×

Life is a learning and changing process

Life is a learning and changing process. I’ve been home now for over a week. So far, I’ve done pretty well. On Tuesday, a nurse comes in and fills my pill boxes, and on Tuesdays and Fridays, a helper comes in and cleans and dusts. On Friday, she helps me with a shower, and she even puts up my hair. All of this is provided by the Lake Shore Long Term Home Health Care program and Willcare. I’m telling you all of this because if you or someone you know needs assistance, you’ll know where and how to get it.

At the moment, she’s at Dollar General to get batteries for my fire alarm. I can’t do it myself because I have to have oxygen 24 hours a day. I can’t drive because I sold the car. It’s so difficult to be dependent!

My church friends have been great! They don’t want me to mention their names, so I’ll just give you some first names like Nancy, Carol, Sandy, George, John and Mike. I hope I can continue to go to church. There are so many new people! Pastor 6’2″ is bringing in the kids and they are bringing in their parents. I’m so tired of seeing older people like me now I see younger people and there are so many going to Sunday school. If Pastor Gage is watching, I’m sure he’s pleased. Church is such a big part of growing up!

It makes me feel bad when I hear churches are closing and getting smaller.

Now let’s get on a lighter note. Here’s a good truism that fits all people always. Fortune comes to those who smile. Those who bring sunshine into the lives of others cannot keep it from themselves.

We can make this world either a palace or a prison. The choice is ours.

Mark Twain said, “The human race has only one really effective weapon and that is laughter. Against the assault of laughter, nothing can stand.”

I like this one. “Smiles are the language of love.” Let’s think about the adverse. That’s a no-no.

Since I came home two weeks ago, I can’t find what I’m looking for, but I’m finding a lot of things I’m not looking for. For example, I found a poem my brother Roddy (Russ) wrote for my brother Tony. I don’t know about poetry, but if it expresses a sweet thought, I like it.

Here’s what Roddy wrote:

“Who would follow me from dusk to dawn?

To keep up with me he would run like a fawn!

He looked up to me

No matter where we would be

The love in his eyes was there for the world to see.

Big brother, that was me.”

When my brother Tony died, the world was not the same. He died in a scuba diving accident. He was a principal on Long Island. He loved his kids and knew their names by heart.

I want to leave you with this comforting thought. Whenever I lose someone I love or respect, I’m always thankful for what I had. I never grieve for what I lost. My brother Roddy and I were close. He stayed with me before he died. We laughed a lot. I felt that way about my son Rusty and my husband was the same. There were three special Russes in my life. My husband and my brother fought in World War II and came home.

As Bob Hope would say, “Thanks for the memories.”

Newsletter

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *
   

Starting at $4.62/week.

Subscribe Today