Husband is grateful for early Christmas gift

My husband received an early Christmas present last week.
He is the proud owner of a new knee.
This is the second one this year, and we are grateful that he has only two knees. His other one was replaced in August. Now he has matching scars.
This one was easier, as we knew what to expect. He still has to deal with the pain, but we have managed to avoid the fear of the unknown that was overwhelming the last time. I knew to prepare a supply of ice packs for pain relief. I also knew to drag the piano bench over to the bed so he had something solid to push against when he stood up.
When the physical therapist at the hospital said we didn’t need to bring the Continuous Passive Motion machine home with us, I hugged him. That thing was the bane of our existence after the first surgery.
My husband was so much stronger than last time due to all the rehabilitation he had been doing to get the first knee as close to normal as possible. We were told that we could avoid the dreaded contraption if we did the prescribed exercises religiously. We promised we would.
Now that he is safely back home, I can once again concentrate on Christmas. I spent the last few days looking for a specific character from a grandson’s favorite program. Last night I found out why I couldn’t find it. I was looking for the wrong thing. The character’s name is Rider not Ranger. No wonder the stores didn’t have one. Of course, I was looking for it because nobody in Texas could find it either.
Looking for the wrong thing is just part of the holiday preparations. I can’t remember a single year where I wasn’t searching for something that didn’t exist. Usually it’s my mother who asks for something I can’t find. She is convinced that if an item was made 40 or 50 years ago then it should still be available. Somehow she is also convinced that not only does it exist, but that I can find it for her. I fuel this belief because once in a great while I really do find whatever it is.
Shopping for the wrong toy gives me the chance to wander the toy aisles. I can not only pick up all the dolls, but try out the cars and dinosaurs as well. Every toy that makes noise or has moving parts catches my attention. Sirens, roars and assorted other sounds follow in my path.
Inevitably, I can find nothing for the child I’m shopping for but I find dozens of toys that the other children would like. As soon as I decide Emma and Jacob are done and all I have to buy for is Nicholas, I find a perfect toy for Jacob and several more for Emma but nothing suitable for Nicholas. I am running out of time and may have to go with the things I have already bought.
Although Santa can deliver toys all over the would in one night, the post office takes a little more time. Since I have rearranged the house in preparation for having my family over for Christmas next week I may overlook a present or two that I bought ahead of time in my haste to get things in the mail. That’s OK. It will be more of a surprise when a package arrives unexpectedly.
I have already received the best present of all this year. My husband has made it safely through not one, but two knee replacement surgeries. With all the progress that has been made in medicine, there is always a chance that surgery will not go well. But thanks to all the people who have cared for my husband, he came through it just fine.
Now, all I have to do is find a Rider action figure for Nicholas and my shopping will be done. But even if I don’t find one, Christmas will come and we will celebrate the birth of a little baby by gathering with loved ones who may or may not get what they wished for. And it will be more than enough.