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The Waking
I wake to sleep, and take my waking slow.
I feel my fate in what I cannot fear.
I learn by going where I cannot go.
We think by feeling. What is there to know?
I hear my being dance from ear to ear.
I wake to sleep, and take my waking slow.
Of those so close beside me, which are you?
God bless the Ground! I shall walk softly there,
And learn by going where I have to go.
Light takes the Tree, but who can tell us how?
The lowly worm climbs up a winding stair;
I wake to sleep, and take my waking slow.
Great Nature has another thing to do
To you and me; so take the lively air,
And, lovely, learn by going where to go.
This shaking keeps me steady. I should know.
What falls away is always. And is near.
I wake to sleep, and take my waking slow.
I learn by going where I have to go.
--Theodore Roethke
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Joy's Updates - Straight from the Horse's Mouth.
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Saturday, December 30, 2006
Mother
Mother had trabeculectomy surgery Thursday morning for glaucoma to relieve the pressure in her eye. She was out of surgery by 8:30 and felt like going to breakfast afterwards. She had an appointment to go back to see Dr. Gayle Howard, the glaucoma specialist who did the surgery, at 3:30 that afternoon, so we went back to her house instead of trying to find something to do in Nashville. That was better since it gave her a chance to rest and relax. Of course we ate before going back home. She said those meals tasted better than any she'd had in quite a while, which was probably because the pills she was taking and got to quit the day before the surgery made her nauseated. She was really glad to be able to leave those off.
I spent the night with her Thursday night and stayed all day Friday until around 9:30 last night. I made her a chart to check off the times she used her eye drops and also wrote out instructions. She has to wear a shield at night when she sleeps and keep her glasses on during the day to protect her eye. She's also not supposed to bend over or lift anything heavy, so I loaded and unloaded the dishwasher and helped out, and Butch took down her wreath and did some other things for her. I got her one of those things that picks up objects so she doesn't have to bend down and got me one, too, since it reaches things on high shelves.
She's doing really well and is amazing! At 86 she drives, takes care of herself and others, and is organized and scheduled. She's always worked circles around me and has the best attitude. I enjoy being around her, and we have a good time together. We watched The Family Stone yesterday which I don't recommend. It has a good cast and sucky writing. It was a Christmas gift as well as Monster-in-Law which we enjoyed pretty well today.
I'll go back to check on her every day and take her for a regular check-up with her doctor here in town Tuesday morning and back to Dr. Howard Thursday afternoon. This means I missed work last week and will next week, but they are very understanding about that.
I haven't been home but two nights since Christmas Eve and was here just to sleep then mostly. I went to Kathy's Christmas and came back Wednesday. We had a really good time as always. I am so thankful she found me and that I know her and my grandchildren now. What a remarkable blessing! We feel so close to each other and have a wonderful relationship. I watched another bad movie, Pirates II: Dead Man's Chest, but with good company. Brian and Melissa said it was bad, and I agree. We play games, watch movies, and have a good time. I enjoy my life.
In the News
I've been watching Gerald Ford's funeral with nostalgic smiles and tears. I liked him and admire his and Betty's relationship.
The whole execution of Saddam Hussein makes me feel squeamish. I can barely stand to think about all that. It feels wrong. I couldn't watch those videos of him with that noose around his neck. I understand that he was an evil man who committed unspeakably horrible atrocities, but watching all that is just too much.
James Brown died, too.
So many deaths in 2006 of people I know and the famous. Seems as if there have been more this last year than usual.
5:44:00 PM
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