Many nice things have happened this week, and while I feel blessed, the bad and ugly lists also filled up.
Here then, are a few thoughts about each. And maybe they will prompt you to think about your blessings.
The Good
I have extreme severe medical anxiety. Okay, so nobody loves going to the doctor, but mine goes way beyond that.
So as my New Year’s resolution, I promised Owen and the kids that I would try to get this two-year-old leg thing figured out.
This week, I had my first CT scans, and the women at Casper Outpatient Radiology couldn’t have been kinder.
It helps to have a rad tech in the family, who coached me about what to expect.
We celebrated Valentines Day a day early with dinner at my favorite restaurant, Bosco’s. It was very busy and the two waitresses were overwhelmed.
With Suzi greeting now instead of in the kitchen, wait times were longer than in the past, but our meals were perfect. And it was so great to see Suzi and her beautiful smile.
As the result of a simple inquiry, I was blessed with Communion and ashes delivered to my house on Ash Wednesday morning. Deacon Kevin Halverson arrived and I truly felt ready for Lent because of his visit.
My daughter has been getting her hair done in Glenrock now for several months. And it resulted in a spontaneous visit the other afternoon, which I just loved. She didn’t stay long because she had to get the girls from school, but it was great to see her.
And my tax lady “felt like a ride,” and hand delivered my tax return from Casper. I signed one form and she took it back to finish the process.
Much like the comfort of a rad tech in the family, it’s handy that Owen’s sister is a CPA.
The Bad
These three things are nearly unfathomable, and it’s tough to feel blessed when you know about them.
While activists say prayer is not enough, it's all I can do and so I shall.
The Sheridan police sergeant, Nevada Krinkee, trying to serve a trespass warrant for a squatter in an unpaid rental was just doing his job. Now he is dead in a senseless cop killing.
It took 32 hours of a barricaded standoff before the criminal was flushed out by police and killed. Thank God no one else died.
Every day that a law enforcement officer puts on his or her uniform is a day that their family prays they come home. Every day. Every traffic stop, every warrant served, every altercation, presents a chance for the unthinkable to happen.
Pray for Sgt. Krinkee’s wife of 2-1/2 years and his family.
A young woman in Laramie was the subject of an intensive search that ended tragically in the beautiful recreation area of Vedauwoo east of Laramie. Pray for her family and friends as they try to understand the senseless loss.
And a Super Bowl parade? Not the place you expect an altercation to result in shooting a radio DJ dead and up to 30 injured.
Suspects are detained but several injured remain in critical condition as this is written.
The Ugly
Whatever may be wrong with Wyoming basketball, they at least are scoring more than 11 points in a half. CSU was leading the Aztecs in San Diego the other night, and then scored 11 points in 20 minutes in an epic fail.
Cowboy coach Jeff Linder ranted about a sparse crowd in Laramie, at least the second time he has done that this season.
I don’t have an answer, but I do have thoughts.
In my first two years as a UW student, the Pokes were 10-16 overall, 3-11 in the WAC, and 10-17, 2-12.
I never missed a home game. It’s just what we did. Studying took a far back seat to basketball games and we just didn’t miss.
I suppose students now are either more serious about studying or about video games or other pursuits.
I do know this - a group of Glenrock families left Glenrock last Saturday after home basketball games and drove almost 10 hours on awful roads to watch Caitlin Clark play in Lincoln, and then drove straight home when the game was over mid-Sunday afternoon.
Granted, Linder’s Cowboys don’t have a Caitlin Clark, but it proves that if the product is good, people will go.
Finally, who the heck does Travis Kelce think he is pushing his unsuspecting head coach hard enough to nearly knock him over on the sidelines?
After the Super Bowl was secured, it was all joking and kidding, but that was a horrible thing for young athletes to see.
I don’t care who he dates, that should have earned him some real punishment from the team.
Ranting over for now. Make this mid February gray season a good one for you and your family.
Sally Ann Shurmur can be reached at: SallyAnnShurmur@gmail.com
