Depends on the Traffic

 When I’m on my way to the Cancer Center for my infusion the timing of my arrival has a great deal to do with the traffic. Traversing the Great Twenty-Sixth Street Construction Project is always a little dicey.  One day they were allowing traffic only one way at a time which made for a monumental snarl.  Another day they allowed no westbound traffic, only eastbound. The reason for this is that they are setting huge beams to hold up the street over the railway tracks. 

Who knew a storm sewer 
retention pond could be
so beautiful?

The point of all this is not to report on the street construction but to say that I sometimes arrive early at the Center.  Several times this week I’ve been able to take a walk around the campus. It is a fairly large operation with the Cancer Center, and Orthopedic Institute, a transplant institute, the main hospital, at least three other buildings for various clinics, doctor’s offices, etc.

I’ve mentioned before that one of the reasons I am pleased with my care there is the holistic approach they have to cancer treatment.  There are not just the usual chemotherapy and radiation treatments but music therapy, beautiful art, TaiChi, yoga, aroma therapy and probably more which does not come to mind right now.

The art is just not in the buildings but at several locations throughout the campus. One of the most stunning is a giant

The Lamphere sculpture

sculpture by Dale Lamphere, the artist laureate of South Dakota. He is the one who created the Arc of Dreams over the river in the heart of the city. He enjoys creating big things, obviously, given that he also created the beautiful Dignity statue which stands overlooking the Missouri River at Chamberlain.  It is 50 feet high! He enjoys working with metal and polishes it in interesting ways which enhance the sculptures. The sculpture incorporates the cross since the hospital system is faith-based. It was founded by the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary and Benedictine sisters.

While I was walking around there were some spectacular trees and shrubs in their autumn finery.  

All of the infusions went well with no side effects for which I am so grateful.

I've never seen so many colors 
on one tree - spectacular!

One of Henri Nouwen’s meditations for this week was on Gratitude. I’ll share that with you.  It really spoke to me.

“Deciding to be Grateful

Gratitude is the most fruitful way of deepening your consciousness that you are not an “accident,” but a divine choice. It is important to realize how often we have had chances to be grateful and have not used them. When someone is kind to us, when an event turns out well, when a problem is solved, a relationship restored, a wound healed, there are very concrete reasons to offer thanks: be it with words, with flowers, with a letter, a card, a phone call, or just a gesture of affection. . . . Every time we decide to be grateful it will be easier to see new things to be grateful for. Gratitude begets gratitude, just as love begets love.”

This past Monday was Canadian Thanksgiving Day and our National Thanksgiving Day is next month.  We need to learn to be thankful everyday.

Our Benedictine Oratory has a brand new floor! The previous flooring was carpet, about thirty years old, with some indeterminate stains thereon.  Now we have a beautiful porcelain tile floor.  Some of us met today to move “back in” all the stuff that had to be removed to facilitate the floor replacement.  With willing hands and the work the Junior Warden had done before we finished the job in just over an hour. 

I continue to do well.  I continue to thank God for your prayers and thoughts and good wishes, and I thank you. Have a wonderful week.

Sophia has found a cozy corner.