THE ADJUSTMENT

NEWER PATHWAYS
  FEBRUARY 19, 2014

It seems after living with another for the 54 years of our marriage that there would be some emotional and physical changes.  These last approximately 18 months have been registering in a rather factual way.  However, it is affecting me more obviously this second year.  I have been planning and unplanning a trip to Israel.  Our pastor gave me the name of Father Tom Wise who is familiar with the Holy Land.  I got in touch with him.  He was retiring and possibly planning another group trip.
Then the Hamas and our U.S. administration began they attacks. Hamas shelling the land; our government with lack of support for Israel.  I had made preliminary arrangements with nurse/friend, Christina Higdon to accompany me on any trip.  However, because of poor sleep habits curtailed by poor bladder control, I decided to enroll in a trial program at Springhill Hospital, using Metronic
device attached to bladder nerves to see if this could reduce bathroom visits.  It was a crude device; it seemed to lessen trips by 45% and I was going to go through with the implantation.  However, I cancelled the surgery because of poor support system (2 phone calls to Metronic and Hospital for
answering my concerns and/or questions), plus I felt there was poor empathy between Dr. Burch and me.

Father Tokarz gave me good feedback on places to visit in England, but without a good guide versed in Catholicism, I was not inclined to visit there; nor to visit Spain with a group from New Orleans because of geographic and travel asking for physical output which I don't feel I have in enough
quantity to make a pleasant trip.

I arranged a weekend in New Orleans:  Catholic Renewal Charismatic Conference.  Christina approached me after all arrangements were completed that she did not wish to attend and wanted me to go with someone else.  That negated the whole reason for my wanting a medical person to accompany me.

I am, once again, thinking of another journey -- possibly a train ride in Canada ending in B.C.
Vancouver.

My church is keeping my spirits high; friend, Maureen, is a spirit-filled friend.  We try to meet at my home once a week for conversation and following Father Barron or other sources.  I also had two/three friends over for conversation and light food - Mary P., Joan W. and Ken W.  I hope to repeat
this soon.  

A troublesome time with brother Phil has been graced with peace.  Kathy has been acting as mediator.
She called to tell me that Phil had fallen (due to absence of balance) and broken his hip.  I have sent
cards and recently, a mass card for each of them as they go through healing.  I called Phil and Kathy a couple of weeks ago; they have not called back or acknowledged my mail.

I have frequent thoughts of Oz and missing him this year; thinking of how he set himself up to leave
this earth; I have a group of saints' pictures on the kitchen table - they are my emissaries to Jesus; I am less lonely with them a daily part of starting my day and then, without pictures, talking to them before I go to sleep at night.

Brian arranged for Lynn to help me routinely twice a week in the afternoons; also, any extra time that I would need help.  I am very fortunate with this;  I still have Lisa to clean every two weeks.

I also contacted a Mrs. Liz Zerlott to teach me painting -- false alarm today (2/19) because no one was in the art room at church on Wednesdays - she was not feeling well.  I don't like the crowding in of bible study, art lesson, and seeing son, Brian -- we'll see if anything works.