Short Note at the end of a Long Day in Still Listening to Spirit

But then, when have I ever used a minimum of words here? My fingers go, sometimes my brain engages and something readable is produced.

We had a fairly busy day with spurts of too much and small periods of nothing. All in all we did a good job filling seats and making money.

Rain began the morning, cloudy prevailed most of the day with little moisture all day. We are getting a bit of misty rain here at 10pm. Someone asked me today “Is this weather normal?” I thought, “ALL weather is normal isn’t it?” Silly me.

I had lots of fun today. Tourists and passengers I signed up were congenial and I made quite a connection with at least 8 or 10 of them while selling.

I noticed a young lady sitting on a bench in an alcove under the stairs of the News Depot when I was on the sidewalk. She was covering her face with a piece of tour literature and I could tell she was sobbing. Decision? Reach out, or walk away.

Today I reached out. At first she was closed off, murmuring she was fine, not to trouble myself but I persisted. She was distraught because her 93 year old grandmother was not doing what she (Rachel was her name) wanted her to. Gma hadn’t brought her walker, wouldn’t use a wheelchair, she gets along fine except she was having trouble getting on and off buses and climbed 4 flights of stairs in the ship, etc. Gma is completely healthy mentally, and feisty, and just wasn’t doing what she ‘should’.

Oh my. I sensed the 20+ Rachel was feeling frustrated and terribly responsible for Gma, what if something happened to her while Rachel was in charge? I talked to her about personal responsibility and how Gma was used to doing what she wanted when she wanted as she still lived by herself in her home.

I reminded Rachel that she had no control or responsibility for how Gma behaved or what she chose to do. I asked her to think about how wonderful this trip is, maybe Gma’s last and what a beautiful place she was in. I told her that God (whom she believes fervently in) had this and she could better her circumstances by knowing that He was in charge, she should turn loose and enjoy.

I gave her a hug, despite her saying she didn’t need one. I said “Well I do!” I told her where she could find me and if there was anything I could do to help. As I turned to walk away, I spotted a woman in her 40’s sitting on another bench watching the interaction. She raised her eyebrows, and I stopped to say “She’ll be all right.” this woman asked “Do you know her?” My reply was “No, but this is what the people who live here do.”

When I went back into the shop, Eric and Greg were around my counter. I told them “We are praying for Rachel and her grandmother.” Greg raised his eyebrows, meaning more information please. I said “They are on a cruise and Rachel is distraught worrying that Gma is doing things she doesn’t want her to do like climbing stairs and doing what she wants.” Greg shook his head and smiled, Eric listened intently. “So”, I said, “That’s the prayer, amen, now let’s sell some seats.”

Moments of grace, reaching out, this wonderful place I live in. I may have mentioned before, but I will say again: When I stand out on the sidewalk with the tourists swirling all around me, I hear Chinese, Italian, Spanish, Hindi, French, Aussie accents, English accents, Scottish brogue, and I smile. Peace and happiness washes over me in waves sometimes.

I came home so ‘high’ on life after my haircut after work–finally, It went to shit the day Donna left town a week ago and I was desperate for her to cut it today, her first day back at work....It is shorter, I may post a photo on facebook. I don’t think Bill likes it at all and I am SURE I don’t care.

On another subject, I did talk to Lynne before 8am this morning. She refilled my citalopram until I could get the sertraline I asked her to call in to Fred Meyer in Juneau. I told her about getting so wrought up in panic/stress pain and vomiting yesterday and how wonderful I felt afterward, with no back, chest or stomach pain the rest of the night.

she said “So, the solution for the stress related pain is bulimia?” Oh I laughed out loud, yes I did.

More later, I have floated the idea out to Bill that since we are going to build a staircase from upstairs to downstairs to the ‘new’ planned living area in the garage, we should do it before December. After all, the staircase is going in sometime, why not this winter. It will cut into our living area up here the rest of the winter, BUT we won’t have to navigate the 17 snowy and sometimes icy outside stairs.

I think the idea has merit, he will think about it. So be it, he can think, I am going to consult Greg, Eric and Steve who makes his other living remodeling and fixing houses and built a beautiful addition onto Lynne’s house. He is the ‘expert’. Anyway, I will plan, plot and figure.

Blessed be! oh my yes, blessed be.

Last updated August 27, 2014