Following Through in 2020

I have a audio doc appointment for next week. Following through to prevent the sense of isolation within groups, isolation that I have fought for so long. Thanks to my friend Kara here I have lots of info, my daughter Karen shared her knowledge (Karen has had the same amount of hearing loss that I did at her age. Has a newer hearing aide than I do.)

I also shared some other thoughts about my memory with Karen and she noted that she’d been aware of a change in my ability to remember certain words and my being a word person, noted how I have been agile enough to change to another word when that happened…for sure… but she’d taken note. Good news from her, too: while they had planned to look into moving to TX she and her husband have decided to renew the lease on the house here for two years instead. I was overjoyed to hear that, and very pleased, too, to hear that decision to remain here had nothing to do with me being here. I’d supported their move if they felt it was what they wanted to do. (He has adult children there and two teenage grandsons.)

There is the first “beginning to move toward court” by the state on behalf of the foster children she is adopting. An attorney has been given the case to get everything ready and then a date will be set. They are planning a party with some meaningful events like different colors of sand being poured into a clear vase or jar by the various people involved in loving and supporting the boys. Also a friend of hers who was adopted herself and has a family of all adopted children is writing an original song to sing at the event. My gosh! People are so supportive. Better have a huge hanky on hand, or a dozen boxes of tissues.

And finally several of my adult granddaughters, Karen’s daughters, and I had long, meaningful phone talks this past week. I have heard all that has been going on and not going on and their dreams for the future and their struggles and pain and recoveries from various blows in life recently. Both chats on the same night. One from FL and the other NYC.

That is a “following through” in a different way, grandparent and granddaughters’ style. Our bonds last as long as each waters and feeds the roots. Too often, I know, for some these really close bonds don’t exist, and often that happens for perfectly understandable reasons. These two granddaughters and their grandmother have all three seen that the our bond is taken care of without stepping on each other’s toes. That could change any day, of course, but nothing can change the past connection our relationship was/is built on. I have another granddaughter who hasn’t had the same bonds with me, we are not as close…don’t talk things over often. I do love her dearly, too. It’s a matter of knowing ones place in another’s life and appropriately filling the place that is desired. Or, not. As desired.

Just left to add for memory sake that our grandson had his 21 birthday this past week. We chatted too…I’m helping him and his parents purchase a used car that he has needed for several years, having been dependent on others to get where he needed to be while studying at the university. He has about 18 months more before he graduates with a degree in accounting. Kermit would be so proud of him, another CPA in the family. I wish he were still alive to appreciate this, but I try to be appreciative in his place. Not the same, but I try.

Just thoughts on a morning with coffee at hand....