The view from So FL

Last updated on: September 7, 2007 at 12:50 pm by Michelle Van Loon

The view from So FL 2007-09-07T12:50:00-05:00 Michelle Van Loon

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

First, the update: My mom continues to fade – she’s now asking for pain and anxiety meds round the clock – a big change from a week ago. She has only short periods of relative alertness, and her waking/sleeping are nearly indistinguishable to the naked eye. She’s eaten or drunk very little the last few days, and her breathing is painful to hear and watch. She sleeps in fits and starts, mostly in an upright position, and needs someone with her round-the-clock. Hospice has pulled their continuous care, and we’ve hired a live-in-health aide named Judie to help. My sister heads back to Washington, DC tomorrow. It’ll be me and Judie, the aide, to care for my mom over the next leg of her journey.

Like others who are caring for a dying person, I have been amazed at the people I’ve met along the way: hospice nurses and social workers, Starbucks employees, strangers and most especially, my mom’s case manager, a Christian who has shared the essence of the gospel with my mom in a way that I could not, opening the way for…?

The familiar words of Psalm 23 are 3-D for me in these days, not only because of what it is to be intimately involved with walking a parent through the end of her life, but because of the turmoil in my daughter, son-in-law and grandson’s lives. It is a story for another time, but suffice it to say that what has occurred with them this week is another potential loss in the life of my family that perhaps is even more devastating.

Please pray, as the Lord leads you.

* * * * * * *

And a few random observations:

– I have never eaten so much deli in my life – ever. Corned beef, stuffed cabbage, matzo ball soup, rugelach, and more corned beef.
– Elderly New Yorkers living here in South Florida have a fashion sense like no other. I have seen some of the scariest outfits this side of Halloween whenever I’ve ventured out.

– The weathermen/women never, ever report the humidity numbers here like they do in Chicago. That’s because this state is a swamp, and the humidity number, as measured by my hair, has got to be at least 95% every day. Ugh.

– I’ve been watching Wheel of Fortune and Jeapordy, and am doing crossword puzzles. I do not like this. Not one bit.

Uncategorized

Previous Post

August 30, 2007

A note from the cancer rollercoaster

Next Post

September 14, 2007 Phone call from death, line 1

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Baggage Books Calendar Church and Ministry CVID Ecclesiology Everyday Christian life Faith Falling Upward From The Margins Housing Jesus Movement's Unintended Consequences Midlife Midlife Survey #1 Midlife Survey #2 Moments and Days Out To The Margins Pilgrim's Road Trip Regret Seminary Spiritual Formation Uncategorized What's A Nice Jewish Grandmother Like You Doing In Seminary? When The Heart Waits Writing

Select a Month June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008 December 2007 November 2007 October 2007 September 2007 August 2007 July 2007 June 2007 May 2007 April 2007

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Who said, "The joy of the Lord is your strength"?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Solomon Nehemiah David Paul