Differing Appetites!

I was having dinner tonight with some friends. We shared several dishes and there was just a little bit of one dish left which I suggested my friend eat. She said no, that her dinner appetite was full. Which made me then ask the obvious question about desert! And she indeed confirmed that she still had a desert appetite. Then we all agreed that we should be teaching these important distinctions to our friends children!!! Wouldn't that just crack you up if you were a parent...your kid telling you they couldn't eat another bite...that their dinner appetite was full but that they for sure still had a desert appetite? This is one of the many reasons why I don't have children.

Facebook Dilemma

My good friend and favorite photographer just told me that she no longer has a blog or flickr account because her photos were getting ripped off right and left. The only place she now posts her photos is on facebook. That there makes fer an official dilemma cuz I really, really don't want to be on the damn thing (yes, shocking I know that I would have big opinions about it!!!) and yet I wanna look at her photos. I'm unna turn on the 700 club and pray about it.

More Love

The second fella I mentioned that I was caregiving for...the one who has no fear of death...
well, we were having a conversation and he was telling me the story of how he and his wife met. It  was a hilarious story but what moved me deeply was what he said about their relationship: "I was never interested in anyone else." They have been married 62 years. And I can't even begin to imagine the richness that grows out of that kind of connection but it sure ignites a longing to know another human Being that deeply.

A Little Heart

Back in the day I wrote an entry about my postal clerk who saved her dried rose petals for me...and one day when I opened my pob they came fluttering out!
Well, this Thursday she is retiring. Upon hearing this news I declared (very dramatically, I might add) that I was NEVER coming to the post office again!!! We had a good laugh. But I kept pondering what I could do to mark the end of this chapter and the idea just flew into my head. So today during the hour they close for lunch, I went in and left a big ol heart on the floor made from her dried rose petals!

No Fear

The other fella I am caregiving for is also on hospice. I went to put him to bed tonight and he said the nurse came today and told him that  based on his vitals, he is getting weaker. Without really thinking, I said: "that's probably not what you were hoping to hear?" He replied: "Oh no, that doesn't bother me. I'm ready and I'm not scared of death. I've had a great life. I just hope I go soon so that my wife doesn't lose both of us too close together (their daughter has been given 6 months-year to live)"
And I thought that two measly tick bites constituted a bad day...

Oh, Love....

I have been incredibly blessed AGAIN with some amazing people for whom I am caregiving.
It began like this:
I was in the cafeteria at the rehab facility helping my former client and swami eat her meal. Across from me sat an elderly man in a wheelchair. We caught each others eyes and gazed at each other for what seemed like a long time...something i wouldn't ordinarily do with a strange man. At the conclusion of the gazing we both smiled whole being smiles to one another and i extended my hand to introduce myself. Both his wife and daughter were there and we got into a conversation which ended with them taking my name and phone number for future caregiving.
A couple weeks later, just as my job was ending with the swami due to her placement in a facility, the caregiver for this man called and asked if i could sub for her. The timing could not have been any better and I was thrilled to go be with this man and his sweet, sweet wife. So, for the last 2 1/2 weeks i have been going over to get M up and dressed in the a.m. and then going over at night to put him to bed. Oh my goodness, I have really fallen in love with the both of them.
And I am incredibly moved by their relationship. They have been married 68 years and there is still SO, SO much kindness and love between them. I watch in awe and reverence how they treat one another and am often moved to tears. It's so beauty-full.

Loveliness...

Won't you come into my garden?
I would like my roses to see you.

Persimmon Heaven

Here in northern California we are at the tail end of persimmon season.
We have two wild persimmon trees here on the property. From a distance the fruits look like brilliant orange ornaments! For the last few weeks it has been sweet to see our resident coyote spending considerable time underneath those trees busily slurpin' up the persimmon drops. It always makes me smile...