Friday, July 20, 2012

Caregiving

I’m late.  I was up half the night with an intestinal ailment – no details forthcoming, thank me very much.  But, last night I was the one who could have used some caregiving.  I’m glad my mother’s computer is down right now, or she would be booking a flight as we speak.  The irony of the timing does not escape me …

This topic is brought to the official beginning of the fourth year of the Loose Blogger Consortium Friday topic by Ramana, perhaps one of our premier caregivers.  Please check out the entries by our other members linked on the right side of the page.

Ramana takes care of his father after years of caregiving for his beloved wife even though facing physical ailments of his own.  He has turned it into one more element of his own personal growth path.  I, for one sit in awe of this accomplishment, for I can think of no higher in life.

Right in there with him is the shackman.  His situation, unless he reveals more today, is more private.  But, I must say that it is as difficult as any I’ve ever seen.  I feel much the same awe for his fortitude and determination to ever be a better human being as I expressed for Ramana.

These two stand out in some ways, because in our world, the face of the caregiver is usually female, usually a mother or wife.  Grannymar spent all those years caregiving for her beloved husband.  The loss pulls on her still, but any time any of us has needs, big or small, there is GM able and willing to help.  She also nurtures her entire brood in the parlor of her blog continuously and I love her for it.

Delirious cares in the right kind of way for people in many far flung regions and works tirelessly to help.  Maria the Silverfox has opened our hearts and minds through her care for one little autistic boy that she nurtures til he wants to pop.  Maxi, I know less well, but I can already tell that the caregiving roots there go to the center of the earth at least.  The same with Marianna, LBCer Emeritus, who goes with the moniker Auntie Stress and helps people with stress even though she herself faces debilitating arthritis, while Padmini radiates wisdom, health and peace.

I could go on, but I would just emphasize the deserving that I left out in the process, something that I know I have done.  What I am trying to say is that I take my greatest pleasure in this quality of the people I have had the joy to share slices of life with since we began this venture three years ago.

It is not just the LBC writers that demonstrate such caring spirits, but also the readers drawn to the various sites, people obviously cut from very similar cloth.  I salute all of you as we begin this, our fourth year of sharing, discovery and mutual caregiving!  Cheers!

12 comments:

  1. I am listening to the evening news as I read this and my heart goes out to the loved ones of those people killed and dozens more injured in a shooting at a screening of the latest Batman film near Denver, Colorado.

    You know Cuz, you do well in the care giving stakes, yourself. Hope the innards improve real soon. Pre wedding nerves, is it???

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    1. GM, let's just say that with aging, sometimes the train jumps the tracks. I have the freight moving again nicely!

      I also have watched news on this terrible event. It is even more personal for me in that I have relatives in Aurora and my Grandmother lived there for 15 years. We went there at least once a year.

      This must be like you felt about people you knew every time there was an attack in Northern Ireland. You cringed at the tragedy and wondered if were someone you knew or were related to.

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    2. Indeed it was and that gut wrenching feeling never really goes away.

      You stay well.

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  2. I find myself watching much to much TV today. My heart goes out to all who are involved in this horrendous attack. I simply can't wrap my mind around it all.

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  3. You were very kind about my role in my young grandson's life. However, I am much more cheer-leader than care-giver. It is his mothers, his other grandmother, his teachers, his workers, and others who do the real work.

    When dealing with autism, it takes a village and bless his heart, his villagers surrounds him and everyone, in their own way, help him through the puzzling aspects of this dilemna. As I said, I am simply the cheer-leader and I hope with my writings and my photos, I can bring attention to Autism and to how it affects family, friends, and community.

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    1. You have that position in your family that your support and encouragement are enormous for the young caregivers.

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  4. Very kind words, but actually I think that the person who is the caregiver is blessed just as much as the person receiving the care. Helping others helps us to develop a deeper quality of character, and to develop a sense of empathy for the plight of others. I think we all can find ways to be more caring to others.

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    1. Everything you say is true. But the earned kind words stand.

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  5. Thank you Conrad. The Rah Rah helps. And the Go Team Go too makes me glad to be part of the LBC.

    Had I been closer physically, you would have received a great deal of TLC. I know exactly how you feel. My shock absorbers have been replaced but the exhaust system has just been decarbonised a few times. No need yet to replace the silencer.

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  6. Thank you for including me in your post, consort. Ramana and Shackman are truly angels in their care giving. It touches the heart to realize the burden they carry.

    My late husband and I took care of his mother for 10yrs when she developed Alzheimers. We watched this beautiful, saintly woman turn into a monster. It was tough, on her and us.

    Is it true that you're getting married? If so, congratulations. Hope you stay well.

    Blessings - Maxi

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    1. Maxi, I've been married 30 years in October. It is my daughter who is getting married and my son did last September. I have a 10-year old granddaughter by my son.

      We Fossils are rapidly filling our own stratum!

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  7. Well done handing out well-deserved plaudits.

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