Day 11

Yesterday was warm for walking, people for talking, easy errands, easy weed pulling .  I met Cerise and Kathy at Carol’s house. She is so tiny and frail and has not yet fully accepted that Gene is gone. Kathy took her to do some of the business of death. Later, the project leader for the labyrinth at the park came and we went next door so she could walk and photograph the labyrinth. We had a meaningful  conversation about our conscious aging program.

Day 10

I love my morning coffee and this morning I’m going without until I get the fasting blood work at 8 AM. Then I will wrap my cold hands around a hot cup and feel the caffeine do its job. Later, appointments for car service, haircut, and maybe the follow-up heart tests. The clear warm day will be calling for outside activity and walking. The green bin will get full of shrub trimming and weeds. Good day coming, after coffee. I like my life.

Day 9

Senior center duty and it is noisy on Monday. Many of our folks are alone all weekend and need conversation. Fortunately I have connections and conversations. Hollie and Megan visited yesterday. I am grateful that they are close and that we love each other. I asked Megan questions about her man friend as we don’t know him yet. She is obviously in love and enjoying the relationship. She enjoys her work too and it’s tax season so she has a lot to do.

Day 8

Gene died peacefully with Carol and his sons close by. She is alone for the first time in her life and is feeling adrift. I expect to spend lots of time with her. Today the Deacon-in-training has asked me to stay after the service to meet with her and hear her plans. She has assigned steps toward her ordination and needs lay input. I’ll be one of her support team. I’m good at support. I’m good at connecting people with other people too

Day 7

The A1C was “perfect” according to my FNP. It went from 6.5 to 5.5 in six weeks thanks to my protein/vegetable food plan. The scales went down six pounds too. The EKG results led to further study. Lunch was good. We went to a new restaurant. The party at Port O’Pints was noisy and crowded as it always is there. We had deep conversations in spite of the loud patrons. Only a few people ventured out for the prayer meeting. Now, quiet Saturday.

When I became part of the care and support team for Carol and Gene, I was given a key to their front door in case of emergency. It got me thinking about keys and what they mean. Giving a key to someone is giving permission to enter property. It says that the key owner is vulnerable and may need help. The doors to my house need a bunch of keys. Hollie has two to the front door, Megan has a key to the back porch and back door, two keys are needed to the sunporch door. I decided that Megan needed access to that door as well. I took the key to home depot and wandered around looking for the key duplicating machine. An employee was called to help me. He was an odd looking small statured man with a spiky hairdo and  big black button-like things in his ear lobes. He sorted through the key blanks over and over while we talked. I mentioned that I was at the age where safety was more important than it used to be and I needed family members to be able to get in any of my doors. He told me that his wife was handicapped and used a wheelchair. She locked the doors when he was at work and it worried him. What if she needed help and nobody could get in. He didn’t know the neighbors well enough to ask them if they would hold a key. It became an almost intimate conversation and I noticed that our heads came close to each other. We talked about who to trust with keys and finally he found the correct blank and I had my spare key for Megan. It was a conversation that reminded me of the importance of listening and acknowledging our shared journey. Everybody has a story.

When I was volunteering at the police department, one of my jobs was taking money for fines and writing receipts. One day a guy kept tapping the window with a key while I was writing. I handed him the receipt and asked what was with the key noise. I have a key, he nearly shouted. I have a place to go in and live. He said daily bread ministry has turned him around, helped him make new friends and he was on his way to a clean and sober life. The key was a symbol of a home as well as the reality of his changes.

Day 6

Wet and windy. Restless night and early awakening. I like 5 AM  not 4! Minnie was romping around barking and walking on me and it was about breakfast. Then the dogs go back to sleep. Me, not so lucky. Agenda: appointment with my FNP for EKG and A1C test results, lunch at the seafood restaurant with Ellen, Port O’ Pints with Rosalie and Karen for Irish Red and a patriot dog, then World day of Prayer at 7. I like days with parts.

Boondock band

Day 5

Watching the storm.

Stormy days. Stuck in the house. Pacing and jogging on the rebounder. Today is senior center duty and the Boondock band will play. That livelies up the place. I like their folk songs and often sing along quietly. I cancelled  story group as Laurie and Carol can’t come. New month and old plans. If I just get a break in the weather, I’ll get the lettuce bowl started in the back porch. I just can’t wait to get my hands  in the dirt.