Wandering Along the Path: Right Speech

I was standing in line at seven am today for renewing my license at the DMV.  Two hours later I got through the door, then was sent here, there and everywhere to get a vision test, a schedule for a driving test, and a photo.  I have macular degeneration in one eye, so I have to have a form from the eye doctor, take an eye test every year, and almost every year a driving test, but last time they let me go two years.  Of course my driving appointment is after my birthday, so I had to get a temporary license as well.  I was out by eleven thirty.  I am so exhausted, from the tension of failing the vision test in my bad eye, the sense that there must be a better system somewhere, when they put me through this yearly, and frustration that I feel like I'm fighting to keep my license, though I've had no accidents and my eye doctor reassures me I'm fine to drive.  I feel somewhat like a criminal, and punished, though everyone at the DMV is nice and helpful and the feeling is irrational.  The DMV forces me to confront my disability, and I guess I just don't like it.  But I'm grateful they take the time with me and give me the chance to prove I can drive safely.  And the truth is I've learned a lot about driving from these frequent tests.  I'm a much better driver now.  And alert and aware.  I don't take driving for granted.

Wandering Along the Path: Right Speech

My friend and I went to a museum in the city to see a Rubens show, but, though it was beautiful, we fell in love with a small show about French lithographs which had so many gorgeous pieces by artists such as Valloton, Redon and others.  I loved the works of an artist named Buhot.  The works were so detailed, and enchanting.  We both bought the book of the show and I purchased an extra to send to my older daughter, whom I know will love it.  We were thrilled to have happened upon this treasure of a show, and both look forward to reading about these artists.  Like Goya, the black and white graphics are powerful, mysterious and haunting.  We had a leisurely lunch outside at the museum, and then browsed through the permanent collection.  Then my friend, such a dear heart, stopped at the post office after we returned so I could immediately send the book to my daughter.   How's that for thoughtfulness?

Wandering Along the Path: Right Speech

We had a whirlwind week last week taking our granddaughter places and making sure she saw her aunts, uncles and cousins.  I even connected her with my foster granddaughter who just turned 14.  I had to be sensitive to a teenager's moods and interests as well as my preteen granddaughter, so we saw kittens at the pet store, shopped and bought smelly things at the cosmetics store, and I purchased earrings for them at a candy store with apparel in the back.  Then we had dinner at a pasta shop, and they both ordered exactly what they wanted, as the sauces and pastas were mix and match.  Then we hit the ice cream place, and headed back to drop my foster granddaughter off at her home.  I could see my foster had to struggle being around a "little kid", and her developmental narcissism was in evidence, as she touched her face, adjusted her hair and basically, and typically for that age, was focused on herself.  She will grow out of it and my granddaughter into it.  Thank goodness it's a temporary phase.  I could tell my granddaughter knew to be careful around the foster, and had a lot of tact and sensitivity.  And bless her heart, my foster granddaughter has been raised right and did the same.  Four years ago they were flower girls together at my younger daughter's wedding.  But the times, they are a-changing.

Wandering Along the Path: Right Speech

My granddaughter, who is visiting, is wearing a pair of my sandals I gave her.  She is eleven, and wears the same shoe size as I do.  She's changing in many ways, and will begin junior high this fall.  We shopped with her aunt this morning, and she picked out some great clothes, still in children's sizes, but near the end of that road.  This afternoon we're going with my foster granddaughter, who is about to turn 14, for dinner and looking in the pet shop, toy store, and sweet shop.  These are local places we've been to a hundred times, and are revisiting for old times sake.  Figuring out what to do and how it will change these next few years is challenging, but I have a road map because of my foster granddaughter.  I'm thinking of the county fair, a museum, and showing her the university campus, as she says she wants to attend it.  Who knows what will happen between now and college, but since she's interested, we'll see it.  I just love having time with her.  She's a dear heart, and easy to be with.

Wandering Along the Path: Right Speech

We had a full day yesterday, first with a Father's Day Brunch at our house, with a two year old and baby attending.  Then we rushed to see "Ruslaka by Dovorzak, which was sublime.  Gorgeous music and voices, amazing sets, lovely dancing, the whole nine yards.  We drove directly to the airport after, to pick up our granddaughter, and she was under the weather from three shots she'd had at the doctor's office, so she only wanted crackers for dinner and then headed to bed.  I'm about to wake her up in a minute.  We're planning on going to a matinee and shopping for books today, then her uncle and aunt and baby cousin are coming for dinner.  I'm planning on her not getting in a car today, so she can unwind.  Her last day of school was last Wednesday, so she's exhausted from everything.  I hope to get her rested up!

Wandering Along the Path: Right Speech

We had a nice visit to the zoo with our middle grandson.  The alligators were out sunning themselves a foot from us, the ringtailed lemurs were showing off, one in meditation position, the fruit bats were stretching their wings and then rolling themselves up like cigars with them, and when we got to the bears, the four two year olds wrestled, bumbled and goofed around until they all four fell asleep under the shade of a tree.  One slept with his head on his brother.  We took the gondola back down, waving and saying hi to all the people heading up.  Then we rode the train while a camp group serenaded us with a song about a moose and one about a bee.   Our two year old fell asleep in the car and was carried up for a nap in our bed.  When he awoke, we watched Daniel Tiger until his mom picked him up.  We had a very good day.

Wandering Along the Path: Right Speech

Yesterday, I returned from seeing a matinee with friends (Photograph) and there was a man sitting on the brick steps leading to our front porch.  He was confused, and couldn't rise, though he had a cane with him.  Talking to him I quickly realized he had dementia, and through talking calmly, I got his name and then his address which was up the street about a dozen houses away.  I opened the front door and called to my husband, who came out and drove up to the man's house, where there were two police cars and family and his wife frantic.  He had been gone three hours.  The police were very kind and gentle with him, and by supporting him on either side got him to his feet and in the police car to head back to his house.  Our house is hidden and way off the street, so no one had seen him, though there was a search up and down the streets.  My husband had not gone out and therefore hadn't seen or heard him.  Thank goodness it wasn't Monday, when the temperature was 100 degrees!  But still.  Three hours.  This morning his wife dropped by to thank us, and I was thanking my lucky stars he hadn't tried to climb the final brick steps and fallen backward and killed himself. 
Now I know why they are selling their house.  I had been curious.  This dear old man is going to have to go into memory care, or some supervised setting.  It's so sad, and I hope he fares well in his next stage of life.