Latest posts
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Silver Linings Playbook
“Everything that you are going through is preparing you for what you asked for.” I can’t find who originally said that, but a friend mentioned it a few months back, and I’ve been dwelling on it ever since. Today, more than ever, it rings true. Last night’s better judgement (and Maki’s second opinion) had told me not…
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The (Pre) Birthday Party
Bit of a rough one for Vernon today. He has yet another infection and is in isolation in his room. He was the least responsive that he has been in 4 or 5 months, slumped in his chair, not tracking, not making a sound. He could only squeeze his hands tight and move his legs in…
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First Steps
“What saves a man is to take a step. Then another step.” ~Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
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Mix-Tape (and Records)
Rhythm and harmony find their way into the secret places of the soul.” Plato Because of my interest in music as therapy, many people have been recommending the documentary Alive Inside, which shows nursing home patients, who have lost their memories and identities and often physical control, have these things returned to them in various degrees when they…
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Mesa Verde
On Monday, we said goodbye to our friends at Newport Subacute, promising to come back for the occasional visit. Here is Vernon and his main nursing crew, Joseph and Ivy. I’ll miss them too, they are wonderfully caring people. I drove over to the new place, Mesa Verde (also in the Newport/Costa Mesa area) to make sure…
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Simple Song
Vernon HAS been moved, at long last, but instead of celebrating, I just feel emotional and exhausted. So I will fill you in on the new details about that tomorrow, when I’ll be more ready to process things. In the meantime, I’ll share a MAKI moment that came up this afternoon. This is one of Maki’s…
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The Kindness Project
“For it is in giving that we receive.” St. Francis. I had signed up at the beginning of the year to intentionally show kindness to someone else in the greater community as part of the church’s 365 project. The idea is to have every day of the year committed to. Our date was January 26. Little did…
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The Missing Piece
As I watched Vernon work on a simple jigsaw puzzle today, I thought about how nice it would be if there were carved guides on the tables before us (or even picture boxes) as we attempt to piece together the bigger puzzles in our lives. Vernon’s had indented guides on the cardboard frame, but he wasn’t seeing them. He…
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Elvis Returns
Vernon was feeling well enough to enjoy the show, again pronouncing that he’s “always really liked Elvis.” (I haven’t been able to verify this yet.) This picture is hilarious. I’m not sure what Vernon was going for, but it works. Here is a little segment of our Elvis, performing Paralyzed. Somewhat fitting, I must say. But…
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Grief and Gratitude
Moving right along. The anger of the previous week has carved a way for a new sadness to move through. A light blanket of it seems to be hanging around the last few days, waiting for the quiet moments to make itself noticed. Last night, I took Maki to see The Imitation Game, which we enjoyed very much.…