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!