May we ALL make today a "visit" day of our elderly neighbor who has no family near. Who is your neighbor?
Visit a resident in a nursing home, or a family member we have not seen in some time. Whether in person, a visit can be five minutes for just a hug, love, and "blessing" the elderly, or longer if you have time. Don't forget the dementia elderly who will forget you were even there. It can be by phone call, snail mail, or in person. Meet authors, dancers, singers, artists, historians, Mom's & Dad's!
Cody MacLean, Author of Sleepy Time Stories
I told her Cody sent his best to her too. She said she sends her best to Cody. They were all four in the same Ojai nursing home years ago. Cody, Ken, Char, and Rita had blessed times in the Ojai Valley for sure. Whether in person, a visit can be five minutes for just a hug, love, and "blessing" the elderly, or longer if you have time. Don't forget the dementia elderly who will forget you were even there. It can be by phone call, snail mail, or in person. Love the person, heart and soul. Just called Debbie MacLean, Cody's daughter in Albuquerque, New Mexico, to encourage her that I had visited her Daddy, Cody, in his nursing home in Los Angeles, and he looks terrific. It meant so much to her that we had taken the time to visit her Dad since she is not near to visit him.
The Pinckney's of South Carolina
Today, I called Rita Pinckney, of South Carolina Pinckney’s, to wish her Happy Black History Month— two more days of February. She said in the Deep South, the slaves took on the names of their "masters"for identification and the Pinckney’s are very well known in South Carolina. Her family were slaves a long time ago. I remembered Rev. Pinckney, Pastor, American Methodist Episcopal Church, who was killed at a Bible study.
Wheelchair Olympics to Vietnam Veterans
Rita won the wheelchair Olympics years ago at Los Robles Nursing Home. She beat Ken Barron, a proud WWII US Army Veteran, and he never let her live that down all in good fun. Rita is Episcopalian and the best gal ever. I called Char too, in a nursing home in Oxnard, and she said, with Jesus' help, she is finally keeping her food down and wanted me to come for a visit soon. I will. We ended singing "When Irish Eyes are Smiling."
Homeboy Industries
I also called Father Greg Boyle of Homeboy Industries in Los Angeles and asked him to please call or write Jose Serrano Espinoza, author of A Tale of Strength, to encourage him not to return to gangs or heroin when he is released. I hope Father "G" calls. He loves everyone. Our neighbor Richard, of Thanksgiving, is finally on the Veteran's Home waiting list, and hopes to find a first floor apartment soon, as he can no longer climb the stairs in our condo complex. The Vietnam Veterans are helping him find a new home.
God bless you all, and thank you for caring for your neighbor— widow or widower, veteran, friend or family. Thanks for visiting them.
Re: Visiting Seniors
I am fortunate to live in a condo complex with a varied demographic. I make it my neighborly business to entertain-esp. those that have no family nearby. That includes seniors and those from other countries.