Aug 28 2017
There is lots to do before my ‘just after dinner’ visit date tonight.
Professionally, I must make headway in the manuscript I am reading of a book begun almost 4 years ago. It’s waited quietly while life got in the way for it’s two writers. Military men for whom I edited their first book and am now returning for their 2nd novel in the role of motivator and continuity director. I’m not sure if my position comes with a whip to crack, but I do know I must catch up. My first job is to read to remember the myriad of fantasy landscapes they’ve created and the panoply of characters who have been born to their duties in it.
Much has changed in life for all of us. Now, I’m not sure if my position comes with a whip to crack, but I do know I must catch up. My first job is to read to remember the myriad of fantasy landscape they’ve created and the panoply of characters their keystrokes have birthed to their duties in it.
Luckily, I find it enthralling. And, it seems that reading in public and air conditioned places helps me to overcome my slower, summer sizzler brain.
Personal: As any modern day writer with a phone built into her hand to feed the ever present possibility of procrastination, I looked down at the source of the vibration on the table her addiction to
Was I available for a visit tonight? Yes, if I hustled and got all my stuff done!
I snapped a photo of my Starbuck’s table, occupied by me and the compressed for printing pages I was reading. I had my reading glasses on. This meant that real focus was happening.
The photo was sent to the email of a man but destined for his wife. He was sitting beside her at that moment in a residence for folks needing support due to Alzheimer’s. I planned to wear the same blue on green paisley Ralph Laurent shirt, a plus size bargain I snapped up years ago in Scottsdale while in town for a communications training boot camp. It would help, I thought, to give a visual heads up for when I got to smile on arrival and to hug her.
I was looking forward to our time together.
My nails needed polishing. Something bright and happy to show I had taken her advice to wear celebratory colours at the last time I came by. Cherry red would do.
I visited from time to time, when her husband’s work kept him late returning to town or out altogether.
The good times that came with the visit to a place some might imagine drab and dour was made easy and vibrant by the loyalty and joy in her presence of her husband.
The first time I visited he sent directions for parking, for the anti wandering doors’ passwords, the locations she might be found and what activity might be happening or would be a hit to do!
His helpful tips included notes on staff, signing in and out, words to avoid, news to share, and highlights like her recent hair cut or colour.
So loving.
So helpful to make it a beautiful time for visitor and resident.
If he could, he would phone while I was there and we could both anticipate the call. Then we enjoyed it Then we got to talk about it, like giddy girl friends
It is getting just a tiny bit sadder to leave. Not to be there, but to leave at the visit’s end. Reality check. Then a night time bed check for her and a drive home to my own rooms.
What brings me to tears, personally, is not her condition, which is unfortunate for a lively, happy and outgoing person I met as we were a group of tour guides galavanting outside of Vancouver to learn more on a FAM trip. No, its the loyalty and love and connection that transcends the present condition. And, their willingness to let other people peek in and participate.