I still have a crazy schedule. 3 days in New Hampshire, 4 days in Connecticut, but it seems to be working out. My mother is still in Hospice and she is comfortable. Every day she has volunteers visit that bring flowers, art projects, company, and music.
I am learning so much about this experience, when the time is right, I’ll definitely be writing about it. Some of it’s bad, most of it is good, and a small part of it is absolutely infuriating. I told mom’s Doctor during a recent discussion that walking through the doors of Hospice is comparable to descending into madness. You never know what you are going to find and rules don’t apply.
Simply put -I had no idea that I didn’t know so much.
There is a brewery (StonyCreek Brewery – if you are near there, stop by) conveniently located down the street from the hospice that will be getting a nice thank you note. Their staff has pretty much become family to my brother and me and has given us tons of sincere friendly support (not to mention the best coffee beer around.) That’s one of the lessons – you find support in some of the oddest places. Yesterday a man in the grocery store helped me find the spice gumdrops my mother had asked me to bring. Turns out his mom was just diagnosed with ALS. We had a short chat.
Over gumdrops.
You learn to take the little miracles as they come.
But while the Connecticut part of my life continues, my other life in New Hampshire also needs tending to.
- I have to make plans for that Lyme walk of New Hampshire (185 miles) with my son that is scheduled to begin on May 19th.
- I’m waaaaay behind on some writing assignments and need to set time aside for those.
- I have to figure out how to get more exercise in. It turns out that sitting by a bedside for 4 days out of the week is not the greatest thing for joints that are already in bad shape. (My new fitbit is on the way.)
- I’ve ordered our spring chicks (3 New Hampshire Reds, 3 Barred Rocks, and 3 Wyandottes) They will be arriving early May and I need to get ready for them.
- And we have to clean house. I’m not talking about our family house (although I sense a huge purge coming on) instead I’m talking about the coop. We use the deep litter method over the winter and we’ll need to move all that composting bedding out of the coop before it gets too warm (and smelly.) During the last windstorm, part of the roof escaped and this might be the summer to replace all of our chicken wire.
In other words, no matter what happens in the world, life goes on and the best thing you can do is keeping on doing what it is you need to do.
***
Wendy Thomas writes about the lessons learned while raising children and chickens in New Hampshire. Contact her at [email protected]
Also, join me on Facebook to find out more about the flock (children and chickens) and see some pretty funny chicken jokes, photos of tiny houses, and even a recipe or two.
Like what you read here? Consider subscribing to this blog so that you’ll never miss a post. And feel free to share with those who may need a little chicken love.
