Keeping Our Center ~ Day 73

After a stroke last fall, my dad is now in an assisted living facility here in Racine. Gratefully, he’s doing pretty well and keeping himself occupied during these long weeks of isolation without visitors or even a walk down the hall to break up a day.

Last Friday, the facility invited family and friends to stage a car parade around the outside of the facility. So, Julie, my kids, and I, made signs, blew up balloons and decorated my little black Honda Civic with streamers and circled the complex, waving at the residents and staff watching from their windows. Then we walked to my dad’s second floor window and talked for a while. It was the first time he’d seen us in about six weeks. He hasn’t even been able to enjoy my homemade cookies since we’ve been asked not to drop off anything non-essential; but that day I was able to convince a staff member to bring in a bag of cookies and some Kopp’s custard for him.

About 20 minutes after we left he called to say he’d gotten the goodies, and then his voice got thicker and he said, “Thank you for making me important for a moment.” I need an emoji with a tear inserted here, because it choked us all up.

It’s easy to become complacent and comfortable in our isolated little worlds, but it doesn’t really take much to make someone else feel important for a moment, and it feels so good to do it. Who can you make feel important today?

Love & Light!

Kaye