[Magdalen] Quiet Pub

[Jay Weigel]

Oh dear, Esther! Or, putting it another way, oh, dear Esther! Prayers
headed your way! Thinking about losing one's independence, however little,
must be terrifying.

Hugs,
Jay

On Wed, Dec 14, 2016 at 12:08 PM, Esther Williamson <momohl11 at cox.net>
wrote:

> The foster child that we (my first husband and I) adopted was represented
> by the first CASA worker in Roanoke. I cannot say enough good things about
> the program. These workers do not take sides with the parents, the foster
> parents, or the agencies. They are completely advocates for the child.
>
> I have been quiet lately as I try to figure out my health problems and
> contemplate future living arrangements. I had a PET scan yesterday and will
> get the results tomorrow. I am still living alone with much help from my
> children but feel that I am unfair to rely so much on them. After two nasty
> falls last week - one at 2:00 in the morning which necessitated waking a
> daughter to help me up I am using the power chair more and more. Since the
> chair doesn't fit into the bathroom and my kitchen is not made for cooking
> etc. from a chair something will have to change.
>
> Esther
>
> On 12/14/2016 10:32 AM, Jay Weigel wrote:
>
>> I don't know how you feel about children in general, Scott, but there are
>> always organizations like Big Brothers, CASA (which is a child advocacy
>> organization for kids in the court system and foster care), and various
>> organizations within the churches that can help you find children to help
>> make Christmas wonderful for (and other days, too). I've been considering
>> getting involved with CASA, which stands for court appointed special
>> advocate, I think. I have a friend in Tennessee who does that. My
>> grandchildren are far enough away that I don't see them often enough, and
>> I
>> miss kids. I'm now too old for Big Sisters.
>>
>> On Wed, Dec 14, 2016 at 9:45 AM, Scott Knitter <scottknitter at gmail.com>
>> wrote:
>>
>> I'm managing to avoid, mostly, my annual "holiday season" severe
>>> doldrums. I seem to get feelings of needing to be busy with
>>> preparations but I haven't actually done a lot of holiday stuff for
>>> years. Yet the feelings of needing to do them and fearing resentment
>>> and judgment (from whom?) persist. I'm thinking it's akin to how I get
>>> that happy "snow day" feeling when there's a huge snowfall and schools
>>> are closed. I don't get a day off work, but the same feeling is still
>>> there from when I prayed fervently at the radio to hear the name of
>>> our school district. :)
>>>
>>> Childhood Christmas was so wonderful because we had off from school
>>> and didn't have to do much except play and get presents, right? And
>>> now it's our turn to make Christmas wonderful. But without children,
>>> there's not a great deal to be done (just for young nieces and
>>> nephews, a gift and presence).
>>>
>>> I'm more nervous about my mom's 80th birthday party on January 14 in
>>> Michigan. My brothers and I are hosting a dinner with family and
>>> friends at a restaurant private dining room. It's nearly all set up,
>>> but heaven forbid I should wake up at night and start thinking about
>>> it. Always something to stir the anxiety pot...
>>>
>>> --
>>> Scott R. Knitter
>>> Edgewater, Chicago, Illinois USA
>>>
>>>
>