I was listening to a little Joe Cocker today and it really hit home. For those of you who have been around for a little while, you know that I have been incredibly blessed with some of the most amazing friends. And I am ever so grateful for all of them!! This week, I am down for the count with my back. It started last week after I had to drive as far as Yarmouth, then back to Smith’s Cove for work…then home to Antigonish the following day. For those of you unfamiliar with our little slice of heaven, that’s a helluva drive to do. The entire 4.5 hours home last Wednesday, I had to face the ditch to drive my vehicle…it was the only way I was remotely comfortable.
I took it fairly easy after that long drive…and then this week, my first foray out of town was about a two hour, round trip, tour to the next town…and in the middle of that drive, I had to stand on concrete floors for a few hours. By the time I got home Tuesday night, I was near dead. Wednesday morning I woke up and was unable to get myself dressed. With my husband working away, I had no choice but to call in sick. I had a phone appointment with my doctor who prescribed some help, advised me to rest and encouraged me to make the heating pad my best friend. Physio has been booked for next Wednesday and we shall see from there!
I don’t tell you my troubles to whine or to complain but rather to set the stage for how incredible my friends are. My colleagues at work picked up my prescriptions and delivered my laptop (thanks Bailee and Val). My girlfriends from single-digit days have reached out and have been checking in, making sure I’m doing okay. My cousins, who I am incredibly close to, have been checking in from all over the continent! My Dad has been an amazing help. And so many good wishes from near and far via social media!
It was our wedding anniversary in the midst of this…was this past Tuesday. Joan was working outside of Halifax and I was in bed in Antigonish. But we both get by with a little help from our friends. Our beautiful friend who we call our sisterwife, landed at my place with flowers and chocolates…sent on the errand by my sweet husband! What would we do without her???
And then there is my Banana. My Banana, you ask? And my response is, yes, my Banana! I have a first cousin who doesn’t particularly love any kind of limelight so she shall remain nameless, here, using, instead, her cute nickname! She didn’t do the whole, ‘let me know if you need anything’ thing. She flat out said, I’m going to be finished pretty early tomorrow, tell me what you need and I’ll be up. I have a hard time asking anyone for anything. I’m typically the helper, not the helpee. But I did need cat food and then Joan came home Thursday and he can’t drive here yet so we are pretty isolated without me driving…so I said I need catfood and bottled water. You can’t tell Banana that you just need cat food and bottled water. She landed late yesterday evening with bags of things…sure, the cat food was there (and treats!) and so was the bottled water. But you know what else was there? A new Family Feud game. A cute little thing that you water and grow your own flowers. Enough candy to send my dentist into sugar shock! And some outside Halloween decorations!! Like, seriously??? Who does that? My Banana does that. She sent me a text again today saying she was just leaving work, did I need her to stop anywhere? I didn’t but that’s just her…swooping in when someone is in need. We had a lovely visit and suddenly my frustrations about my back were out the window! She has this remarkable way about her that puts things into perspective and helps you count your blessings. And when I count my blessings, I count her twice!!
Since Joan has been working away, I haven’t kept a lot of food in the house. The bulk of our meat supply is stored in my parents deep freeze (which is now difficult to get to without a driver) but we always have potatoes and rice and canned stuff. But we are very overdue for a big shop. I laid here today making my grocery list, toilet paper, paper towel, laundry detergent, fresh vegetables, juice, etc. It gets overwhelming and frustrating when we are so close to the grocery store but so far when I’m trying to follow orders and get my back as healthy as it can be, as quickly as possible.
So, knowing the lack of fresh stuff, I started scanning my Nish Eats app to see about ordering dinner. We live just outside of town but when it comes to food delivery, not all places deliver here. And as I scanned that app, I had a facebook message from my friend Richelle. She is a relatively new friend. I met her years ago when I was returning a rental vehicle I’d had for work. Whoever was supposed to be working at the car rental shop had not showed up for work that day and there were many people hanging around outside waiting for them. I could just drop the keys and go…but I needed a ride back to my office. Richelle was there to pick up a rental and didn’t know me from Adam, but offered me a drive to work. She said, all I’m doing here is waiting anyway! We chatted all the way there and by the time we’d reached Post Road, we were friends. I often tell her that she could write a book simply on how she has met her friends and it would be a best seller cause there is always a unique story!! Richelle and I share a passion for politics and wanting to change the world (or at least our little corner of it). So what was in that facebook message she sent me tonight? A quick little note to tell me that she was making home made pizzas tonight and would be delivering one to me sometime after 6! So kind, so generous…such a great friend thing to do!! And now I can’t wait to indulge in sinfully delicious pizza this Friday evening!
This down time has given me lots of time to reflect on life and the people who have made mine so incredible thus far. Time and distance takes its toll sometimes, but true friendship can simply pick right up where you left off when you do have the chance to spend time together. We are all in very different seasons of life; my reality is a demanding job and caregiving for my Mom. That’s difficult to explain to people who are blissfully unaware of the world of dementia. Other friends are having babies or grandbabies and others are retiring and building retirement homes!
Another one of my oldest friends came home this summer as her Dad is facing a similar battle to my Mom’s. She and I have known each other since Brownie days; we swam together on the swim team; we participated in our church youth group; and then we worked together in our late teens/early 20s. She is kind and thoughtful and really understands the definition of friendship. She lives on the opposite side of the country so we don’t see each other very often but we managed to have a lunch this summer and, I swear, my heart is still glowing from that one afternoon at The Brownstone!!
I don’t know what I would do without my friends. I get through life with their encouragement, support and laughter. I count on them to call me out on my shit! I count on them to remind me of priorities if I get off track. I count on them to always be able to pick right back up where we leave off…and I look forward to connecting with all of them over and over again as life goes on! And I’m ever so grateful that I have each and every one of them as I have this back issue that doesn’t look like it’s going away anytime soon! I’m gonna keep on getting by with a little help from my friends….and hope that you do, too!
Dandelion Wishes 