Comments on: The Unexpected Blessings of an Accidental Home http://www.larrypray.com/?p=474 The Geography of Healing Wed, 01 Sep 2010 21:27:01 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Jenny http://www.larrypray.com/?p=474&cpage=1#comment-95 Jenny Tue, 04 Aug 2009 11:42:45 +0000 http://www.larrypray.com/?p=474#comment-95 One of my best friends, a neighbor, is in her mid eighties. Actually, at first her dog was my dog's best friend and we talked while we walked our dogs or they romped in her back yard. After various operations she can barely walk and she is greatful that her loyal dog does not run off. Last year she volunteered as an assistant in a second grade classroom at our local public school. She says that too many of her peers have died. One child asked her if she was old. Then he asked if she was really, really old. She replied that yes, in fact she was. They continued with the school work. I feel competitive around her. How can I keep up with this force of nature? One of my best friends, a neighbor, is in her mid eighties. Actually, at first her dog was my dog’s best friend and we talked while we walked our dogs or they romped in her back yard. After various operations she can barely walk and she is greatful that her loyal dog does not run off.

Last year she volunteered as an assistant in a second grade classroom at our local public school. She says that too many of her peers have died.

One child asked her if she was old. Then he asked if she was really, really old. She replied that yes, in fact she was. They continued with the school work.

I feel competitive around her. How can I keep up with this force of nature?

]]> By: Lisa Alexia http://www.larrypray.com/?p=474&cpage=1#comment-94 Lisa Alexia Tue, 04 Aug 2009 04:09:19 +0000 http://www.larrypray.com/?p=474#comment-94 Thanks as always for your stories. Is that what rural living is all about? Here, I have a community of elders. We buried our eldest resident, a centenarian, a few weeks ago. My children and I pass the cemetery on the way to the playground, and we bring her flowers and berries. I loved bringing berries to the elders. It is a new experience for me, to have so many stories held in my heart from the time I spent with the elders. From old Junior Gregory, I learned to say "Good Job" to people, and to laugh and find the good in someone who was often "bad." From Grandma Lena, I learned to say, "Go ahead" to my kids or anyone else, meaning "yes." From my mother-in-law, I learned to respect a solid refusal to live beyond one's ability to contribute meaningful work. I am filled with the richness of all their stories and in them lie the complexity of life--of hurts and healing, the tending of birth and death. Grandma Lena tended my husband's birth. He threw a handful of dirt on her grave, along with my children and me. I cannot imagine my children growing up without understanding this complete cycle of life. Thanks as always for your stories. Is that what rural living is all about? Here, I have a community of elders. We buried our eldest resident, a centenarian, a few weeks ago. My children and I pass the cemetery on the way to the playground, and we bring her flowers and berries. I loved bringing berries to the elders. It is a new experience for me, to have so many stories held in my heart from the time I spent with the elders. From old Junior Gregory, I learned to say “Good Job” to people, and to laugh and find the good in someone who was often “bad.” From Grandma Lena, I learned to say, “Go ahead” to my kids or anyone else, meaning “yes.” From my mother-in-law, I learned to respect a solid refusal to live beyond one’s ability to contribute meaningful work. I am filled with the richness of all their stories and in them lie the complexity of life–of hurts and healing, the tending of birth and death. Grandma Lena tended my husband’s birth. He threw a handful of dirt on her grave, along with my children and me. I cannot imagine my children growing up without understanding this complete cycle of life.

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