Life is full of little ironies. And they’re sometimes so subtle that we don’t fully recognize them. When it hits just right, you definitely know it, though.

But irony is a tricky concept and it’s often used incorrectly. Remember Alanis Morissette’s big hit? The examples she sings about aren’t irony at all but mere coincidence or just plain bad luck.

True irony involves a contrary or opposite outcome to what would ordinarily be expected.

Coincidence, on the other hand, is a situation where unexpected events happen at the same time often due to luck or chance.

(Feel free to go back and reread that. Tricky, right?)

I find that, usually, irony is much more apparent upon reflection of an event in the past. For example, growing up, my twin and I had cousins that lived in a housing project. At the time, we were living in a nice house in Latham. One day when we were visiting our cousins, we were walking around and there were mean kids and a dog menacing us. We were maybe seven years old and we were scared. We confided in each other that we were so happy we didn’t live in such a place.

A few months later, our family moved there.

***

As we approach the 6-month mark, Mike is doing extremely well! It’s exciting to see the fire in his eyes and the pep in his step. When he has a railing, he gets an amazing stride and pace going!

Sunnyview Outpatient Therapy has proven to be a great complement to Mike’s therapeutic regimen with Jaycee, his private therapist. He has active left shoulder movement, and they are working his left hand as well.

There is a special device they have called Burt that he places his arm and hand into. When gravity is removed, he can move the fingers in his left hand very easily. It’s encouraging for sure. And he is very relieved to know that should living in space become a thing, he could use his left arm and hand, no problem! 😉

He is getting acclimated to being home alone. We are finding a new normal without any other help in the mornings and, luckily, it’s going well. It’s all about being well prepared for the week ahead. I am sure to have things within arm’s reach for him to make meals and have things he needs accessible to him around the house.

***

All that said, I admit I am struggling a bit. Usually, I’m a positive, upbeat person but everyone has limits. And while I certainly don’t corner the market on hard times, I feel as if I’m getting more than my fair share lately.

A couple months ago, I blogged about my serendipitous encounter at Jaycee’s launch party where I met her brother and his wife and they coincidentally were going to my open house the next day and a week later, put an offer in on my house. We should have closed this past Friday.

Unfortunately, at the home inspection, it was discovered that my front foundation wall was bowing. Structurally, the house is okay, but the wall should (and will) be replaced.

Not surprisingly, they withdrew their offer. Honestly, I can’t blame them. Nobody wants to deal with a house that has potential structural issues.

But it broke me emotionally and I went to the “it’s not fair” place pretty quickly. I mean, are you kidding me? I just replaced my whole septic system and, now, this?!

My ex says we bought the house with the wall like that, but I never knew. If he told me, I don’t remember. I don’t like basements. I try not to spend any more time down there than absolutely necessary.

So I fell into the self-pity mode of: Why is this happening to me? Why can’t I catch a break? Why is my boyfriend going through this? Why me? Why us? Why, why, why???

I just want to sell my house and be able to focus on Mike and help him financially while he is unable to work. Is that so much to ask?

I have no choice but to maintain two households, deal with things I don’t want to deal with, drive everywhere, make all the plans for everything we need or want to do, clean two houses, do all of the laundry by myself, shop (I hate shopping), cook, clean, all while trying to stay in shape, train for two half-marathons and, oh, yeah, work a full-time job.

Needless to say, I want life back the way it was before April 11th.

I broke down and told Mike how I felt and instead of saying, “Hey, how do you think I feel? I want my life back, too”, he said to me, “Don’t worry, it will all work out. Look what God has done for me. It’s a miracle. And we are together, nothing else matters.”

Wow.

I’m usually so grateful to God for the many blessings he’s given me, especially Mike, I wake up thanking Him for every new day. But I lost sight of the good and focused on the bad.

And for the first time in weeks, I stopped holding my breath and exhaled. My mind was clear and my stomach stopped hurting. I reminded myself that good times don’t last forever but neither do the bad times. And when you have God in your life, all of those times have purpose. There’s a lesson in everything we go through, although it may not always make sense to us or feel fair.

***

We went to Prospect Mountain with Jaycee and her husband yesterday. They helped Mike hike up the very beginning steep part of the trail. It was very challenging but he did it, and enjoyed every second.

He needed the ground under his feet, to see the sun through the trees, hear the sound of the woods, breathe that air deep into his lungs and just feel it all.

The joy it gave him is immeasurable. He must have thanked me a hundred times on the way home and all of last night. ❤️

***

Luckily, transportation to and from Sunnyview is provided through the health insurance. A van comes an hour before Mike’s appointment to pick him up and I bring him out in the wheelchair. Right now, it is safer for him to travel there in the wheelchair. He told me recently to leave the garage open in case the driver won’t bring him up the ramp into the house.

“Why wouldn’t they bring you in?” I asked.

”Because it’s not their job,” Mike said.

“Yeah but they get you into Sunnyview, right?”

”They only bring me just inside. I have to ask them to bring me up to the second floor. The nice ones do.”

“So the staff at Sunnyview doesn’t bring you up?” I asked.

”Nope. It’s my responsibility but I can’t really get up there on my own.”

”Of course, you can’t!” I replied incredulously .

“So let me get this straight. Sunnyview, a hospital that specializes in rehabilitation for people suffering from stroke or other serious physically debilitating conditions, will not come get you from the lobby downstairs and a company who is specifically hired to transport wheelchair-bound people to and from therapy appointments is not required to bring you into the house.”

“Yes,” Mike confirmed. “But the weather’s been nice and sunny, so it’s okay.” 🤯