Another good night’s rest; feeling better all the time. An early-morning breakfast on my own (6:45 sharp!), Psalms, open windows – my morning routine. Once the family showed up, we delivered to both Tasso and Guenther the get-well collages that Aunt Netter and Georgia had made for them. Guenther was recovering from his surgery and doing very well! Tasso also seemed to be light-years ahead of where he was the previous day – positive and hopeful. Such a blessing to find him that way. The morning also entailed me wearing my lederhosen swimsuit and anti-thrombosis hose for pictures. SEXY!!!

After lunch, we decided to take a walk OUTSIDE. It would be my first step outside in NINE DAYS. Hard to believe. It was a beautiful day, and we walked down to the little on-property cafe for some ice cream and drinks, then a walk back to my building through the grass. I removed my slippers and walked barefoot through the cool grass, with the sun on my face…it felt INCREDIBLE.

After our excursion, given that today would be another day of steady recovery, I urged LouAnn and the kids to go do something fun. Tasso, who works for Red Bull (started by a guy in SALZBURG), had suggested the Red Bull Hangar 7 at the airport, which houses a lot of Red Bull’s race cars, jets, wing suits, etc. They agreed and off they went. Dad hung around and we spent a lazy afternoon reading and dozing. I had finished the Bonheoffer biography and moved on to Stephen Ambrose’s “The Victors – Eisenhower and His Boys: The Men of World War II” in anticipation of our upcoming trip to Normandy. It was recommended by a dear friend.

Hangar 7 was AMAZING, apparently, and the kids promised to take me back once I got out of the hospital – WHICH NEVER HAPPENED. That evening my sisters and dad took the kids back to the hotel, and LouAnn and I had a DATE NIGHT (she hates that term) on what would be my final night in the hospital. I scooted over so she could we share my bed, and we enjoyed cold Almdudler and a Tour de France preview show. The height of romance!

Good look!  That’s a Guinness t-shirt, to make all you Irishmen proud…

First steps outside in NINE days….

 

Ahhh….walking in the grass…..

“From the rising of the sun to its setting, the name of the Lord is to be praised.”  Psalm 113:3

Red Bull Hangar 7

Red Bull egg-shaped toilet!

Guenther!  Post-surgery and feeling better.  His son and daughter-in-law had just placed well in the Austrian Ironman.  Two days later, LouAnn and I were flipping channels at the hotel and we got to see his daughter-in-law competing in the Ironman!

Date night!

Collage for Tasso.

 

My get-well collage.