Today I rode a roller coaster of ups and downs and ins and outs on the ride of life, especially one with multifaceted dimensions and levels. Clearly, this crazy ride is only able to be ridden by a married woman in her fifties. My ride started with a morning stretch and a peek at my clock telling me Jeff would be home soon from swimming and ready to jump in browns for his UPS day. A good morning prayer of thanks and joy for the day was sent above before my head lifted from my pillow. Then sitting up and stretching higher, the prayer covered kids, worries, friends and family. Looking for coffee I found on our kitchen table, my glass pitcher filled with glorious garden flowers, in several shades of purple. It was Valentine’s day and Jeff was my romancer; he hand-picked these beauties before the sun rose.
At 10:30 AM I picked up my dear, 95-year-old Uncle, to take him to his nephrologist, the kidney specialist. I already knew from his primary care doctor that “his numbers” were worsening (why does every bad thing have numbers?); the doctor reported that Uncle Abie was now in stage 4 kidney failure (all his other numbers which I am sparing us from, added up to this). Doc said we don’t have to worry about dialysis yet, let’s monitor how Abe does during the next 2 months, then check those numbers again. Not many nonagenarians, as these 90 somethings are called, are offered dialysis, so putting this conversation off for a couple of months was helpful to my psyche. Did I mention that my uncle had a cough for the last 3 weeks, and that he felt that he can’t take walks like he used to because his thighs feel heavy? I think he is the only 90 something in his facility that doesn’t need to use a walker! But he was coughing, his kidneys were bad, and he has serious diabetes; did I mention that he can be eccentric and entertaining, and that we pray for him along with all the grandparents?
My daughter, Joey, (youngest of five, age 20) happened to join us at this appointment. When she kissed her great-uncle hello, he finally remembered her name. She was thrilled; though he always did remember who she was. Joey helped with so much after the exam, especially by keeping Uncle Abie busy. During my wait at the reception counter for the next appointment date and the doctor’s new orders, Uncle Abie, chatted with Joelle. First point was about his health. While fully understanding that his condition was declining, he stated, “you know, I can only do my best by drinking more water, it’s all ok, no worries.” His positive outlook in the present brought a triggered memory of another time when he could only try to do his best. He divulged a story about getting into a car accident when he was in his 20’s during the early 1940’s. Though everyone in both cars was ok, the officer who presided over the accident was not; he was crotchety and draconian. For some reason he threw my uncle in jail for 3 nights because a headlight was out on his vehicle! Who knew? As I turned from the counter my eyes and heart beheld my 20 yr. old beautiful daughter, standing in the waiting room, absorbing and laughing at her Great Uncle’s long ago adventure.
Later in the day I got a surprise call from my hard-working, but very financially challenged, college daughter in NY, who explained that we might need more money for this month’s rent. Her guy room-mate was kicked out by the landlord because he didn’t want a male “roomy” to join these two ladies; this decision was made in spite of steady rent payment. Mr. Landlord insisted that another female join these 2 girls on the lease, and this preference was made in 2014! My daughter and this young man were just friends; yet the infinite Wisdom of the Ages went above the norm of the times and diverted from the usual. Ultimately, I was grateful to have this awesome intrusion from the Landlord; yet we now had to trust for more funds or that new lady roommate!
The afternoon proceeded when I attacked and called a list of Rehab facilities, which my Mom had stayed in after various surgeries here in Florida. We needed a record of her past dates of services for her monumental transition into an Assisted Living facility in North Carolina. Dad, Mom, Barry and Jayne, were all in need of big help; this decision and change was the toughest one yet. Moving our sweet parents out of their condo and out-of-state to live with our brother Barry and family, paled in comparison. But there was no longer a status quo; Poppy was plopping, Jayne was mumbling, and Mom was just wanting to be with Jesus. Everyone seemed to need breathing room; this horrible step was inevitable. The Rehabs were tough to deal with; they did not make it any easier.
Following frappucinos with my 20 yr. old, it was time to brave the stores for something sweet and sexy, to also bring some Valentine fun on my part! Lace is always a fav and I found just the right cute one and just the right cards; God is so good, all the time. Then in the store, in the middle of buying something racy, a pretty, little, bright-eyed 9 month old, baby girl, reached her pudgy arms out to my melted heart, and turned my thoughts to Ben and Kimmy’s little one, expected in July; I welcome Grandma life with ecstatic glee!
In the evening, my one and only Valentine for almost 32 years, took me out on a date for a delicious dinner, which was followed quite nicely with a celebration of intimate embrace. As I drifted on to the edge of dreams, I remembered God’s faithfulness and steadfastness reflected in the verse, “morning by morning new mercies, I see.” The ride of this day was slipping into tomorrow, angles were turned, one man up in his nineties, daughters in their 20s, Mom and Dad changing forever. Jeff and I miraculously the same. Many levels and facets were traversed this day, many folks of different ages were enjoyed; but One God was a steadfast Rock. He remained and remains Faithful. Always.
Deuteronomy 7:9 Know therefore that the LORD your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations…
leah service 