Family Business

Happy Sunday! It’s a beautiful day outside and I’m looking forward to a smoked prime rib roast for dinner, as chef Cavan takes over most of the cooking now that it is barbeque season!

My apologies for not getting a blog out last week.  The last one was not even done on a weekend due to the busyness of life! We had Cavan’s uncle’s 80th birthday party on the 8th and stayed over so that I could meet my daughters to catch the movie ‘Beauty and the Beast’ in Toronto and then birthday dinner and overnight stay with Viv, on the 9th. Cavan was off to a Sunday evening Tenebrae on the 9th and then picked me up on the 10th to go to the Tenebrae in Mississauga, in the evening.  

We were then back home, because I had a bunch of things to take care of to prepare for Easter!  I had two crocheted bunny hats I wanted to make--one for Caleb and one for Alex.  That took a while that week, and then I had baking to prepare for visitors.  Cavan went back into the city for more Tenebraes, but had no Tenebrae on the Thursday night, so after he attended a conference in the city that day, he picked me up at one of my ‘friendly visit’ homes and we had a night at home before heading back into the city for the Good Friday Tenebrae at St. James. While Cavan was singing at Tenebrae, I went to have dinner with my oldest daughter and then she, her dog, and I went to pick up Cavan and headed home for Easter weekend.

The next day, my daughter had to go back into the city to do a wedding (she’s a hair stylist) and then came back to do some more baking with me.  Later in the day, Victoria (my daughter’s step-sister), Shavoy and their darling of a son Caleb, came out for dinner.

Sunday, was the Warren family gathering at my dad’s place in Napanee.  Many of us were able to attend, including my sister from Vancouver and her little darling Alexandra. As usual, a great time was had by all and Sally spoiled us, as always, with a wonderful lunch and dinner.

Monday, I drove my daughter and her dog home (my cat was very happy to see the dog go!). I then took my friend Viv to Bluffer’s Restaurant for dinner and we had a couple of games of Scrabble. The next morning, I had a couple of appointments and then headed home.  Wednesday was meetings, Thursday Communion at the Extendicare and friendly visits and then Friday, I was in Niagara Falls for an onsite session of the priest course, where we learned the ‘Holy hand waving.’ I headed back into the city, where I spent the evening with Viv.  We caught the movie ‘The Zookeeper’s Wife’ and then played a couple of games of Scrabble--I actually won a game!! I stayed over and after breakfast and another game of Scrabble Saturday morning, I headed home, very tired from the week, to get laundry done.

Whew! This week is quieter.  I had church as St. George’s in Gore’s Landing this morning.  What a beautiful little church, with a great history. I got to do the readings and they were very kind to me. Tomorrow, is orientation at the Community Care Northumberland, so I can start palliative work.

Later tomorrow, I have a hearing test.  I lost the hearing in my left ear about three weeks ago and my doctor has confirmed that it is not an infection, or earwax, so we are taking the next step of the investigation and we will see where that leads us.

The rest of the week is relatively quiet, fortunately! It has been a few really busy weeks and I’m needing things to slow down for a bit. I haven’t spent much time just reading for ages! So, folks, that brings you up-to-date and tells you why I missed a blog in there somewhere.  I had planned to get one done in that time, but alas, it did not happen.

God bless all of you and I hope you are as busy, or not, as you wish to be!

Circle of Life

Happy Thursday! It’s a rainy day here in Cobourg, as I sit to blog. I’m late for last week and early for next week, but weekends are busy! I don’t think that gets any easier until after Easter! Ah well, it’s all good.

This past weekend, my cousin was visiting from Ottawa.  I don’t think I have seen her since just after my mother’s funeral in 2005 and considering that she lives only about three and a half hours away, that’s pretty sad. It was great to catch up and reminisce and she is renting a cottage in Nova Scotia for the month of July, so I think I shall venture down and spend a few days.

This coming weekend, we have Cavan’s uncle’s birthday and then, of course, several Tenebrae services, so it will be a busy time.  I have also taken on a new ‘visitee’ in the Friendly Visitor program for Community Care Northumberland. I will be visiting both ladies this afternoon.

So, to the topic at hand:  The Circle of Life.  I had the honor of spending several hours with a palliative on Tuesday. This lady was only 68, but was in the final stage of early onset Alzheimer’s.  This is one nasty disease that robs both the sufferer, and their family of so much. She didn’t have people to sit with her, so I spent three hours with her, before one of the staff at Extendicare took over.

I was just getting my coat on to go back over Wednesday morning, when I was informed that she had passed early that morning. In some way, it was sad and yet I have always believed in the difference of quality and quantity of life. This lovely lady had lost the quality of her life and although she did not know who I was, I pray that I was able to offer some comfort in her declining hours. She was restless and in discomfort in the morning, but after a shot of morphine, she slept while I was there in the afternoon. I had prayed for God to make her passing as gentle as possible and I hope that was the case.

I also believe in life after death, so I believe that she had many people to greet her when she crossed over to a life without pain and suffering.

I have often joked about death.  I do not fear it, although I am not in a hurry to experience it, but I do fear pain.  But then doesn’t everyone? I have also joked that if I am ever on life support, to keep me attached until I am a size four and then let me go.  I’ve never been a size four.  I hope that no one has taken me seriously about that.  That would not be quality of life, only quantity.  There is no point to it.

I have become part of a program at Extendicare called ‘My Wishes,’ I may have mentioned it before.  I get to interview new residents at the facility.  There is a set list of 10 items and they want to find out which of the items are important at end of life.  I am fascinated by the fact that these folks even want to talk about it.  My own mother had no interest in discussing such things and so I had no idea what her final wishes were, except that she never liked open caskets and she want the hymn ‘Breathe on Me Breath of God.’ sung at the funeral. We did that, of course, although I cried through the entire hymn. But that’s just me.

It is great that folks can let others know exactly what they want. For me, I want no fuss and I wish to be cremated. Other than that, I don’t really care. I’ll be gone by then, so I would have far better things to concern myself with anyway.

Well, that was kind of an interesting topic, wasn’t it? It is often that the death of one causes you to think of your own mortality. Ashes to ashes, dust to dust. To me, I will just be returning home, to see those who have passed ahead of me (including my cats!). I am not in a hurry, but I would really rather it not be a painful passing.

So, may you all have a gentle week and make your loved ones know of your wishes, please.  God bless!