Thinking of Others

I had a couple of things I wanted to say yesterday but this morning they seem to have disappeared from my mind. I would normally say they likely weren't that important but I am thinking they have just moved down a slot in my process thinking! How is that for an excuse for a poor memory?

Actually, yesterday I had good intentions of getting into my 'walking cycle' so I put on my running shoes and away I went. First, instead of walking, I drove to the $1 store so I could pick up a word search book for a friend who is in the hospital. I hate to go empty-handed and she has enough flowers! So, I parked in the mall parking lot and walked to the hospital. It was a nice day. I got some exercise. After talking with my friend for awhile I asked her if she wanted to get some fresh air and she 'jumped' at the chance. Well, actually, she nodded as she can't walk on her own right now. Although she IS doing better, I still pushed her in the wheel chair. At the main doors, I noticed her chair did not have feet pedals on it so we did an 'exchange' with another chair. I was practising all my nursing skills! It turned out, however, that this new chair had a problem with it too. Amazingly, the one foot kept rising on its own so that eventually she had to put both her feet on the one foot pedal. I tried moving it down a number of times but it kept riding up. It got to be a point of laughter as it slowly made it's way back up to a 'straight out' position and she could not hold her leg on it! Oh dear, what we can find to be funny eh? We both had a good laugh. Anyway, we went around the hospital block and sat for awhile in their garden area. The sun was shining and there was a nice breeze. It is amazing how much effort or energy I was expending as I pushed this heavy wheelchair with this extra light woman on it!! I eventually developed 'a glow' or was it actual perspiration! Yes, I believe it was! A good workout.

When I returned home, I thought I would try it once more in my own area and and headed out for my walk. I got two doors down when I ran into a neighbor who I know to wave at but don't know personally. I do know that her husband died suddenly last October and although I did put a response comment to the Edmonton Journal obituary listing I did not get around to sending her a card. Too many excuses for that one but there definitely were reasons (not very good ones now that I look at it more closely). Anyway, she was getting ready to leave in her car and I interceded! I apologized for not coming down or saying something to her about her recent loss and we ended up having quite a conversation of her life! Her friend came to go for a walk with her so it ended and so did my walk. I felt 'emotionally spent' yesterday but it felt good, better than using real money!