New Kind of Slice of Life

         The Tuesday Slice of Life is hosted by the Two Writing Teachers blog.  Go there to visit the other"slicers"!  Thanks to Stacey, Tara, Dana, Betsy, Anna, and Elisabeth for all the marvelous posts they share!

               "Friendship Doubles Our Joy And Divides Our Sorrows"

        I’ve started a new slice in my life, sort of, by volunteering at the nursing home where my husband lived for 18 months.  I’ll be able to help with those patients I grew to like so much, and to meet new ones.  I’ve been back more than once since Arvie's passing, and have discovered I miss the connections I made there. 

        When I first began this journey with my husband, I wanted to get to know those who would be caring for him.  I spent time sharing with the staff about him, about myself, and about my family.  My own family and a few friends visited.  Slowly we all began to know each other, about our family and about theirs too.  I knew who had children, who was not married, who had grandchildren. I discovered who visited their mother, sister, friend, brother, father.  We were unique, but all connected because of the diagnosis of dementia in its diverse forms.  It became nearly as good a visit with others who lived there as it was with my husband. 

         And so, I have returned.  I miss the loving people who live there, I miss the loving and caring staff, and I am glad to help when I can, do what I can.  For a while, I’m going to be helping serve the drinks and plates at lunch.  Being an extra “hand” helping the staff gives them time to do other things that I cannot do, like feed a patient, or bring back a patient who has returned to their room.  There are lots of ups and downs at lunch, but smiles when I offer coffee, juice and milk, happy faces when they receive their plates of food are worth it all.  I know nearly all the people, and I met a few new ones when I started volunteering.  They are all different, some want me to help, some do not.  Today I realized I knew a bit more about the unique personalities of the new patients. 

        Does this sound familiar?  Isn’t this just what teachers do with a new class?  Through all the experiences we have with our students, we begin to know them, the likes and dislikes, the strengths and weaknesses.  We begin to peel away the layers. In January, I’ll begin sharing some picture books and poems in activity meetings.   Perhaps we’ll sing some songs.  By then I’ll know more about what some of the patients might enjoy.  In the meantime, I’ll have fun just having my slice with them each week.

        I’m planning to take next week off from posting so I can spend more time with my family; the Texans are arriving Friday and of course the others are here.  I hope you all have a wonderful holiday, and a precious beginning to the 2014. Below--two of my antique postcards!

My wishes for you all!

Sweet place to imagine being, isn't it? Tell a story?