First - He Fell Out Of Bed:
When the Jewish New Year was approaching I thought of two of my cousins who were moving into a unit in my complex a day before the holiday. I thought, wouldn't it be nice to have them over for dinner since they would be overwhelmed with "just getting settled." They are both in their 90's and their children live in California.
I called about two weeks before the holiday and invited them to share the holiday with me and my family. They were extremely happy to accept and were looking forward to the evening.
Three days before the holiday my cousin called to let me know that he and his wife could not attend reason being that he had just come home from a three day stay in the hospital. He was hospitalized because he had fallen out of bed, did not break any bones but needed attention.
They were disappointed and so was I.
Second - Two Funerals:
I attended two funerals this month. They were for cousins on my husband's side.
I was apprehensive about going because I thought, "who would be there that I know other than the immediate family." What disturbed me was that the deceased cousins came from very large families.
Sure enough, I was the only one representing the family.
It meant a lot to me to be there but at the same time it was disturbing.
Third - Bad News, Good News:
I have a dear friend that is in an assisted living facility. I don't get to see her often enough but we keep in touch via that good old invention, "the telephone."
We talk, I bring her up to date on what's happening and she does the same. The thing is, our updates are mostly about - this one falling, that one had a stroke, that one had a heart attack, and on and on.
What usually happens is by the time we are ready to say, "goodbye" one of us says, " let's end this conversation with something cheerful!"
Well sometimes there is a PAUSE until one of us can think of SOMETHING.
The last time we spoke I was the one to come up with something!
This is what it was about.
This season my apartment complex has a new landscaping company that has done an outstanding job on the grounds. I particularly admire all the colorful mums they have planted, vibrant yellows, deep purples and cheerful lavender with yellow centers.
When I walk around the complex it's just a pleasure to see such beautiful plantings.
I wish they could bloom all year!