PRE ADMISSION AFFIRMATIONS

   I have whacky friends and it suits me fine.  Yesterday, I had preadmission testing all day at the Cleveland Clinic.  Silently, I kept affirming.."Every hand that touches me is a healing hand."  Barbara and Paul took me.  My friend Barbara has trouble walking because of her bad back, and Paul pushes her in a wheelchair that we get when we arrive at the Clinic. She doesn't complain.  Instead, she stays extremely supportive.  Both her and Paul take notes while the nurse tells me what's going to happen in surgery.  Everything went so smoothly with tests and 3 meetings with a doctor and two nurses.  Then, after all day at the Clinic, they come back here and Paul and I have a couple of beers.  Barbara begins looking at a book I got at the library written by Cheryl Richardson and Louise Hay and she begins laughing.  I love this book.. It's very simple and I think that's what is making her laugh.  It's mostly Cheryl  interviewing Louise about how she lives her life and Louise shares her wisdom. As Barbara reads some of the affirmations, she can't stop laughing, and frankly, neither can I.  I love Louise and I love Cheryl's work and I hope the irreverence with which we giggled about the book was not heard.  One of the affirmations is "I love my closet."  Barbara and Paul are practically in tears with giggles from this.   Louise suggests that when you wake up, you thank your bed for giving you a good night sleep.  "Good Morning Bed."  This throws Barbara into hysterics, barely catching her breath.  This is all going on while my landlord is trying to fix my bathtub.  I don't care.  I love the affirmations.  I love how my friends tease me. For me, the laughter breaks the tension, as I am so scared right now.  This is Barbara's gift.  Her amazing humor.  The day I was diagnosed, she took me to dinner.  I was in tears.  She  said, "I brought you an anti depressant."  It was a large chocolate bar.  My new affirmation.  "I have the most amazing friends."