The New Normal

Blog topics for me have been few and far between other than the personal. I gave those a break so readers would not be continuously subjected to my focus on family health matters. But those matters have been illuminating.

One lesson learned is very personal: health matters tend to draw full attention from other topics. National political developments don’t seem as important now. The price for a gallon of gas may be interesting for a moment, but that’s it. The mind jumps to other things.

Neat and tidy home conditions slip to a weak rank. A few dishes laying about in the sink don’t seem to matter so much now. Or a carpet in need of vacuuming or a tabletop worthy of dusting. No, the patient’s appetite, mobility and mood shifts are in full focus.

I am slowly forming a new normal. Not fully shaped yet, but it will become so. I suspect that shape will be short lived as other changes pulse forward to change the new routines. I am new to this while others are more experienced. Those of you who have gone before me know of what I speak.

One odd reaction I have is a form of anger with the patient as abilities wane and I don’t want to see them, know them. Afraid they will be long lasting and foreboding of an ever nearer future.

This is a time of change and instability. It is what all experience in such times. Most of us don’t live through this but once or twice. And then if we are lucky.

No, this is one bookend of life. The other we are more familiar – the start, the birth of new life. It is this knowing that is a new routine. Not one desired. Recognized, yes; wanted, no.

The yin and yang are inescapable. One moves forward inch by inch. Is it how we absorb change. It is a constant. Like ever it was.

March 24, 2023

 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Intimacy

As we mature, we become deeply involved in relationships. Some of this is basic family relations – siblings, parental – and the like. Next is friends who enter our homes and we theirs. Neighbors, classmates, mutual hobbyists and so forth. Then we develop friendships that go much deeper. We comfort one another when we are hurting physically or emotionally. We discuss the matters of life and learn much more about ourselves and each other. We can even anticipate how others will react to various situations and stimuli. Good friendships do not spread to everyone we know. No, good friendships are special, close and deeply personal. We focus attention and brainpower on these few friends. Some special relationships focus on specific topics of interest and importance. Yes, we have specialized friendships. Most common. But one day, we get to know one person very well. An emotional connection forms with deep roots. A need to know the person more fully expands in personal ways. We sense this b...
Read more

Bits & Pieces

Pie: Apple pie more specifically. With Thanksgiving just passed, many of us enjoyed a good apple pie. Sure, there was pumpkin to accompany the turkey, but in our family multiple pies are offered in the holidays. Apple is surely one. Pecan, pumpkin and others, too. But I almost always choose apple. When I was in college, I was asked what kind of pie did I eat most often. In front of my mom, I answered apple, because I was always looking for a pie as good as mom’s own. Of course my mother was pleased, but it was a true statement just the same. When I was married, Ann’s pie was darned good. Her mother’s recipe. But we fiddled with the recipe until it took on its own generational name, and boy, was it good! Today I still order apple pie for dessert because I am always looking for a great pie to challenge our family recipes. I rarely do find such a prize. Do others do the same? Do you search for a great pie of choice, continually? If you do, what’s your story? Why do you do this? ...
Read more

Remembering Tom Sherlock

Tom Sherlock died on Wednesday, April 3rd. He was 65 years old and did not survive a heart surgery. That was his unexpected end and sad enough. But there is more to his story. Tom joined Dan Schuyler and George Safford to create what became the Village Chronicles, a weekly newspaper serving Warrenville, Illinois. That paper expanded to serve Winfield and then West Chicago. The paper published for eight years and built a good reputation for itself. Tom served the paper in several ways. He was our information technology guru, provided hardware and software to support the paper's operations. He was our sole bookkeeper, accountant and financial manager. He designed our distribution process and provided office space for meetings and layout and typesetting. His efforts supported the work of 32 volunteers who wrote and reported on the communities we served.  The newspaper broke even financially most of the time, but it was a struggle. Tom managed to find money to keep the newspaper afloat...
Read more