Signing to Serve

“Thank you for your service”

five words for a lifetime ~

Each year I think of my

uncles, friends and family 

who joined military ranks ~ all returned with limbs intact, 

but what of minds and hearts?

What of those lives lost?

The only words I do have are:

“Thank you for your service”

“Our country honours those who have served, both past and present, 

in times of war, military conflict and peace.”

~ Lawrence MacAulay, 

former Minister of Veterans Affairs and 

Associate Minister of National Defence

The Big Book Sale, Regina, Sask.

At the Highland Curling Club:

books, books & more books!

categorized and sorted

trays of books on long tables

trays of books stacked beneath

That’s not all:

Jigsaw puzzles, word games,

children’s games, LP vinyl

categorized and sorted

trays of them on long tables

trays of them stacked beneath

Last year I went without focus,

this year - yesterday - I knew what I wanted:

Louise Penny novels and jigsaw puzzles

weaving and wandering tables stretching the length of the rink,

I found my prizes: $10.00 for the lot!

An added treat:

the rink’s concession was open for business

my business: a bacon cheeseburger, fries and coffee

after all that hard work

I needed a rest…..

But the volunteers need more rest than I!

Cheerful women and men who organized 

thousands of books, games, vinyl recordings,

CD’S, DVD’S and more…….

sorting, stacking, directing traffic ~

the traffic of buyers filling bags and boxes

and happily accepting the few dollars charged.

“Volunteers do not necessarily have the time; they just have the heart.”

~ Elizabeth Andrew

The Big Book Sale in Regina, Sask

The major fundraiser for the Seniors’ University Groups

Wednesday, June 21 - 24, 2023

Seven Decades

 

Head bowed ~

Her wisdom remains in

seeds sown throughout

seven decades of service 

Rest in Peace 

Queen Elizabeth II 

21 April 1926 - 8 September 2022 

“Let us not take ourselves too seriously. 

None of us has a monopoly on wisdom.” 

~ Queen Elizabeth II (in her 1991 Christmas broadcast)

In Service

Useful doesn’t have to mean anything more than serviceable and utilitarian.

 

Useful brings us the joy of music and the aroma and taste of fresh bread,

Useful paints beautiful canvases and creates buildings for shelter and commerce

Useful means much more than

serviceable and utilitarian.

“The scientist does not study nature because it is useful; he studies it 

because he delights in it, and he delights in it because it is beautiful.”

~ Henri Poincare, mathematician

(April 1854 - July 1912)

 

Unwritten

I have two short pieces of writing this evening. They are from our Writer’s group assignment for the month of April. We create an assignment each month for each of us in our little group. This month we were to write ‘a newspaper article about a famous event in history’. This was a difficult assignment for me, as I am much more used to stream of consciousness writing and creative non-fiction, even for the short pieces I write. There has been so much going on in the world that to choose one was quite overwhelming. Considering Florence Nightingale, I did some brief research, complements of Wikipedia and other online sites, and found an event. If a newspaper was picked up at the time, I couldn’t tell. So I’ve taken the liberty to write it on this blog 164 years later. When I read it aloud this afternoon, I felt it was choppy and did not flow very well at all. Please feel free to comment and critique my efforts.

Original piece:

Hoping for a change to the role of women has been replaced with action by Florence Nightingale. As one of a very few women reporters, I was impressed by this woman of tiny stature when hearing her speak out for women and to receive monies that have allowed her goals to be furthered for women and nursing by the establishment of a training school at St. Thomas Hospital. In 1855, a fund was set up by members of the public to provide money for her very prodigious work. Many reports suggest that she listens more to the counsel of men than woman, however in her own life she has set herself the momentous task to live and serve outside of an often oppressive, and sometimes decorative, role of women. The establishment of the training school is possibly the beginning for a woman’s role to work outside the home because of a calling to serve others, when there has been little encouragement for women to seek higher education or work outside of the home. In the main, women have been supported financially by men. Florence Nightingale has dared to step into roles disapproved of by her own mother and sisters. She has challenged the male dominated medical profession in the simple task of hand washing before surgeries and between patients, demanding cleanliness throughout any hospitals, however humble, for the sick and suffering. Florence Nightingale, a very controversial and authentic figure, accepted the monies with much gratitude for her continuing service to mankind.

Edited piece

Hoping for change has been replaced with action by Florence Nightingale, a woman of tiny stature and pleasant visage. As one of a very few women reporters, I was impressed by her speech and manner when hearing her gracious receipt of the monies that have allowed her goals to be furthered. With the monies, she plans the establishment of a training school at St. Thomas Hospital for women wishing to become deaconesses. Given her in 1855, these monies derived from a fund set up by members of the public to provide money for her very prodigious work. Many less charitable reports suggest that she listens more to the counsel of men than woman so are not in support of releasing women from traditional roles. In her own life she set herself the momentous task to live and serve outside the often oppressive role of women. The establishment of such a training school is possibly the beginning for many women to work outside the home because of a calling to serve others, when there has been little encouragement for women to seek higher education or work outside of the home. In the main, women have been supported financially by men. Florence Nightingale has dared to step into roles disapproved of by her own mother and sisters. She has challenged the male dominated medical profession in the simple task of hand washing before surgeries and between patients, demanding cleanliness throughout any hospitals, however humble, for the sick and suffering. Florence Nightingale, a very controversial figure, accepted the monies with much gratitude for her continuing service to mankind.

“So never lose an opportunity of urging a practical beginning, 

however small, for it is wonderful how often in such matters 

the mustard-seed germinates and roots itself.”

~ Florence Nightingale

A New World Order

The biggest day has arrived. At midnight I slip into Official Retiredom. Before falling asleep, I will be myself. Waking in the morning, I will still be myself with a great difference that only I can feel. Others that have retired have navigated the same slip stream. A part of my life will change, and has begun to change in the past few weeks. Hopefully, on the outside, others may see changes. Will I will look rested and calmer? Maybe smiling more easily? It is any changes on the inside that trouble and, at the same time, excite me. Finding a toehold in fresh new confidence in this unfamiliar way of living. Oh yes, I’ve had lovely stretches of days off in my previous career. Practice runs at this new world order. In the next few days, my ‘practice runs’ should extend into a life that is satisfying and rewarding. Service to the care of others can extend outward through the written word and volunteering. I’ll continue the writing I’ve been doing in my journal and on this blog. I plan to expand on other writing projects. Volunteering will come later. For that I have some ideas, but will give my mind, heart and body a rest first so I enjoy this new beginning.

“I was numb, but it was from not knowing 

just what this new life would hold for me.”

~ Jamaica Kincaid, Lucy

The Philosophy of Getting Dressed

Seriously?! The Philosophy of Getting Dressed? In the morning? Yes. I feel that, as a newly minted Retiree ~ officially effective February 28, 2019 at midnight ~ it is my right and responsibility to be autonomous in all of my choices. Today it is specifically about morning wardrobe choices. Of course, it could relate to any other time of day.

So here goes: First choices are often correct. Or maybe they are discounted because they don’t fit with some kind of social norm. Those first choices come from somewhere deep in our pysches and seem unrelated to any kind of social norm but do relate to our own preferences, situations or beliefs. In that vein, I did an experiment this morning about what clothing I’d wear based on my first thoughts. My goal for that particular activity is based on four things: 

1. Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs 

2. Social norms

3. Available clothing

4. Personal preferences

As a child I definitely didn’t know anything about Maslow let alone his Hierarchy of Needs. As an adult, I know that there are conflicting opinions about this model. Like any other steps or paths to follow, I believe that to be an effective model, relationships between the five levels need to be recognized. The five levels of need are Physiological, Safety, Love/Belonging, Esteem, Self-Actualization. But I digress into philosophy when I’m really talking about the simple act of getting dressed in the morning. This really is serious psychological work!

My second category is social norms. Most of us, taught from childhood by our parents, have instilled in us that we just can’t run around naked. It’s often too cold to be without clothes, the neighbours would talk and if one trips and falls there is nothing between skin and sidewalk for safety. Thirdly ~ is that a real word? ~ I began with one available article of clothing: basic black leggings. Living in a condo building with the laundry room in the basement, and it is laundry day for me, the thought of sneaking through the halls in my pj’s carrying all my dirty laundry did not appeal at all. I prefer looking and feeling presentable, from earrings to shoes, not just throwing on anything serviceable. As this five minute task continued I chose one item at a time, dismissing any ‘change my mind’ thoughts. When I was finally ready to step out into the communal space of hallway and laundry room, I felt comfortable and confident. Fourth and finally, personal preferences came into play when I decided I wanted to add bright colour so it is turquoise accent pieces for this black and white colour scheme. (It really could have been just black and white, but I didn’t want to play into the monochromatic colour scheme of today's morning sky.)

So there you have it - The Philosophy of Getting Dressed. Important stuff!

“A day without laughter is a day wasted.”

~ Nicolas Chamfort

Icing

Icing

The moon pushed the darkness farther away than a normal full moon. No need for street lights tonight, except where tall old apartment buildings threw long shadows. The streets shone. Unfortunately they weren’t wet with warm spring rain - mainly because it wasn’t spring. Harriet sighed. It had rained during the day and was not warm. West coast winters didn’t often bring snow. There were piles of half melted snow dirtied from the roads. Drivers of the few snow plows the little town owned always dumped the snow by storm drains. Storm drains that sluiced away rain water in all seasons. Harriet sighed again. Pillows of bright white snow transformed into gray icy looking rocks of greying snow melt. Harriet was normally cheerful and enthusiastic about winter and good sticky snowball snow. Rain, not so much, unless sprouting snowdrops and daffodils were awakening and needing a soft downfall. Tonight, she had planned a leisurely walk in the velvety, moonlit night. Clear skies and star sparkled skies. The neighbourhood had been quiet, save for the occasional dog barking. Nightbirds called through the quiet air. Harriet had learned that clear skies preceded by a rain only meant one thing. Ice. The temperature always dropped, often just below freezing and tonight was no exception. She carefully avoided icy lumps in the shapes of snow boots and sneakers. And so her leisurely stroll had turned into cautious two-step with only the music of crunching ice and snow, along with whispered curses.

Turning towards home and solid ground, Harriet’s foot landed on a black patch of shadowed sidewalk. Her foot slid forward til she was almost doing the splits, not something she was familiar with. The curses were a bit louder as she allowed herself to fall and tip over into……you guessed it……one of the dirty, icy piles of snow. Harriet sighed again. Her laughter pierced the cold night air, waking up birds and dogs. No one else around, Harriet sat still until her laughter subsided, got her self upright and went into her cottage. Her old orange kitty, a mug of hot chocolate and a crackling fireplace, lovely qualities of snowy winters, always made intemperate winters livable. Service to the cold and damp, whether due to rain or snow.

“Climate is what we expect, weather is what we get.”

~ Mark Twain

Perennial

On this quiet Monday afternoon

bright sparkles drift up into a sunlit sky.

Yet such sparkles from parties, family and friends forever settle in my heart ~

service to lovely memories of loved ones

planted like swaths of delicate flowers ~

perennial blossoms of goodness.

“We don’t always see the miracles taking place around us, within us. 

But that doesn’t mean they aren’t happening.”

~ Julie Cantrell, Perennials

A Big Deal

Setting sail takes time:

building the boat

fitting all the fittings

rigging all the riggings

loading supplies and fuel

storing food and safety kits

keeping all trim and ship shape

finding funds to service it all

accepting help and celebration from friends when needed and offered.

Once the work is all done

~ and is it ever? ~

only then is 

the moment to unfurl the sails

with joy that a new journey has begun.

“Many are the strange chances of the world,’ said Mithrandir, 

‘and help oft shall come from the hands of the weak when the Wise falter.”

~ J.R.R.Tolkien, The Silmarillion

A Gift

Unexpected,

cherished and welcomed ~

being appreciated serves

a greater good to heart and soul.

“A page in the story of my life that I never could’ve anticipated.”

~ Emma Mills, First & Then

Gratitude and a Common Goal

There are few - well maybe a lot more than few -  words to express how I have felt tonight in the company of the many colleagues gathered at the Fernwood Inn to honour me. Each one of them I worked with in some capacity. I could not have had such a successful end to my addictions nursing career without each and every one of you. A truly multidisciplinary team. Each one of us with different types and levels of education. As teams on different shifts and wild schedules we have shared one common goal - caring for marginalized and stigmatized individuals that have been broken by life long before we ever met them.  

The beautiful rocking chair in the picture accompanying this blog is only one of the lovely gifts I received this evening. To me, this rocking chair does not suggest that resting on my laurels is all I will do in retirement. It does suggest that I plant seeds that will flower and only rest if I need a good sit down. 

Thank you to all Withdrawal Management Services staff for an absolutely lovely evening and for welcoming my family members so beautifully. I will miss working with you, my wonderful team members, but will keep in touch with you. You will hear from me soon.

“We must find time to stop and thank the people

 who make a difference in our lives.”

~ John F. Kennedy

Basically

Tossing and turning in the midst of

a new day challenges 

a reach for the basics of life

routines familiar and real

habits heathy & kind to sight and sound.

Grounding past experience, 

future expectations ~ 

each moment a new experience ~ while enjoying a ‘sister visit’ surrounded by story, memory and good food.

“Instincts and fundamentals take over sometimes.”

 ~ Alex Smith

Book Review: LESS by Andrew Sean Greer

In a most unusual fashion, I read Pulitzer Prize winner LESS by Andrew Greer twice, and before our book club met yesterday. Initially, I played mind games with myself despite being intrigued by the concept of this novel. My second read, having ushered myself out of my mind, I enjoyed the humour and satire in the story following Arthur Less, a failed (according to Arthur) writer. While I was tempted to feel sorry for Arthur Less because his apparent inability to function in life, I found that was doing a disservice to himself. More than self-pity, he really seemed not to have accepted himself as a worthy human being. From the time he was a boy, when his father tried to ‘make a man’ of his son until, years later, his lover of nine years leaves him for another man, Arthur has seen himself in a rather shallow light. To avoid the pending marriage of his lover, he gathers any invitation he’s ever received to speak or teach, packs his bags and travels from New York across Europe in an effort to escape his life and ends back at home. The narrator of this humorous, but very real story, was obvious to many in my book group and in online reviews. Like Arthur, I just didn’t get it and it was revealed towards the end of the book. Another issue that occupied Arthur’s thoughts, besides the loss of his lover and his belief that he was failure as an author, was the fear of aging. Arthur's story is a love story and a coming of age story, pardon the pun. Laugh out loud scenes sparkle throughout this story. Humour so sly that I would almost miss it. Could it be because I don’t always get sly humour until I turn the page?

Always needing to see a philosophical point to a story, I was rewarded by Andrew Greer’s gentle, and humorous, description of the life of one gay man, living on the edge of the gay culture while at the same time being part of it. 

“But what I am trying to tell you (and I only have a moment), 

what I have been trying to tell you this whole time, 

is that from where I sit, the story of Arthur Less 

is not so bad. Because it is also mine.”

~ Andrew Sean Greer, LESS

Title: LESS

Author: Andrew Sean Greer

Copyright: 2017

Hardcover - 2017;

Paperback edition May 2018

Type: Novel 

Publisher: Hatchett Book Group, Inc.

ISBN: 978-0-316-31612-5 (hc)

ISBN: 978-0-316-31613-2 (pb)

Book design:  Sean Ford

Printed in the United States of America