again, I don't want to leave my quiet life for the rat race that is life out "there". I do know that it is a rat race because I have friends who are always busy and rushing around. I do understand that the quiet life that I lead, while tedious, is also much more conducive to a relationship with God. But I do also know that the time will come, the sooner the better, when I will have to return to the world and adapt myself to all changes that have taken place since the stroke. Right now, my "world" consists of the church and the hospital so I am probably not even aware of the changes but I have observed a few.

The first one has to be all the technology. When I had the stroke, there were no such things as cell phones and we were just starting to hear about computers. Now there are gadgets for this and devices for that. Because I can't use them anyway, I have no interest in them. Anybody who knows me, knows that I am far from crazy about all this technology. This computer is all the technology I want or need. I must admit, though, that I do really enjoy having skype on my computer. I use it to visit with my daughter and grandson.

So how did somebody who doesn't like technology end up writing a blog? After being nagged about it by friends, I decided I should pray about it. So I did and I really felt that God wanted me to do it. I admit that it has been a stretch for me, probably exactly what God intended, as it means opening myself up to others.

Another change that has come to my attention is how expensive everything is. Once in awhile I go to a grocery store to pick up something. I am always amazed at the prices. How can people afford to feed their families? Then there is the cost of housing. Just before the stroke, our house was appraised at, I think, $80, 000. Even that seemed like a lot of money back then but it is nothing compared to the staggering prices these days.

I also find it quite amazing to think about the amounts of money people are making compared to back when I was teaching. But, considering the cost of everything, I can understand why.

Lastly, there has been a change in Cold Lake itself. Before the stroke, there were two towns of Cold Lake and Grand Center but now there is one city of Cold Lake North and South. However, the change I like least is that so many trees have been or are being cut down for more and more construction.

I am so out of touch with everything except God. And that is not a bad thing!