“Begin at the beginning and go on till you come to the end: then stop.”
- The King in ‘Alice in Wonderland’
Last Daily Blog
Dear Friends,
“End” in the above quote, for me, means not driving — not completing my trip by car. ‘My plan’ was to begin my drive home to California right off route 81 in Pittston, PA. September 28 celebrated eight months on the ‘road’ leaving four months for my ride home to California.
This wonderful adventure called ‘LIFE’ is having me continue my journey into another arena instead of the open roads. “In the book of life, the answers aren’t in the back.” -Charles Schulz
Last Sunday, I experienced a TIA commonly known as a ‘mini’ stroke. On my personal journey side, this means wake up and really ‘listen’. Believe me, I was not this philosophical in my motel room as I awaited the ambulance and laid in the emergency room! My brother was with me when it happened. Last night I arrived back here in my room in the motel after five days in the hospital. All is well!
In the spirit of openness, before my TIA experience I had already decided not to drive home as I was experiencing problems in my left hand and basically could not use it.
Since I will not be traveling by car to share with you the people I meet in towns and cities as well as reports on family homelessness, I will end my daily blog now. To help me document this journey, I will write a brief monthly blog — in November, December and January — this is October’s blog. I have no plans other than to take a long pause, vegetate, read, be quiet on the inside and be open to where life brings me as I do know I still have music in me.
Living in the present moment: I have to highlight the generosity and kindness and smartness of those who made this surprise in my life bearable these days: Holiday Inn Express in Wilkes-Barre – Scranton Airport – the young woman who called the ambulance, the manager who has made me feel comfortable in extending my time; – to Geisinger Heart Hospital – the personal care by James Hara, MD and his team and all the health professionals who have jumped start me to recovery; to my brother, Bill who was here; to Rosie my friend who is coming here from Connecticut today; to my nephew Tommy who, among other things, is arranging for my car to travel the rest of the journey in a truck; and to Catherine Meek whose kept in touch with me now and throughout my whole journey and to Matt Raab for calling as friendly voices from CA. during my hospital stay. I feel extremely privileged to have the love and care from these and many more including the readers to this blog.
As I was in the hospital and watched and listened, I thought of the thousands if not millions of people who are lying somewhere alone, frightened, and very sick and hurting. How great if we were moved to send a card or visit one unknown person where a smile or just quiet sitting would make a huge difference.
Before signing off, the number one state for helping homeless kids is: CONNECTICUT — Congratulations!
A must read as it is a current view September, 2010: ‘Homelessness among youth up 41 percent in the last two years.’ “… recently released a study that marks “unprecedented increases” in the number of homeless children and youth nationwide.”
Please join or support School on Wheels’ Upcoming 5K for our homeless kids happening in October.
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