Good Morning to All:
A great morning in B.C. The rain has stopped and the sun is rising slowly. The first of the Cherry Blossoms are coming out and we are all surpirsed to see them blooming so early, but then it is almost March. The crocuses have pushed their heads up to greet the early spring and snowdrops are telling us spring is around the corner. Ah, the vagaries of living in the west and in the coast line. No, do not throw items at me, my family in the East have threatened to hang up on me when I tell them about the weather especially when they are digging out.
The body repairs have gone well. I need prescription glasses for reading, eyes are too dry, that is repairable, my arms will always be sore but with physio I shall live somewhat longer. That is all good news. Back to the exercises every morning that is offered to the residents. Good to see others in the same boat and as we creak togehter we shrug our shoulders, (that is if they are not hurting too much) and carry on. I go to bed with Dr. Ho more often now and it does help.
I read a book a few years ago by Pearl Buck, called "A Pavillion of Women", as I observe the residents in this facility this could be a pavillion of women. So many of us have lost our beloved partner/husband and carry on with memories of times past. Meeting with a number of them for coffee in the afternoon talk goes around to how they miss their husbands and the care they gave them through an illness, etc. Many speak of the loss and the emptiness of their lives now, however, they carry on doing volunteer work, being busy at hobbies, playing bridge, reading or any other activiy to fill the void of the loss of a loved one.
We speak of daughters who have helped us get settled in our new homes, we speak of them as unpaid caregivers to their families and as we share our inner most thoughts we know that it is the daughters who carry most of the burden of parents and their aging needs. There are a number of sons who appear to be the caregiver to the mother or father in residence and you can see the delight and joy of the parent when they see their son or daughter coming into visit with them.
We also see couples who reside here where the husband is now the caregiver of their wives. We see them taking their wives to have their hair done, nails taken care of. Doing the washing, etc. Bringing them to the dining room for meals, helping them, pushing them in a wheel chair to these activities. You can see the love and devotion they have for their wives.
I try not to let the sound of an ambulance siren distress me as it comes closer to the residence. Another resident has fallen, another resident is being returned from hospital and some residents we no longer see. We carry on living and do a lot of laughing and sharing our inner most thoughts and cares. So life goes on missing our loved ones but carrying on the best we can and move on in life with some trepadation and making the best of living each day with others who share the same life style.
I am off to exercise shortly so will have to sign off and let you know that I am so happy that I have CVH to turn to on the days I need some comfort, happiness or words of wisdome from others across Canada knowing I am not alone and that I can always turn to my friends on CVH to help me through the day.
Take care. Hugs to all.
Xenia