Going for a walk around our lake recently, I was amused by the first geese to arrive for the warmer seasons. They seemed puzzled as they carefully landed on what they assumed to be water but was actually still ice. They walked around tentatively and awkwardly. It reminded me of Hardy and me during this Corona pandemic. Everything is a bit unfamiliar and bizarre and we walk hesitantly where once we were confident and self-assured.
Our stage in life is having a similar effect on us!
Our stage in life is having a similar effect on us!
We were excited when we were able to book an appointment for our COVID-19 vaccination. Hardy's appointment was earlier as he was in a higher age bracket; I got mine a few days later. We
called and asked if we could change Hardy's so we could go on the same day.
They changed it for us without a problem.
We called our
children to let them know. Our oldest daughter offered to take us and she had
some good advice for us: "Make sure you take your walker, Dad, as you will
be standing in line for a long time."
She was right.
She was right.
The line was already quite long when we got there, but the weather was balmy. All along this seemingly endless line of seniors, there were people in place ready with an encouraging word, a smile, a willingness to help. The whole process took about two hours. Once we got inside the Convention Centre, we were given chairs and a number. Once again, we were treated with kindness and respect. I was grateful to be Canadian.
As I looked at the long lineup, I was reminded of Jesus surveying a crowd of 5,000 or more who had come to listen to him and had nothing to eat. He had compassion and asked his disciples to feed them. They didn't know how they would do it, but miraculously all were fed.
I noticed that many came with canes or walkers and that hardly anyone came alone. Older couples came together, single seniors were accompanied by an adult child or grandchild, lovingly concerned for their welfare. I wondered about the stories of their lives ... .
I could hardly fathom that we were now at that stage of life where our elderly parents had been not all that long ago. I recall my Dad leaning on his walker, saying to me, "Na, tjitj mol de Ola doa." ["Look at that old guy there"]. He was pointing to someone no older than he was, walking rather unsteadily with his cane!
I thought of my Mom, always busy, always doing something for others, until it was time for her to fold her hands in her lap and let others take care of her. That was hard for her!
Things will get better! Easter is just around the corner. Christ is risen, He is risen indeed!
Happy Easter!
Communion elements and flowers delivered on Maundy Thursday by the deacons of our church
in preparation for our Easter service
in preparation for our Easter service
I am grateful to be Canadian too. Kindness and patience is what I noticed today as well as we lined up for Irma to be vaccinated.
ReplyDeleteI was actually pleasantly surprised by it, as I heard so many negative comments in the press about the disorganized way things were proceeding!
DeleteThanks, Dr. Bea! Wish we could have you over for a good visit like we did in Kitchener, when you helped Heidi with her ancestry chart school project! She still talks about that!
ReplyDeleteWe too had only positive experiences as we stood in line for our vaccine at the Selkirk Centre. What a difference a smile or a friendly comment makes especially under a stressful situation. So grateful for this country we live in. Spring is around the corner...something else to be grateful for🤗
ReplyDeleteSo good to hear you had a positive experience too! You would shine in that situation!
DeleteYour metaphors are always on point, Elfrieda: the geese walking gingerly on the lake, feeling unsure, along with Jesus surveying the crowd with compassion.
ReplyDeleteOur experience with getting vaccinated in the US was similar to yours, very positive. All staff were most obliging and seemed to want to accommodate couples even with dissimilar appointment times. I believe most people don't realize what a miracle it is to have the vaccine delivered as some say at "Warp Speed." My son-in-law who works in research and development at J & J says vaccines and other meds take a minimum of 5-6 years to go through clinical trials alone.
Happy Easter to you, Hardy, and the whole clan! :-)
Thank you, Marian! It’s nice to hear a perspective from a neighbour in the south. We are grateful for some of your vaccines coming our way!
DeleteAs Easter Sunday comes to a close, I send greetings north to you, glad that you have had a good experience getting vaccine. Stuart and I did also, and we were able to visit with both my mother, my brother and his family, and our daughter and hers. We still wore masks in public, but we were almost back to normal within the family. Hallelujah. We surely did miss being in church today, however.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for your Easter greeting Shirley! We celebrated Easter with two of our daughters and their families. The weather was gorgeous and we were able to be on our deck the whole time. It felt so good to be together again. We too missed being physically present in church, but the recorded service was excellent and so was the Zoom discussion later. We look forward to spring and summer and gradual loosening of restrictions!
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