Smith: Back at work and grateful for the care

Well, look at that. My fingers do remember which key is which.

It’s been five weeks since the last column, five weeks since the surgery to remove my prostate, a gland that I long knew or cared about less than the Republic of Djibouti.

I return to work a cancer survivor full of gratitude for all the advanced medical care, the concern and the kindness that has flowed my way. This old office chair feels good, as does the heightened awareness of how truly precious life and family, friends and community are.

What greater gift could there be than a new start?

UPLIFTING GERALDINE: There she lay.

Geraldine McWeeney, a Petaluman the past 10 of her 68 years, was walking gingerly toward the pre-pay counter of the Chevron station on Lakeville Street when she failed to step high enough for the curb.

Her agility eroded both by Parkinson’s disease and multiple sclerosis, Geraldine slapped down on the pavement.

“All I could think was, ‘Nobody will be able to help me up.’ To lift me up is very difficult.” Her greater fear: In this day and age, nobody would even try.

But up stepped a young woman, Vivi. She collected Geraldine’s purse and keys and the $20 bill she’d brought to buy gas, then sat and comforted her.

Next appeared Reed, an off-duty medic. He told Geraldine he could help her up onto her feet, which he did. Finally came Mark, whom Geraldine asked if he’d please go put the gas in her car. He filled the tank and gave her back her 20 bucks.

Vivi, Reed and Mark stayed until her husband, Tony, arrived to take her to a hospital, where she learned she’d suffered just a broken finger.

One dark moment she feared strangers would step around her, the next she was succored by a trio of angels.

“It just says a lot about Petaluma,” said Geraldine.

“INSIDE OUT” is the No. 1 movie right now. Good luck finding anyone more thrilled about the Disney/Pixar animated feature than freshly retired Rincon Valley kindergarten teacher Gayle Turner.

A lifelong lover of all things Disney, Gayle got dolled up and walked the Purple Carpet at the film’s recent premiere at Hollywood’s El Capitan Theatre.

The kid-friendly grand opening featured broccoli pizza, memory games complementary to a film set within the mind of an 11-year-old girl and an inflated bounce house.

“Had I known there was a jumpee,” said Gayle, who days ago cleaned out her classroom at Madrone School, “I probably would have worn pants.”

Disney folks invited her to the premiere because of the good work she’s done in her blog, disneygals.com. After raising five kids and teaching for 30 years, Gayle now splits her time between Santa Rosa and Fantasyland.

She likes “Inside Out” how much? Since the premiere, she said, “I’ve even paid to see it!”

Chris Smith is at 521-5211 and chris.smith@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @CJSPD