Welcome It is time again to delve into getting a little writing in. Life is where I have been this past while. Just dealing with it as it comes. The small simple tasks of years ago now become a fairly major undertaking. I have always loved the challenge of renovations and at one time would think nothing of ripping a home apart and rebuilding it all over again. Life is much the same as we age we need to change our lifestyles. Easy as pie we may think but sorry the reality of the matter is we will not be able to rebuild as easily as we once did. Lets take a few minutes and speak some truth into our reality of aging. Maybe what you read may resonate with you or maybe it may stir up an old wound of having to give up something you once loved. We all will face challenges as we age and sometimes they are a tough pill to swallow. So please do gather around and settle in while I empty this head of mine on all the change I have come to fight and had to give up on some of the things I once lived for. Grab a seat and say hello if you like, if you are new please share a little of yourself so we can all come to know you. Oh before we move on I want you to look at this image I found on the inside of an old paint can. It has become yet another of those pieces of what some would call junk that I call unexpected art found in the strangest places... Aging Look at that word, five simple letters that form a word we all struggle with sooner or later in life. I know this is a little cartoon that I found online but I found it made me laugh as I face that same prospect some day soon. I think I would be fair in saying that Dementia is the silent killer that falls upon us and does nothing more than to steal and rob all of our joy. It has a massive effect on families and our senior facilities have reached a point to not being able to cope with the demand. A few short years ago we started to see a dear friend decline and succumb to this horrible disease. Within a year he no longer understood who he was or where he belonged. Within yet another year he simply gave up the fight and passed away. Such an accomplished man who once directed a well known television ministry. We lost a wonderful man to dementia. Our Futures I have watched two people in our families follow much the same path. My mother was one and it was hard to watch the decline and it never really hit home to me until she no longer recognized me. One saving grace was that she thought I was my dad. In the onset of the disease she became so frustrated as she would have something to say and the thought just could not be expressed. The frustration grew much worse until one day it was as though her spirit just gave up. A year later mom slipped away quietly in her sleep after a short session of pneumonia We gathered as a family and we were given the greatest of blessings. Mom woke up and looked at each one of us children smiled and closed her eyes again. It was as if she wanted to tell us all was fine in her world. I have jokingly said the day I feel it coming on just give me a packsack and a rifle and turn me loose in the elements of the wilderness and I will go with peace and joy. I know we do not do things of that sort in our society but when I looked at the prospect of being institutionalized let me go the way I choose. At least I would spare the pain and suffering of those who care and love me. God has brought me so many images such as this where you know because you know that He has plans for you. Just what those plans are we will never know or understand until they have happened. We as a society have entered into a time of high rates of cancer and illnesses no one likes to be told. We just realize that what we hear will effect us and all the people around us. I suppose deep inside I do live with that fear as I age that maybe I may follow in my mothers and others paths. Can I live in fear, certainly maybe I would reword that term fear and call it the unknown. The one thing I have been taught as I have passed through life we have no control of the past and none what so ever in what the future may hold. Thus the importance of living in the moment and being thankful for all that you have been given in the very moment. This evening was an interesting time of meeting a potential new Pastor for our church. We were a small group of people who have laboured on the sidelines for a relatively long journey of filling the position of lead Pastor. The one thing that I found we all have in common is laughter. It is such a joy to be around people who can enjoy. One fellow was telling us that he recently discovered bluejeans that are stretchy. His laughter and ours was centred around the fact that he would be a size 36 the rest of his life. Life is full of joy and yes there are will be some hardship. No one can walk through life without dealing with the fallout of bad choices. It is in those hard places we find the hidden gems that make it all worthwhile. Know that you are all loved and are welcome here at the Fireside to read my babbling and at times listen to my rants... attached are hugs for each of you... Be blessed as always. © Rolly A. Chabot 2019
10 Comments
8/11/2019 02:26:07 pm
It's good to hear from you, my friend. Life does have many twists and turns, so it certainly is important that we live each day to the fullest. Glad for your faithful pen!!!
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8/14/2019 04:04:24 pm
Hello my dear and faithful friend. Thank you again for taking the time to read and comment on ramblings of late nights.
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Hi Rolly,
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8/14/2019 04:09:26 pm
Hi Miss Vicki...
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Shauna
8/13/2019 11:09:07 am
Rolly, when I saw the painted can lid, I thought is was one of your splatter art pieces. I see the mountains, snow, and beautiful clouds.
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8/14/2019 06:33:42 pm
Hi Shauna...
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8/13/2019 04:02:30 pm
Brought a smile to my face to see the notice of your latest writing. I am sad to say that even though I do not know for sure I believe my beloved 13-year-old cat Sid had succumbed to the disease of old age. He was happy hoping in and out the window and loving his freedom on the roof but then one day he just disappeared. After about 4 days my friends said they thought they saw him across the street. I thought what in the world for I had thought it had come to his time and like I have seen it happen to other cats he had just gone away to a place to pass away peacefully and be with his beloved Papa. However, he came back and was upon the roof again but somehow different and a bit odd. He did purr when I petted but then spent about a week on the bathroom windowsill or in the sink. He seemed otherwise normal but like an old clock winding down. Well I thought I would look out for him and decide what to do but I'd rather have him succumb to time near me. Unfortunately, one morning he was gone again Now I have no idea if he will come back again. I am not announcing anything yet because I have no idea what has happened but of course if August passes I must consider the fact that this time Sid has gone for good and of course he is happy because that was his purpose to begin living on the roof anyway to be closer to his beloved Papa and if it is so then all I have to say to them is, Hey, guys, thanks for leaving me alone but then keep watching over me". We will see as time progresses.
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8/14/2019 03:59:55 pm
Hello my dear and faithful friend, your post brought tears to my eyes. You and I have seen many changes and loss together in our time in the writing community.
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Such a heartfelt write, Rolly. Dementia affects the whole family and I'm sorry for the heartache it's causing and has caused you and those dear for you. As you say, it's a tough reminder to live in the "now" and to count our blessings. I'm pleased you're still writing
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Dear Rolly,
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October 2018
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