Oh to be without electricity. Mother nature seems to be reluctant to hand over fall to winter, as severe tornado weather has just eaten up a good bit of the upper midwest. Thank goodness my family's home was free of damage, in a neighborhood full of felled trees and split power lines. No power seems like a pretty fair situation given the surrounding circumstances. I am currently sitting in a Martin's Deli using their internet and sipping on a giant Peach Snapple. I guess I have no complaints.
I have to leave for work soon... oh work. It's gonna be a brutal Monday, I think. Considering that there was a full moon last night, I have a sneaking suspicion that I will arrive at work with the news that one of my residents died, or people will simply be acting wacky. The whole "must be a full moon" thing when life seems funky is actually no joke. It coincides every time. Weird, huh? But true.
Life is a twisty whirlwind these days as work has picked up and life continues to barrel ahead clumsily, but at least it's covering some ground. I work at a wonderful nursing home in Elkhart, IN. I say "wonderful" because not only are the people I work with excellent, but the facility itself is just nice. It doesn't have that quintessential "nursing home smell." Instead of feeling stark with a faux-sterile smelling atmosphere, it's warm. The colors, the smells, the people, the vibe. I'm so grateful.
Working with old people was never something I expected to do. Frankly, old people always scared me, made me feel wildly uncomfortable and sheepish. But, for some reason, I find myself surrounded by them, filled with an unconditional desire to care for them, comfort them, and love them. It's got to be God, that's all I have to say. Most of my residents are over 90 years old, and then a lot of them are over 100. Isn't that incredible?? One of my favorite residents (shh, don't tell) is 104. She is adorable, never stops talking, and kisses me on the cheek. You'll find so many kinds of personalities in old people. There are the ones who have, for lack of a better phrase, "made friends" with their situation-- being completely dependent on other people to get through daily life activities. The ones who accept their care with (what has GOT to be a huge amount of humility) and graciousness. Then, there are the ones who just don't want to be there. The ones whose eyes have lost a luster for life, the lightless ones. These people will either vocalize their frustration with living and make it known that they just want to die, or, in many cases, they just won't say anything. The ones who stay silent are the ones that break my heart the most. Albeit, it's all heartbreaking. In a very short time, I've lost my heart to these people. The sad ones, the silly ones, the mournful and the peaceful. They all have his or her own cross that I imagine is nearly impossible to bear. Most of us can share our burdens, whether through conversation or physical interaction with our peers. Imagine being able to do neither, to be trapped in a body that doesn't work, yet having a mind that is alive and more or less perfect. They have a special kind of suffering. I think they are one of the Devil's favorite playgrounds. There are certainly a lot of cracks where the Enemy's poisons of deception and despair can easily seep. I pray for these people almost constantly. Everyone should.
Well, time is getting away from me, I need to pack up and head to work.
Here's to everyone having a Monday that makes you think. Challenge for today: Don't complain about anything. There are too many people who have troubles that I cannot even begin to know how to empathize. I am alive, healthy, free, happy, blessed, and loved. Oh how much I have.
Until we meet again, little neglected blog.
