When I find myself telling a story over and over, I figure - it must be one worth sharing, and this is one I seem to tell frequently, so here goes... It was probably about five years ago. I was working my normal 12-hour shift in ICU, and this particular day my patient was a 94-year-old woman who'd had a stroke that morning. (We'll call her Norma, because I like that name ;) Norma's grandson had found her slumped over in a chair, and she was unable to move the right side of her body, her face drooped, and the words she attempted to mumble really didn't make much sense. He called 911, and that's when she came to me. Norma's family members stood vigilant in the hospital ICU room throughout the day as I whisked her out for medical procedures, and interrupted them over and over for ... View Post
Pull Up A Chair – It’s Soup Season!
My slightly scratched up solid oak clawfoot table came from the side of the road - probably about 15 years ago or so. I found it sitting on the cement next to our neighborhood dumpster. A neighbor helped me to carry it home, and it became the centerpiece in the kitchen at my home. Many plates of Mama Mac meatballs were served on that table over the years, and quite a few tears shed there as well. Hours and hours of homework assignments were completed at the table too, evidenced by some of it accidentally etched in the wood when my son pressed too hard with his pencil. Stories were shared, and laughter could always be heard, especially when someone received the "half" cup of coffee, or the extra-long fork, or during one of the infamous exchanges of indoor snowball fights. I ... View Post
Welcome to the Neighborhood?
Seven months. That's how long I've lived here at my new home. I go to work every day before most of my neighbors are probably awake, and I return after most of them have even eaten their dinner. I drive into my garage, wave at those in my immediate court who have made me feel welcome, check my mail, chat with them a few minutes, and head into the house just minding my own business. I eat my dinner, and then may or may not do a load of laundry, unload my backpack, and prepare it for the next day's work. Before I go to bed, usually I make my lunch for the next day, pack my car back up for morning, and always make a point to sit on my porch and enjoy the peace and quiet. It's so much more peaceful here than my old home. On Friday some friends came over for dinner. I'd been looking ... View Post
Stuffed Green Pepper Soup
Stuffed Green Pepper Soup Ingredients: 2 pounds ground sirloin 5 cups of water 1 can of tomato sauce (28 oz) 1 can of spiced tomatoes (do not drain) (28 oz) 2-1/2 cups of green peppers 1/2 cup brown sugar 1 tsp salt 2 tsp beef boullion 2 cups of rice Directions: Cook and stir ground sirloin over medium heat until no longer pink. Add the rest of the ingredients (except for rice), and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer uncovered for 30 minutes. Cook rice separately and then add to soup. If you don't like a lot of rice, reduce to 1 or 1-1/2 cups of rice. This is one of my favorites! Goes really well with corn bread ;) ... View Post
Just Eat the Soup
A wise friend once told me the story about what came to be known as her "not-so-traditional" Thanksgiving dinner. She used that story to teach me something about my expectations of people. It made sense then, but the older I get, the more it makes sense. And, I'm guessing the older I get, the more sense it will continue to make. This week, I was reminded of her story - so I thought it was worthy of telling. My friend's son and daughter-in-law lived a few hours away, and for many, many years, she and her husband were not invited to Thanksgiving dinner at their home. They were always disappointed, but had, over those years, created their own tradition of having a small dinner together - just the two of them, watching some football, and enjoying the day at home alone. One year, ... View Post
This Ol’ Wrecked Knee
Years ago when my sons were young, and I was feeling homesick for California (I'm still homesick for California)... I took them on one of the coolest vacations I'd ever taken them on. We flew into LA, rented a car, and drove up into the high desert and visited cousin Lynn. The first evening, we went back to the park where she and I had often taken her children, and we all laid on the picnic benches in that Victorville park, and watched shooting star, after shooting star, after shooting star. Though my life looked nothing at all like it had when I called that place home, and Lynn's kids had grown up since I'd last seen them, absolutely nothing in that beautiful nighttime desert sky had changed even in the smallest way. It was still bright with stars and gave us an amazing show that ... View Post
Adopted
I've lost count of the number of times I've been told that I "know everyone." Sometimes, it even seems like it to me. Today, someone told me I have the "spiritual gift of contacts," and I laughed because - I just might! Another friend always says he pictures me like the old time switchboard operators, always plugging people together with others. I think all of it is true. I also believe it's a gift - and a fun one! Last night I had the opportunity to introduce two of my friends, who for years had each heard all about each other. So, they had my short, not-very-well-told versions of each of their stories. But last night I got to hear both of them share all of the details of their stories with each other. After work, we all went out for dinner - Lebanese food (MY personal ... View Post
The Dance
Dear Caregiver, I remember well the first time I came to your home. I was a nurse of many years, but had just taken a home hospice position, and your husband was my first admission. You greeted me at the door with your faithful companion, Sammy, alongside you. Several friends and family members sat around the table. All eyes were on me, and the questions came from every direction. I was nervous. I wanted to do everything correctly, making sure all of the equipment, medications, and staff were in place to provide for every anticipated need. I wanted you to trust me. I wanted your husband to feel comfortable with me caring for him. Twelve-hour shifts were what I was used to at the hospital. Now there would be only weekly visits - yet, I had no idea how well I'd get to know ... View Post