The Spiritual View of Things

There are jobs in this world that Plotnik can imagine doing, and then there are those that are incomprehensible to him. Caring for an elderly person is one of those. Mummy P. has two wonderful women right now who share the time with her. Lilian is back in El Salvador with her own mother this week, and while she is gone her friend Gloria is here. Between Gloria and Lilian Mummy P. is in the hands of two caring and spiritual ladies.

But what a job! Plotnik is exhausted after only two days. How anyone can manage both the physical chores and all the endless repetition -- this is not a job he could ever do. God bless Lilian and Gloria, amen.

Plot just heard from his and Duck's good friend Rachie this morning, whose mom has advanced Alzheimer's at a very young age, and who has just been placed into hospice. Truly, nobody can ever feel too sorry for themselves because every time you allow that to happen you hear about somebody else who has it so much worse than you do.

Gloria and Lilian belong to the same church. They seem to trust that everything will work out, that things are proceeding according to plan and that there is nothing to worry about. This sounds exactly like what Plotnik's spiritualist grandparents used to say about life on the next ethereal plane to follow this one. They all use the same words, the same phrases. It's hard to believe, but comforting anyway.

Last night Plot and Mummy P.'s cousin came over to the house with her son Eric. Lila lost her elder son fifteen years ago to cancer, and her other son Eric and she have suffered over this for a long time.

Last night we were talking about dreams. Eric said that he always used to dream about his brother, and in the dream his brother was ill and in pain. When he said that his mom said "I did too."

Then Eric said "but, Mom -- now, when I dream about Drew, he's healthy. And happy. He looks great."

Lila stared at Eric and said "But -- I do too. He's not sick anymore in my dreams either."

Then Gloria said "So you see -- your son Drew is in heaven now. It took him awhile to get there. He's happy now and feels fine. Things always work out. There is nothing to worry about."

So, you take a deep breath and nod your head and keep on keeping on. Life is good.