Bag of Receipts
I am going through our file cabinet today. I went to put the phone book away and the cabinet bulged under the heft of too-many-years of receipts. I only meant to clear out things older than 7 years.
I came across a ziploc bag of receipts. I didn’t know what they were until I saw at the top of one:
Holiday Inn Downtown
Harrison Street Grill
Chicago, IL
That takes me back a few years. The date is June 13, 2002. If you’d asked me 20 minutes ago, I couldn’t have said which year Rob’s first Plastic Surgery took place. It was such a horribly traumatic time for us both, and most of the time I’d rather forget that my husband’s face is completely different now than when we fell in love.
I only remember snippets of this time we were in Chicago. My mom was with me for a few days, and the last day Rob was back at the hotel with me. Most of the dinners I ate at Harrison Street Grill, my server was a lovely man named Marcus. If they weren’t busy, he’d sit down and talk with me while we ate. In the bag of receipts, I even found Marcus’ phone number he’d written down in case I had any problems or needed directions.
My mind was so addled, I don’t even remember getting his number, but I must have given him mine, too… because I do remember a few days after we came home, he called to see if Rob was doing alright. We talked a few times during Rob’s recovery, but it was one of those relationships where I don’t believe it was ever meant to be anything beyond being at the right place at the right time.
June 9, 2002 - 7:05 PM
Harrison Street Grill
Dinner for Rob, Mom and me - $30.19
June 10, 2002 - 6:49 AM
Harrison Street Grill
Breakfast for Mom and me - $15.91
June 10, 2002 - 11:30 AM
Rush Presbyterian Cafeteria
Lunch for Mom and me - $10.05
June 11, 2002 - 7:35 AM
Harrison Street Grill
Breakfast for Mom and me - 15.91
June 11, 2002 - 1:02 PM
Rush Cafeteria
Lunch for Mom and me $11.29
June 11, 2002 - 8:44 PM
Harrison Street Grill
Dinner for Mom and me - $14.82
June 12, 2002 - 8:02 AM
Harrison Street Grill
Breakfast for Mom and me - $16.90
June 12, 2002 - 9:30 AM
Rush Gift Shop
Balloons for Rob - $8.70
June 12, 2002 - 12:36 PM
Rush Cafeteria
Lunch for me - $4.90
June 12, 2002 - 6:35 PM
Harrison Street Grill
Dinner for me - $9.60
June 13, 2002 - 8:45 AM
Harrison Street Grill
Breakfast for me - $13.12
June 13, 2002 - 12:50 PM
Dominick’s Grocery Store
Lunch for me, plus Rx’s and Ensure for Rob - $72.73
June 13, 2002 - 5:08 PM
Harrison Street Grill
Dinner for Rob and me - $19.19
June 14, 2002 - 9:08 AM
Harrison Street Grill
Breakfast for me - $6.80
June 14, 2002 - 10:27 AM
Canal Street Dominick’s Grocery Store
Deli Soup for Rob, water - $10.58
Miscellaneous:
Dominick’s Grocery Store 46.90
June 15, 2002
Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites, Downtown Chicago
6 day’s lodging for 2 guests - $574.10
6 day’s parking for my car - $120.00
I didn’t want to relive that week in Chicago, but I needed to. My living room floor is currently strewn with receipts and things I’d like to forget, but they are the past, MY past, and perhaps by keeping some of them a while longer, we won’t let ancient history repeat itself.
May 23, 2007 at 12:12 pm
Wow, I could not imagine going through such a change with my husband? Would you mind telling the story?
In Christ
Holly
Holly, my husband had a severe underbite. He didn’t when we met, but his bottom jaw kept growing. His top jaw (midface) didn’t keep up so he ended up with 3/4 inch underbite (his bottom teeth were in front of his top teeth by 3/4 inch). I have a lot in my archives about it, probably in 2005. You can probably search for “Chicago” “Rush” and “midface” and come up with a few tidbits of info.
May 23, 2007 at 2:42 pm
Greetings. It’s strange how a receipt, letter, or some other reminder can, in a moment, transport us back to a different time. Sometimes its a memorable time and sometimes, it’s something that we would rather not remember. For me, almost anything that reminds me of the backslidden years is rough. Reminders of how easy it is to wander if negligence is allowed to continue. Yet such things remind me all the more to be all the more careful as to not allow such a situation to ever take place again. Thanks for a very meaningful post. Your household is in my prayers upon every rememberance.
have a blessed day in Christ.
timbob
I pray for your family often, as well.
Yes, any memory of those backsliding years is sickening to me, but that’s what keeps us from going back to those places and times. This particular bit of memory, though, is just sad because my hubby went through so much pain and had two surgeries (this was the first, the second was the following February) and I was SO ALONE in Chicago.
I’m so not alone now. I know God is with me every moment. And I look back on this time as one where He was preparing me to be the person I am now.
May 23, 2007 at 6:52 pm
i don’t like receipts or ancient history ( unless it is yours!)
I recall reading that and seeing the link to the headpiece he wore. You two have been through a lot.
God is faithful, and you are filled with faith, growing each day in grace and truth. I am glad to be your blogfriend
Me too. Thanks!
May 23, 2007 at 7:54 pm
I can understand that
Rob is much happier now too!
I have had 2 jaw surgeries myself for my upper jaw being to narrow and my lower jaw being to short, and TMJ. Its not fun.
Thanks for the info! Hope you are doing well and am continuing to pray that the Lord would Grant you your desires for a little one
Holly
Wow Holly. It’s crazy, isn’t it? Not too many people opt for the surgery over the clicking TMJ, but when he could only open his mouth 1/2 inch, he knew it was time. I am so glad his diet isn’t only applesauce, mashed potatoes, and pasta. It was that for years and I was sooooo sick of it.
May 23, 2007 at 11:43 pm
It was almost five years ago that we went through that first surgery, but hearing about those receipts brings it back.
The other night when Jayleigh was flipping through pics on her computer and came across a couple of shots with me and the RED, it brought those memories to the surface.
The thing is that I would not be who I am today, where I am today, doing what I am today, if God had not brought us to that place and through that trial together. It was a painful time of growth, but it has led us to so many blessings that we cannot count them all. (Rob)
May 26, 2007 at 8:58 pm
You two are such an amazing couple!!! You are a blessing to me!!!
*HUGS*