A Dose of Reality
There are times when all of us feel like “fixers” in our day-to-day lives. We are self reliant, self taught and self motivated. If all else fails, we know people, we have people or know people who know people.
Today, Dennis’ daughter Sue came from Silver Bay for a visit. It was a visit that was driven from the necessity of attending a care conference for her mother. Her mother is in an Alzheimer care facility in the neighboring town of New Ulm. Families need to attend these for all manner of care to be gone over for the patient. Very difficult for Sue and her sisters when their mother becomes upset, wanting to know why “these people” have to hear about how she is doing. “These people” would love to be able to pull up a chair, much like Sue did today with her dad Dennis, and have a heartfelt conversation with her mom. Needing to sharing with us and pulling support from us for what may be coming in the future for Sue’s 25-year-old daughter who is physically handicapped.
Nothing to learn, no motivation to instill, no amount of people can help; there is nothing that can be fixed.
Later on this afternoon, I found myself quite emotional. In our lives here on Stauffer Avenue, Dennis and I strive to keep our lives “fixed” in all manner. How much we take for granted all that we are able maintain and keep fixed whether physically or with our material home. To think that that ability would be taken from us . . . made me emotional.
Today, some of that emotion came from thinking about my sister Elvera and her family. How many times her and I would share a cup of coffee at three in the afternoon and visit via the land line phone. What we shared in regard to things that had transpired in our homes, with our husbands, with our children and the strength that we took from each other to help “fix” things. It was the type of fix and support that our spirits needed. Yup, I do know how much her family will miss that strength, as I sure do.
Time to put my “big girl panties” on and deal with keeping myself in a position to continue fixing what I can. So, off to the pharmacy I went and got my one and only $3.02 prescription for the next three months to make sure I am here for as long as my family, Elvera’s family and Dennis’s children need me to be here for that caring support when it is needed.