Month: March 2008

I had a lovely day today. An elderly friend came down for dinner tonight with my mother and I. It was a joy to share the time with such a man. At one time he was a well known author and screenwriter, but now, in his 89th year, he has become very frail and in ill health. His mental anxiety is compounded by his fear of aging and of being alone. I will try to help him as much as I can.

It is one thing to observe with detachment the aging and erosion of inanimate objects. It is quite different to feel and see this happening to someone who has shared joys, holidays, summer afternoons, and enlightening conversations over the course of many years.

I am truly blessed to be living this life. I never want to forget how this came about.

Johnnyboy

Mom is doing well. The other day her doctor told her flat out that she cannot ingest any alcohol at all because it interferes with her meds. As of Wednesday she hasn’t had a drop. I am amazed at the sudden change. She is more alert, her energy level is better and her memory has improved. She is suffering a little ache and pain now and then, but I chalk that up to not being mildly anesthetized on a daily basis. I have also not mentioned it to her, congratulated her, reminded her, etc…I’ll let this sleeping dog lie for the time being. I wonder…Was it that obvious with me? Probably more so…

I have also decided to take an Incomplete in one of my classes. It is the Creative Non-Fiction course. With the demands at home, my upcoming trip, and the advanced level of the other two courses I am taking, I cannot give this class my full attention. An ‘Incomplete’ means that I get to finish this during the summer semester. That means while I am away, I will have to do all the writing and send it in a couple times a week. I am planning on using Google Docs to accomplish this. I can write all the work and then Google will send it as a Word Document to my teacher. I think it will add a creative twist to the concept of non-traditional learning in the 21st Century. I hope he approves of the idea.

There is also an elderly gent who lives up the road. He is 88 years old and has no one to care for him. In the past I have been able to help him out, but my life has changed. Thankfully there is a group here in Somewheresville called ‘Neighbors Helping Neighbors’ who are going to try to look in on him, help him out, do the heavy lifting. I am relieved that they might be able to assist. This allows me to continue being his friend without the pressure of being his caregiver. I do that enough at home.

My life is full of ‘hopes’ and ‘plans’ that serve to assist others and give me the time I need for myself. May my Higher Power work Its wonders in my life.

I have added a picture to this post. It is following a theory about decay and decrepitude: In terms of man-made objects, I am seeing that the decay and slow decline is actually the artificial thing returning to its natural form. Grass grows, houses fall down, cars rust away to dust, regardless of our futile attempt to mold, bend, or form them into something we want.

Johnnyboy