A Political Junkie

Today I had my visit with "Jane Doe", a semi-homebound political junkie. When she told me she listens to Rush Limbaugh, Shawn Hannity and Glenn Beck, I thought it would be a good idea to establish some "ground rules" for my visit---no political conversation.

We did pretty much manage to steer clear, but it took great determination on my part! A friend of hers a few weeks back had warned me: "If you are a Democrat, whatever you do, don't tell her!"

On the refrigerator were pictures of Ronald Reagan and Fred Thompson. At one point she said to me, "Oh, the media is terrible. They are so biased!" I paused for a moment and said, "Don't you think Rush Limbaugh and Glenn Beck are biased?" She said, "Oh, yes, but they are biased in the right direction!

She was a most fascinating lady and we actually had a lot of fun together. Lots of laughter. We shared our stories. She has lived through a great deal, a debilitating accident some years back, some major medical issue, twenty something surgeries. But she is very bright and interesting, despite her political leanings (in the wrong direction).

At one point she told me that her husband thinks she looks good, but then, he can't see very well! And she herself just had cataract surgery on one eye. Before that she didn't know she had wrinkles!

She had read in the church newsletter about my southern heritage. She herself is half southern, having a southern grandmother. Her experience is similar to mine. Even to this day, southerners have the imprint of the civil war still in their psyches, whereas Yankees think about it not at all.

Perhaps that is always true of the defeated, who pass along the sting for generations to come.

Folks from the Church

The woman I visited today is 92. She has a 1985 Buick with only forty thousand miles on it. The folks from the church are certainly interesting. One person was born in her house and has lived in it all her life. Some came to the church when the church across the street closed a year or so ago. Others came when a different church closed many years ago. Some come from an array of other denominations.

One comes to church in her motorized wheel chair; another with her walker from a senior citizens high rise across the street. Several grew up in orphanages. Many are volunteers at the library, hospital, county office building. The county building was the former high school, so many of the older folks attended there before the new building was built on the hill.

They are musicians and professors, artists and doctors, mothers and teachers, lawyers and fathers, veterinarians and hardware store owners. One loves the Renaissance. The one I will visit tomorrow is a Rush Limbaugh fan. That ought to be interesting.

The first disciples were a motley crew. It is no different today.

Signs of Spring

The sun is shining! That alone is a great gift. I also noticed some sprouts peaking out of the ground where I know that I planted spring bulbs. There is some ugly spreading ground cover in the same place that I want to get rid of. I so much wanted to pull them out this morning, since they are choking the bulb sprouts. But all that is still frozen in place, reminding me that this is probably just a tease. In New York, it can well be into May before frost has finished having its way. I try to remember not to delude myself!

But I think I am hard wired from my childhood experiences to expect an earlier spring. I should have gotten over that long ago, since I have lived in New York longer than I lived in the south. I can remember some years going to visit my mother around the first of February, and the daffodils were out in full force.

It is still early March here, so there is no reason to expect spring. But I do, every day, or at least, some signs of it! And today I have signs. Sunshine and bulb sprouts. Reminders of the life to come.

The reason why I love spring so much is the new life coming! For me, I see that in the earth around that, and also feel it on the inside, as I also come alive in a new way as the season emerges fully.

Spending Time With Family

Recently, Gerry has been spending time with his children and grandchildren---one family in Utah, another in Vermont. I haven't gone because I am working. But as the only non-skier, there's really not much reason for me to go anyway, since that's what they all do. So I spend time with my own children and grandchildren back here in New York. Today I had lunch with Brenda. Monday I am having lunch with Michelle. I tried to connect today with the third daughter, but she already had plans. Yo and Matt are in Vermont with that branch of the family.

Like me, Brenda doesn't especially enjoy shopping, so she doesn't have a lot of reasons to go out for lunch. I'm glad we finally made it to check out the Green Cafe. The last time we tried that on her birthday, it was closed! It was good to talk about the challenges of raising children. With two little ones who have been sick this past week, she has had a difficult week.

I told Brenda that I think it is probably easier to parent when you are in your twenties, as I was when she was born. She asked if I meant physically easier. Yes, that, but also emotionally. When you are younger, you don't think about it so much, you just do it. You don't second guess yourself. You just get through it without a lot of self-reflection, which tends to come later with age and experience.

It is the hardest job in the world, by far! Nothing else even comes close.

They do grow up, and need you less. (But if you're lucky the relationship is forever.)