A “Hallmark Moment”….In Chronic Illness Style

I love celebrating special occasions. I’m a real “Hallmarks moment” kind of girl. Always have been and I suspect I always will be.

Cakes, balloons, lots of presents and good food. I love making the person who is celebrating their special day, feel like they are the most important and loved person in the world.

You would think I would realise that those days may be a bit beyond my reach now, wouldn’t you?

I should know, after 4 years with a progressive bone disease, mind over matter really doesn’t work. However, I seem to suffer amnesia when I begin to day dream about what I’d like to do.

I Can Do This…Can’t I?

As my husband’s birthday approaches each year, I try to convince myself I will be a picture of perfect health and energy, for just that one day.

I love him so much, there is no way I am not going to try to make the day extra special.

The fact I have broken femurs, broken feet and stress fractures riddled throughout my body plus severe spinal stenosis, is just too bad!! Surely I can just push through it all. (We all know I’m being delusional at this point).

He does so much for me each and every day. This is his moment to be pampered and have a day of treats and hopefully a rest. As a full-time carer he definitely deserves that.

The Idealistic Plan

Our first plan is always to go out for lunch, and we pretend in the lead up to his birthday we will be doing that. We pick the restaurant or cafe, check out the menu online and get excited.

We do this knowing it most likely won’t be able to happen. The effort for me to get out will spoil the day. By the time I get to a cafe I’m so exhausted it’s hard to talk, let alone make it feel special for my husband.

We know that at least at home I can pace the day and have the energy to get through all I want to do for him. At home I can lie down for 10 minutes here and there whenever I need to recharge a little.

The Realistic Plan

The reality is we won’t be going out for lunch. We’ll stay home and make sure that the day will focus on enjoying simple, special moments together.

I will be determined to make a great lunch, with my husband as my kitchen hand. Instead of a restaurant we will sit in our courtyard and both agree it is the nicest café we have been in for ages…even if we do say so ourselves!!

My husband will open a nice bottle of red he’s been saving for the day. I don’t drink due to my medication but I love seeing him savour every sip.

After lunch we’ll watch a movie, in “Gold Class” style, in the comfort of our lounge room

We’ll drink coffee and enjoy a slice of birthday cake and perhaps indulge with a box of chocolates.

The Perfect “Hallmark Day”

It will be a really lovely day, just the two of us. It will be quiet in so many ways in comparison to what most people would consider a celebration. Although with current COVID-19 restrictions around the world, it’s likely to become a “new norm” for many people trying to find ways to celebrate special occasions.

It will be so special though as it will be full of love……our “Hallmark moment”.

No actually it will be our “Hallmark Day”.

Even though it will take me days to recover from something so quiet and simple, it will be worth every moment.

I will definitely be gearing up same time next year to do it all again for the man I love so much and who cares for me so beautifully every single day.

Happy Birthday Sweetheart

Sam xxxx

1 Corinthians 13:13
Faith, Hope and Love, but the greatest of these is Love.

If you’re looking for genuine support, care, understanding & friendship, you are so welcome to join my closed Facebook support forum, Medical Musings with Friends . It’s a safe place to connect with others living with chronic & complex diseases, who truly understand the daily challenges. A warm welcome awaits.

I’m also a Contributor at “The Mighty”. You can check out my published articles at My Author Page

I also write @ Blogs by Christian Women

I’m a member of the Chronic Illness Bloggers Network, the Grace Girls Facebook Group and Salt and Light Linkup Group

If you would like to read a little more about my journey, here’s the link to My Story

Please click here to read our Privacy Policy