Little Things

To occupy my time, I've been trying to take notice of things that we simply, not only take for granted, but things we tend to think we are entitled to.  
The first thing that came to mind, during this hospital stay, was our bed at home.  It's nothing fancy and some would say it's hard, like a rock, but it's our bed and it's in our home.  When my better half and I arrived at the hospital, for the beginning of a stem cell transplant, I was pleased to see a small love seat sized couch that obviously made into some kind of bed.  Having spent a night or two in those lovely hospital recliners, this thing looked like heaven.  I must admit, the little couch is long enough for a very tall person and about as wide as a cot.  Since I'm used to sleeping on 6 inches of bed, because a small dog seems to take up the entire center of a king size, I was pleased with the amount of room I was going to have.  That pleasure was over about the second night when I realized that the cushions were just a tad bit softer than the floor.  Then, I noticed something.
This room is one with a view.  It is on the 9th floor and the entire wall that faces the outside is glass.  From the floor to the ceiling.  If we were here for any other reason, it would certainly fall under the heading, "A Room With A View".  Nine stories down and across the street is a large church.  At the end of the church, that is visible from our view point, is a small patch of grass and a sidewalk that runs to the back side of the church grounds.  It is in this small space that I realized how fortunate I was to have this small bed.  This place is where the homeless gather of an evening.  There are usually four people to start with.  In the morning, as long as it is not raining, there is one couple left.  I watched them as the man folded up all the bedding and placed it into a large black garbage bag, and the woman began to fold the cardboard pieces, that they use between their bedding and the earth and concrete.  There is a retaining wall at the end of the small patch of grass that separates them from a parking lot for an apartment complex.  This is where they urinate.  After that, they pick up any trash that may be laying around and they take their belongings behind the church.  When they emerge from the other side of the building, they no longer have their belongings.  There must be a place in the back where they can leave them and obviously expect them to be there when they return.  My hand runs over the top of my bed and I think "there but for the grace of God, go I".
I will be forever grateful for silverware that is made out of metal.  I hope to never need to use a plastic fork, spoon or knife again.  Plastic is a God-send for the medical community.  I don't think we have any idea the service plastic provides.  Tubing, bags of saline or medicine, shots, gloves, bed rails, furniture coverings, corner guards, medicine cups....the list is endless.  A huge percent of this plastic is thrown away on a daily basis.  There are 32 rooms on this floor alone.  There are three more floors above and at least seven below.  That is a lot of plastic and this scenario is like our Earth, a speck in the Milky Way.  I vow to be more resourceful and try to reuse as much as I can.  Mother's cottage cheese cartons are floating in the back of my mind.  
The view is full of cityscape.  Towering apartment complexes, one topped with a townhouse and numerous medical buildings.  Parking garages that start below ground level and climb five stories or more.  To look down at the busy streets is like looking at a child's play rug, complete with tiny cars that buzz back and forth.  To see this is one thing, to be there is another.  I will sneak down again today.  Just to go outside and breathe in the air.  Air that, may not be as fresh as what I would receive outside my front door, but air that is not filtered and recycled.  I make another mental note to not forget that sweetness that greets me every morning and pledge to leave the phone in the house.  
Then, I feel guilty.  My husband has not had a breath of fresh air for over two weeks.  I think of the young woman on the elevator, she and her family member have been on this floor since the middle of June. I'm selfish, I still look forward to an early dismissal.
The list of things, little things, that are taken for granted could be long, should be long.  I should be more aware of my surroundings, show more gratitude for what I have and perhaps, what I do not have.  One thing is certain, an entitled attitude does no one any favors.  All these things are gifts, that are freely given, from the greatest love in all the universe.  Lest we not forget.