Barbara J. Hamby

A Sunny, Chilly Day

Today was an emotional one. This morning I was inspired to write a poem about the devastating tsunami that is in all the news. It will still need some polishing, but the draft took shape rather quickly.

This afternoon I managed to get my reluctant body down to the clubhouse and climbed on the treadmill. That’s the good news. The bad news is I only lasted for seven minutes before I got dizzy and had to quit. But, I do feel increased blood circulation and energy. Tomorrow I will try for at least ten minutes. On my way back, I picked up the mail.

A late Christmas card with a letter from an old friend who now lives in Texas made me glad for a moment to know that she is still with us. The enclosed note from her daughter told me that her mother had dictated the letter to be sent to her old friends. She added that her mother is in a care facility because she now has Alzheimer?s, but she still remembers her old friends well. She also mentioned that, surprisingly, her mother is adjusting well to her new home.

The mother was one of the sharpest and most independent women in my circle, so it is almost sad to hear that she is adjusting well. I’m glad for her children that she has a secure home near her daughter.

I didn’t hear from three of my elderly, long-time friends at all this year. I’’ almost afraid to investigate. Oddly, two of them have the same last name, but are unrelated. I don’t know how to contact their children to find out if they are okay, but will try some other contacts.

It is sad that we allow ourselves to become so busy that we only contact formerly close friends once or twice a year. What I’ve noticed is that I take the easy path and correspond with those who use email, but not the ones who rely on snail mail or telephone.