Openings
Sometimes even in the midst of dire situations, there can be Signs of encouragement. Such Gifts from the Spirit bring hope and affection, and offer "Doorways"--"release points"--to betterment.
Recently my husband suffered a medical emergency. I phoned paramedics. They had a hard time getting him out due to the narrow doorway, so they used a medi-vac chair. The ambulance driver told me about Gate Keepers, and asked me whether he could call them and have them contact me. I said Yes, I want all the help I can get.
Gate Keepers helps put seniors in touch with valuable social service resources.
My husband was transferred from the E.R. to the hospital. He spent 2-1/2 days there; I stayed by his side 24/7. At night I slept in a day-bed-chair staff provided. From the hospital he spent a week at a recuperative care center. I'd be there with him from morning to night.
Now he is home and is getting better and better each day.
In addition, a week ago Saturday the hot water heater in my cottage burst. Water flooded into the room. This happened a half hour before my daughter and I were to leave on a two-hour cruise. My husband and landlord both told me to go, they and two handymen would take care of getting belongings out into the parking lot so that the old heater could be taken out and the new heater brought in.
I came back to the spectacle of much of my household belongings in the parking lot.
And to increase the width area of the front door, a cabinet had to go.
I gave it to my husband (he lives in a nearby cottage in the same courtyard).
Several days ago, caseworker M. from Gate Keepers visited me.
M. said, "You don't have too many things; you are well organized; you are not a hoarder; it's just that your home is very small. I suggest that you get rid of some of it and keep what you truly love. I am doing this too. You aren't a spring chicken anymore. You don't want to leave a lot of stuff behind that others have to try to go through. Keep what you truly love."
He referred me to a social service organization. Caseworker T. and her intern A. told me, "You are at risk. You have osteoporosis, you could fall and it would be hard to get help in to help you. Your entrance ways from outdoors in, and in each room, need to be clear. You're well organized, but *each doorway needs to be as clear as possible.*
They will send an Organizer to help if I don't succeed in accomplishing the task.
I'm working very hard, and am making headway.
And I'm taking Caseworker M.'s advice sincerely: I am focusing on keeping what I love.
I despise it when some people tell me, "Put stuff in storage."
This is my life. What parts of my life am I to put in storage so that I cannot get to them?! My writings? My genealogy resources? My family and ancestral photographs and documents? I use all these daily. Plus, some of my things *are* in storage. I can't get at them. So I end up buying the same thing again.
It's like one tries to assemble a1000 piece jigsaw puzzle on a board upon one's lap. No success. People say, "Take away 500 pieces, you can assemble the other 500 pieces." There is no picture then...just a mess of pieces. Or, some might say, "Well, keep some pieces that form *part* of the picture, and put other parts of the picture into storage. *Which* parts?! Of a landscape picture, keep the beautiful oak tree, but put the old and graceful house into storage?!
The *real* help for me comes from those who make helpful suggestions--such as M.'s advice, "Keep what you really love."
About 15-20 years ago I gave to my children my silverware, my mother's silverware, my hope chest, my mother's hope chest, heirlooms passed down in our family for generations. At the time, my life was at risk. I wanted these beloved items to go to my children, and to see them enjoying them. And they *are* treasuring them.
I am living in a tiny cottage of a courtyard of tiny cottages that used to be a motel. I have no sink in the bathroom. The middle room has no electric outlets. But, I chose this place because it is a cottage among forest trees in an urban setting. I love the deck my son P. built. I enjoy listening to the birds sing, and I take great pleasure in my home.
And the rent is such that I always felt it to be affordable no matter what downturn in finances I might need to endure.
Now, I am at risk again.
And lately I have learned that before moving into a home, before selecting the decor, before anything--*be sure to keep the entrances open as widely as possible so that paramedics can easily access the patient and get a stretcher to the person and take him or her back out again!"
I love genealogy, family heirlooms, a high quality life filled with family, friends, activities and things that I truly love. Beauty, warmth, comfort, the Verities. I want to live an heirloom-quality life.
The work I'm doing on this project is taking its toll. But I have to do it, or others will do it "for" me--and maybe even remove me from conditions where I am deemed at risk.
I *am* succeeding in the reorganization. I doubt if the caseworkers will agree it's enough, although they praise me for my progress.
It's just that the cottage is really very tiny.
But in focusing on keeping what I truly love, I am giving thereby deep consideration to what it is that I do truly love in terms of items and also in values.
The term Gate Keepers well describes the situation.
And the process is opening me out to memories I hadn't thought of in years.
Today friend G. took me to Powells where I could turn in some books for store credit.
Beforehand, I got the Guidance to acquire the Household Searchlight Recipe Book, a vintage cookbook that is highly regarded. My mother owned one. I owned one when I was a housewife, and later gave it to one of my children. I have kept the first cookbook I ever owned--the Gourmet Cookbook, which I bought when I was a teen. I still own my original copy of the Culinary Arts Institute Cookbook, which I used when I was a housewife. My family enjoyed my cooking.
The Household Searchlight Recipe Book is well known for its Pineapple Upside Down Cake recipe. My mother made it. I made it. My children make it. My guidance was to *get this book!*
Powells staff had to search, and they found it "upstairs" and proudly brought it to me. I was so heart-warmed, and the staff person and I hugged.
And it is the highly-regarded 1938 edition.
I am so happy to have it, and it "seems happy" to be with me.
The Household Searchlight Recipe book has a loving home again, and I again can enjoy reading it and cooking from it--including the famed Pineapple Upside Down Cake.
A few moments ago I was browsing in it.
The Powells clerk placed the store receipt inside the book, next to page 55.
I was stunned and overjoyed when I saw, ON PAGE 55, the PINEAPPLE UPSIDE DOWN CAKE RECIPE!
This is a Gift of love, a reward, a confirmation of the value of focusing on what one truly loves.
I am greatly appreciative of this deeply satisfying and enjoyable Gift.
Recently my husband suffered a medical emergency. I phoned paramedics. They had a hard time getting him out due to the narrow doorway, so they used a medi-vac chair. The ambulance driver told me about Gate Keepers, and asked me whether he could call them and have them contact me. I said Yes, I want all the help I can get.
Gate Keepers helps put seniors in touch with valuable social service resources.
My husband was transferred from the E.R. to the hospital. He spent 2-1/2 days there; I stayed by his side 24/7. At night I slept in a day-bed-chair staff provided. From the hospital he spent a week at a recuperative care center. I'd be there with him from morning to night.
Now he is home and is getting better and better each day.
In addition, a week ago Saturday the hot water heater in my cottage burst. Water flooded into the room. This happened a half hour before my daughter and I were to leave on a two-hour cruise. My husband and landlord both told me to go, they and two handymen would take care of getting belongings out into the parking lot so that the old heater could be taken out and the new heater brought in.
I came back to the spectacle of much of my household belongings in the parking lot.
And to increase the width area of the front door, a cabinet had to go.
I gave it to my husband (he lives in a nearby cottage in the same courtyard).
Several days ago, caseworker M. from Gate Keepers visited me.
M. said, "You don't have too many things; you are well organized; you are not a hoarder; it's just that your home is very small. I suggest that you get rid of some of it and keep what you truly love. I am doing this too. You aren't a spring chicken anymore. You don't want to leave a lot of stuff behind that others have to try to go through. Keep what you truly love."
He referred me to a social service organization. Caseworker T. and her intern A. told me, "You are at risk. You have osteoporosis, you could fall and it would be hard to get help in to help you. Your entrance ways from outdoors in, and in each room, need to be clear. You're well organized, but *each doorway needs to be as clear as possible.*
They will send an Organizer to help if I don't succeed in accomplishing the task.
I'm working very hard, and am making headway.
And I'm taking Caseworker M.'s advice sincerely: I am focusing on keeping what I love.
I despise it when some people tell me, "Put stuff in storage."
This is my life. What parts of my life am I to put in storage so that I cannot get to them?! My writings? My genealogy resources? My family and ancestral photographs and documents? I use all these daily. Plus, some of my things *are* in storage. I can't get at them. So I end up buying the same thing again.
It's like one tries to assemble a1000 piece jigsaw puzzle on a board upon one's lap. No success. People say, "Take away 500 pieces, you can assemble the other 500 pieces." There is no picture then...just a mess of pieces. Or, some might say, "Well, keep some pieces that form *part* of the picture, and put other parts of the picture into storage. *Which* parts?! Of a landscape picture, keep the beautiful oak tree, but put the old and graceful house into storage?!
The *real* help for me comes from those who make helpful suggestions--such as M.'s advice, "Keep what you really love."
About 15-20 years ago I gave to my children my silverware, my mother's silverware, my hope chest, my mother's hope chest, heirlooms passed down in our family for generations. At the time, my life was at risk. I wanted these beloved items to go to my children, and to see them enjoying them. And they *are* treasuring them.
I am living in a tiny cottage of a courtyard of tiny cottages that used to be a motel. I have no sink in the bathroom. The middle room has no electric outlets. But, I chose this place because it is a cottage among forest trees in an urban setting. I love the deck my son P. built. I enjoy listening to the birds sing, and I take great pleasure in my home.
And the rent is such that I always felt it to be affordable no matter what downturn in finances I might need to endure.
Now, I am at risk again.
And lately I have learned that before moving into a home, before selecting the decor, before anything--*be sure to keep the entrances open as widely as possible so that paramedics can easily access the patient and get a stretcher to the person and take him or her back out again!"
I love genealogy, family heirlooms, a high quality life filled with family, friends, activities and things that I truly love. Beauty, warmth, comfort, the Verities. I want to live an heirloom-quality life.
The work I'm doing on this project is taking its toll. But I have to do it, or others will do it "for" me--and maybe even remove me from conditions where I am deemed at risk.
I *am* succeeding in the reorganization. I doubt if the caseworkers will agree it's enough, although they praise me for my progress.
It's just that the cottage is really very tiny.
But in focusing on keeping what I truly love, I am giving thereby deep consideration to what it is that I do truly love in terms of items and also in values.
The term Gate Keepers well describes the situation.
And the process is opening me out to memories I hadn't thought of in years.
Today friend G. took me to Powells where I could turn in some books for store credit.
Beforehand, I got the Guidance to acquire the Household Searchlight Recipe Book, a vintage cookbook that is highly regarded. My mother owned one. I owned one when I was a housewife, and later gave it to one of my children. I have kept the first cookbook I ever owned--the Gourmet Cookbook, which I bought when I was a teen. I still own my original copy of the Culinary Arts Institute Cookbook, which I used when I was a housewife. My family enjoyed my cooking.
The Household Searchlight Recipe Book is well known for its Pineapple Upside Down Cake recipe. My mother made it. I made it. My children make it. My guidance was to *get this book!*
Powells staff had to search, and they found it "upstairs" and proudly brought it to me. I was so heart-warmed, and the staff person and I hugged.
And it is the highly-regarded 1938 edition.
I am so happy to have it, and it "seems happy" to be with me.
The Household Searchlight Recipe book has a loving home again, and I again can enjoy reading it and cooking from it--including the famed Pineapple Upside Down Cake.
A few moments ago I was browsing in it.
The Powells clerk placed the store receipt inside the book, next to page 55.
I was stunned and overjoyed when I saw, ON PAGE 55, the PINEAPPLE UPSIDE DOWN CAKE RECIPE!
This is a Gift of love, a reward, a confirmation of the value of focusing on what one truly loves.
I am greatly appreciative of this deeply satisfying and enjoyable Gift.