"The HILLbilly Sabbatical"

     "We don't laugh because we are happy, we are happy because we laugh." -William James.  I have always LOVED to LAUGH, and, loved trying to make other people laugh, too - at times - to a fault!  Laughter has a therapeutic affect on me!  After a good, hard, long laugh, I usually feel invigorated.  The Bible tells us that laughter is medicine to the soul:  (Proverbs 17:22...A merry heart doeth good like medicine:  but a broken spirit drieth bones).  Lord Byron said, "Always laugh when you can!  It is cheap medicine!"  As I try to recall the time in my past that I remember laughing the longest and hardest, I'd have to write that, it is probably the time whenever my sister and I were unexpectedly blessed with the opportunity to visit "America's world class/luxurious resort," in 'The Allegheny Mountains,' of 'Greenbrier County,' 'Sulphur Springs,' 'W.V.,' 'The Greenbrier,' which is a 'National Historic Landmark,' this past year.  We called our trip, "The Scioto County HILLbillies Go to the Greenbrier," mainly because our maiden name is 'HILL!'  It is a BIG place, that requires a lot of walking, which is challenging for someone like me, who is (temporarily-wink! 😉) limited in her capability to stand, and/or, walk, for very long periods of time, because of the back injury pain with which I deal, which affects my entire, body and being, in many ways.  However, due to pride, I suppose, I won't use the walking cane that I purchased over a year ago, as an assistance to me, which is a sad, but, true - fact! I beg your pardon, I have used it - ONCE, and, I felt VERY, self conscience and angry, at myself (for not having been cured of this ailment yet)!  I know that I am wrong for feeling this way, but, I'm just being honest.  I think that the main reason for my inability to humble myself and use it is, because I was very strong and capable for most of my life, and, it is difficult for me to accept the fact that, "presently," I am handicapped (physically impaired - there - I wrote it)!  However, I am determined, if God so allows me, to be healed (somehow) of this ailment - ASAP!  I'm sick and tired of it!  For nearly thirty years, it has gradually gotten worse, and limited me - more and more, although I have tried to combat it in numerous ways!  I am finally ready to get more aggressive with pursuing this healing!  If, you are someone who prays, please, agree with me in prayer concerning this! Thank you, in advance!!  Anyway, back to our visit!  So, we arrive at the prestigious 'Greenbrier,' after a fun drive, and, we both immediately feel, express to each other, talk and laugh about it, etc.,... "out of place"...like we didn't belong there, but, we were there, and, decided that we would try to enjoy our "sabbatical!"  After all, we had already made our reservations, and paid to stay a few nights, with our main motivations being, to rest up, and, visit/fellowship with each other, which we desperately needed, after having been unable to do so for quite a while - mostly because of all of the demands of our lives.  Many funny things happened throughout the duration of our trip, about which I haven't the space to write, therefore, I'm going to focus on sharing with you the "main laughing event!"  Okay, so, we conspicuously pull up to the main entrance in my little, red, '2002,' khaki-colored - rag top, 'Toyota Solara,' then, the valets and butlers, welcome us, take our luggage, answer some of our questions, and park my car, with me, REGRETTABLY (knowing only in retrospect),  choosing to leave my pretty, little, walking CANE - in it!  We proceeded toward the gorgeous front door, where we were greeted by the kind and famous, "official Greenbrier greeter/ambassador," Mr. Frank Moseley, which was extremely COOL!! From there we "overwhelmingly" advanced through the vestibule - up to the main floor.  I sat down on a lovely chair, covered with "designer" fabric, and, admired the classic decor, while Tina went to the front desk to check us in.  Whenever she walked back to me, she was carrying each of us a complimentary "Greenbrier Peach Tea," in sparkling crystal goblets!  She had also requested a wheelchair for me (my first time to use one - except during various hospital visits), which we had previously discussed she'd do, and I had VERY reluctantly agreed - only because of the huge size of that place!  Tina downs her glass of delicious tea, and, I take a sip, before we are given "THE WHEELCHAIR!"  Then, I humbly sat in "the wheelchair," as my pride was assaulted, and, Tina began pushing me.  I took another small sip of the very yummy tea, still leaving the glass almost full (info. added for future reference sake)!  We "rolled" down the long corridor, observing the decor, shops, etc., AND THEN, we came to a RAMP!  We stopped at the top of it.  In my mind, I thought to myself, "Kim, you probably should get out of "the wheelchair," and, walk down the steps (there's a case of stairs on each side of the ramp), and my gut agreed with my mind!  I told Tina that I was concerned about going down the ramp in the wheelchair, but, she thought that I was concerned for her.  I WAS concerned for her, but, more so, I was fearful and concerned for me, because, it looked a mile long to me, and REALLY steep!  I looked forward, and there were lots of "French doors" ahead.  There are gold, very hard, rails on each side of the ramp, and, in between them - are the two stair cases.  Beyond the "F. Doors," is the pool area, patio, etc., and, at the bottom of the ramp, and around it, are various things, furniture, shops, and people, etc.  BUT, did I listen to my mind and gut? NO, I did NOT!! 😩  Suddenly, Tina, pretty forcefully pushed, simply attempting to be a help and blessing to me, the wheelchair - over the wooden hump - at the top/beginning of the ramp - with me still in it - before I even had a chance to get out of it!  Long story - short:  instead of rolling straight, we went to the right!  Tina was trying to, pull and turn the wheelchair to the left, but, the plastic handle covers that go over the actual wheelchair handles, onto which she was tightly gripping as she was steering the w'chair, slid off of the chair, as she continued holding them - trying to put them back onto the wheelchair! I, and the w'chair, RAMMED into the first, hard (steel (?)) railing post, then, Tina's leg did, also!  After that, I was quickly projected forward, with gravity's help, and, the pretty, crystal goblet - still full of tea - which I was still holding, emptied itself of the delicious tea - into my face, as I rolled into the post #2 or 3 (?), almost doing an actual somersault on the last part of the ramp!  The HARD post stopped me from completing it!  Ha!!  The pretty, crystal goblet flew through the air, and, obviously landed somewhere, but, was never again to be seen by Tina nor me!  Hehe!!  After we were certain that we were both "alright," and, some "hooplah" by some employees of 'The G.,' took place, we looked at each other, and, burst into laughter!  We laughed the entire course of our trip, and, have laughed often about it since then, as has our family!  We couldn't look at each other the rest of our trip without totally "cracking up!!"  A few days later, we left our "sabbatical," stoved-up and bruised, but, "medicated" with LAUGHTER!!  🤣"...As soap is to the body, so laughter is to the soul!" - a Jewish Proverb. 💕  I hope that this post gives someone a good, hard, long LAUGH (although it's at my expense)!! 💕 As Judges 19:6 says, "...and LET thine heart be merry!" 💕 "With mirth and laughter, LET old wrinkles come!" - W. Shakespeare. 💕 "The most wasted of all days is one without laughter!" - Mark Twain 💕 "When humor goes there goes civilization!" - Erma  Bombeck. 💕 My advice to the readers of this 'blog post' is to - LAUGH and KEEP LAUGHING as you travel down your life's road - no matter your means of transportation! 😘 Until next time...