I was hungry. I hadn't eaten lunch and the dinner hour was looming. I had intended to simply bring in the mail for my grandparents and say a quick hello. My tilapia was in the oven. I had a half-hour window before dinner was ready. Of course, visiting my grandparents always stops time and the minutes turn to hours and escape me. I'm jolted back to reality by the phone ringing. Since I've got 50+ years on them, I catch the call for them.
"
Hello, Amylia? It's Fumy. My car is stuck in traffic. I can't move it. Can you please come get me?"
My grandparents caretaker was stuck only a few blocks away. She almost made
it to the
house, but not quite. Before I pick her up I turn off the stove, say goodbye to my fish dinner and test my bloodsugar (101 mg/dl). Spot on. I get in the car to pick her up, call AAA and drive her back to the house so she can tend to my grandfather and prepare their evening meal. I offer to wait by her car until AAA comes. I spent the time relaxing on the grass in the springtime sun. I try to ignore my hunger pains. Two hours pass. No sign of AAA. They say they're on their way, but this time is their busiest. Test my bloodsugar again: 65 mg/dl. Not emergency material, but low enough for me to pack it up and walk home without AAA service. I felt bad leaving the car, but I had to put my health before her car. It seems like a no-brainer, but I have a tendency to put the needs of others before my own at times. I often feel guilty when I do for myself or put myself first, but I'm getting better.
Turns out, AAA never came and Fumy was able to start the car up long enough to get it to the driveway. Like me, it just needed a little rest in the sun. Despite my hunger and blood sugar lowering, I enjoyed my surroundings and the moment for what it was. It was good practice in accepting what is and not resisting it, but when the time came to act on behalf of myself, I did eventually walk home and abandon the car. I don't mess with low bloodsugar. But for a few hours in the afternoon, I sat on the grass and simply shot what I saw. I never realized quite how beautiful Center Street and this particular little slice of my neighborhood was. The set of photographs I took are
here. Enjoy the images as I did.
*******************************
P.S. Thank you to those of you who helped contribute to a wonderful birthday celebration for my sister and I. We used the gifts toward our stay at the Spa at The American Club. Photographic evidence of our joviality are
here.
"Hello, Amylia? It's Fumy. My car is stuck in traffic. I can't move it. Can you please come get me?"
My grandparents caretaker was stuck only a few blocks away. She almost madeit to thehouse, but not quite. Before I pick her up I turn off the stove, say goodbye to my fish dinner and test my bloodsugar (101 mg/dl). Spot on. I get in the car to pick her up, call AAA and drive her back to the house so she can tend to my grandfather and prepare their evening meal. I offer to wait by her car until AAA comes. I spent the time relaxing on the grass in the springtime sun. I try to ignore my hunger pains. Two hours pass. No sign of AAA. They say they're on their way, but this time is their busiest. Test my bloodsugar again: 65 mg/dl. Not emergency material, but low enough for me to pack it up and walk home without AAA service. I felt bad leaving the car, but I had to put my health before her car. It seems like a no-brainer, but I have a tendency to put the needs of others before my own at times. I often feel guilty when I do for myself or put myself first, but I'm getting better.
*******************************
P.S. Thank you to those of you who helped contribute to a wonderful birthday celebration for my sister and I. We used the gifts toward our stay at the Spa at The American Club. Photographic evidence of our joviality arehere.