It has been an interesting week, well, actually, that may remain to be seen. Little tidbits here and there are bouncing around in my head, which is what most thoughts do in my head ~ bounce around.
Violet ~ I had the opportunity to spend time with her on Sunday and Monday. I dressed her for church, and it seemed impossible that 35+ years have passed since I was dressing her mama for church, with bows in her hair and just the right socks and diaper cover. Monday, I had even more time to spend with her while her mom was on a field trip with her brother. We had lunch at Whole Foods, where she ate like a champ and danced in her seat to the music. She then napped in my lap. Those times, with babies asleep in my lap, are when the veil is thinnest between this realm and the next.
Walking tours ~ On three different days this week, I had boys on my tours who were on the autism spectrum. I hope I worded that correctly and not in an offensive manner. The first boy was on Wednesday and he was a beautiful child. I, frankly, would have thought he had Tourette's Syndrome because of the involuntary motions of his arms and hands and his uncontrollable giggling. The teacher told me that he was autistic and you could tell how she loved him. He was able to sit among his friends and have his picture made. Although, I was a bit distracted by his giggling at the beginning, I was heartened to see what a lovely day he had.
Thursday, there was another boy who also deals with autism. Teachers are good to let me know which children need extra leniency from my simple, but stringent rules. I always feel that they let me know so that for the child's sake I don't come down on them, but also for my own, so I don't beat myself up all day for correcting a child who is truly doing his very best. This boy did not make any noises, particularly, he just had great difficulty in paying attention. His aide worked hard to see to it that he was sitting where he could get up without disrupting everyone else should that be necessary. She also worked hard to have him sit with the group. I witnessed infinite patience on her part, and a genuine interest in his succeeding.
The boy on Friday broke my heart. Because, I have to talk loudly for 200 people to hear me on the streets of Nashville, I felt like I was tormenting this precious child. He groaned and moaned, crawled inside his jacket as far as he could, and laid his head in his aide's lap. She was an older lady, like me. She had gray hair, like me. You know, not the chic dyed gray hair, but the I-earned-every-strand-of-this gray hair. She held his hand, spoke softly and kindly to him, did not let him separate from the group. She must go home exhausted, but firm in the knowledge that she makes a difference.
Paulino ~ Paulino is my buddy at the church where I begin my tours. It has taken about 17 years for us to become buddies. I asked him on Tuesday if he had a nice weekend. At first he could not remember, then he said he had been in the hospital over the weekend. He had an upper respiratory infection and on Tuesday, he was suffering terribly with his back. Yep, he had been in the hospital 2 days prior, was in terrible pain, but he was at work. That is Paulino. Last week, when I saw him on Tuesday, he had this funny look on his face. He grabbed my arm and told me to come, he wanted to show me something. Part of the iron fence that borders the church property had been cut away. I asked who did that and why. Turns out, the fire department had done it. Seems an intoxicated gentleman, while walking to his car after the Titans game, engaged in some tomfoolery and impaled himself on one of the spikes. He would have bled to death had they removed it from his body, so they cut the iron fence and transported him to Vanderbilt Hospital with it still in him. Paulino had already called the hospital to see if he could get the piece back, but, alas, the hospital had thrown it away. I am happy to report that the man will be fine. I am very glad of that so I don't have to feel terribly guilty about my fascination at such an event.
Almost a Big Oops! ~ Friday, while waiting for a light to turn to lead my 190 or so folks across the street, a very heavy man in a wheelchair was trying to make his way diagonally across the intersection at 5th and Church. This is a dicey intersection because of construction and impatient drivers. The gentleman was moving at a snail's pace and straining with every inch. I dropped my water bottle and asked if I could help him. I am always reluctant to ask ever since I was vehemently wished to drop dead after offering my assistance to someone struggling up the hill in a wheel chair. He was very grateful for my help and thanked me profusely. When we got to the sidewalk, I hit the curb a little hard and almost dumped the poor fellow right out onto his face. He was quite insistent when he told me that he could get it from there. Later I saw him asleep, out of the wind, sheltered by the small covered area of a bus stop.
Heaters and Coats ~ It is hard, at the church where I begin my tours. They are in transition. They have ceased feeding the urban poor on Wednesdays. Money is one issue. Fights breaking out among those being fed is another. Paulino has to clean up after the homeless every morning. They leave cardboard that served as their bed for the night, water bottles, food and bodily fluids on the front steps. Understandably, he grows weary. It seems many of the homeless just cannot do any better. Whether they can or cannot, Paulino's job is still frustrating. The church has basically run out of money for the moment to help. For as long as I can remember, it has been a place where people could come to get help getting medicine, IDs, food and other necessities. Now, when I am asked, it breaks my heart to say there is nothing there for the needy at the moment. One day this week, someone left two boxes. On one box was written "free heaters" and on the other, "free coats." Paulino left those boxes there on his morning cleanup. Soon, they are going to lock the gates around the building so that people cannot get in the courtyard or on the steps. It is sad. It is overwhelming. It can be depressing if one ponders too long on how little actual help one person can offer. I just cling to the belief that if we will all help a little, it will make a difference.
Steve ~ Steve with his top hat and tails, infectious grin and courtly manners has been missing from my daily route. I hesitated and hesitated to ask anyone for fear I would hear that something terrible had happened to him. Finally, I asked and braced myself for the horrendous news. Turns out, Steve is fine. He is just at another hotel working. I miss him. I hope he's happy at the new place. I am certain that his new co-workers love him.
Wednesday Camp Fires ~ Autumn is here. I love it!! Wednesday was a beautiful cool afternoon. When I picked the boys up, I told them that they would be playing outside when we got to my house. My stars, you would think I was putting them in a concrete cell for all the whining that followed. I stood firm. There are lots of things in my yard with which to play. As they ran about, I had a "genius" idea. "Let's build a fire," I said. And, we did. And, it was marvelous. We had amazing teamwork. One boy was assigned to make newspaper logs while the other collected sticks in the yard. We had ourselves a rousing Wednesday afternoon camp fire. We loved it...all of us. Max did not like smoke in his eyes so he eventually went to play on the swing while Simmy and I ate cheese crackers and sat by the fire. If you haven't had a fireside chat with a five-year-old lately, I highly recommend it.
Thursday Night Sleepover ~ Max and Marshall spent the night with us Thursday night. The lady of their house was off to a wedding in Arkansas. Simmy stayed for a while and helped his mom carve their jack-o-lantern. She did a brilliant job. When they went home, we grilled steaks and hot dogs. They were all delicious. Max made sweet cards, telling us that he loves us. He made one for Aunt P and convinced Fizzy to walk with him to deliver it. Max and Marshall carved their pumpkin and we put fairy lights in it, set it on top of our elevated dance floor (treehouse in progress) and it looked like it was floating in air. It was a lovely evening.
Well, perhaps, not as interesting as I thought, but I thank you for indulging me in my stroll through the week. Now, off to run a few more Saturday afternoon errands before I flop on the sofa to watch Hallmark Christmas movies.
