A GOOD RAIN

 

A few weeks ago, we had a storm past through Ontario. It was a doozy called a “Derecho”. A derecho is a hopped up thunderstorm that can bring hurricane force winds, tornados, and heavy rain. It comes in like wrecking ball, so to speak.

When people hear the words “palliative care” they associate this to the type of care required for those dying. Like a last ditch effort, throw all the surgery or medications at the beast and hope for the best. They see the derecho approaching. 

 Over two decades ago, the World Health Organization actually changed the definition of palliative care to a much broader scope! The focus was on improving the quality of life for those facing chronic and life threatening illnesses through early identification and a proactive approach involving physical, psychosocial and spiritual concerns. It focuses on the whole patient, body, soul and spirit. The oncologist or specialist have their role, but so does professional, like social worker or an End of Life Doula! It involves our community supporting the family with practical needs like a good meal or giving them a break in caregiving. It involves exploring and supporting spiritual discussions. A good palliative care approach identifies the patients goals and includes some proactive discussions (advance care planning) about the what ifs and how they can be handled. It is a “Good Rain” - gentle, soft, preparatory and not a Derecho for the patient and caregivers to find themselves in, full of fear and crisis and surprises. 

The sooner palliative care is started, the better the outcomes for the patient and, in fact, stats show they live longer. 

I had a very dear friend who was diagnosed with a terminal cancer. I encouraged her to ensure she got good palliative care. She said “Oh, I don’t need that.” She felt that was for someone really at the end, the last ditch derecho time. She passed within 6 weeks of her diagnosis, with no time for her or her family to really prepare. 

I don’t expect we will yet get past the bias of the word “palliative” for some time yet. We are going on 20 years now with only a little progress on the benefits! 

Still, I hope if you find yourself facing a life-threatening or chronic illness like COPD or congestive heart failure, you will explore the palliative care approach. You will find yourself in a Good Rain.

CHECKING ONE OFF THE BUCKET LIST

 I’m sitting on a little balcony, overlooking a leaf covered square. Below me, in the late afternoon heat the locals and the occasional lost tourist who stumble across this little piece of paradise are sheltering under the massive tree in the shade. They sit in companionable groups sipping drinks as I listen to their musical lilted French amidst the clink of classes and occasional rumble of tiny cars or bicycles. Students, phones in hand, are the same everywhere! 

I’m on a Bucket List trip in France! We spent a few days in Paris then made our way by train to Avignon in the Provence region. Tomorrow, it is back to Paris for one more day before we fly home. 

It is all so beautiful!

And Ancient!

It is Timeless here. The rhythm includes, cafes, bikes, smoking and cafe au laits. Paris is truly a noisy cacophony day and night with lights and action. But Avignon is soft, sleepy and I would even be inclined to rent a bicycle! 

And the Food!! On Mon Dieu!! Don’t get me started!!

Ok, maybe just a few pics…

I’m so grateful and humbled to have this opportunity of a lifetime. I have so many more pics (all taken with my iPhone 13 BTW!) that I suppose I will have to create a book. In a couple of days we fly back to Canada, to routine, and familiar sounds and smells. I’m very routine oriented so this will be a good thing.

Still…..France….you truly are a special place on this earth.

TAKING A BIG BREATH OF COMMUNITY

 This past Saturday was a breathe of fresh air. A breathe of community.

Downtown Belleville hosted the “Savour The Chill” Soup Contest. The Family-fun event brought our community together with spoons on hand. It was great to see so many enjoying a crisp but sunny day! There were fires to warm up around, marshmallows to toast and even the Snow Queen and Princess made an appearance! By the way, did I mention the soups? Cheeseburger soup, Split pea, broccoli with bacon and cheese, roasted tomato basil to name a few. The Winner was Chilangos with their Caldo Tlalpeno, a traditional Mexican soup of chicken and vegetables. 

I conversed with strangers on the soups to be checked out, listened to the chatter of family and friends, patted the heads of happy dogs and took in a big breathe of community. 

But there was more to come! In the evening I volunteered for Coldest Night of the Year (CNOY), a fundraiser for local charities that support the homeless, hurting and hungry. The funds raised would be directed to our local Shelter, Grace Inn. This was the first time Grace Inn has acted as host and they did an amazing job. 

Now I’m not new to this rodeo, having been involved with CNOY in a variety of roles over the years. But I hit the Gold Ticket this time. My job was to drive around in MiCkey, my Mini Cooper all warm and cosy with the tunes playing and a hot chocolate on hand. 

So with flags flying I zipped around the route feeling like a pace car honking and waving at all those Yellow hats bobbing along ensuring everyone was having a good, safe walk. 

You Go Yellow Hats! You Go My Community! 

In all there were 34 teams made up of 165 walkers and $61,000 was raised in support of Grace Inn! How amazing was that! 

When a unified body of people, a Community, get together to support and connect with one another the world can be changed. Now, more than ever, the world needs Community and connection. 

Thank you Downtown Belleville. Thank you Grace Inn. For letting me breathe fresh air today. 

MUSICAL TRIGGERS

 One thing I find that makes humans so quirky is how we can be deeply affected by triggers. You see someone or something that hops you right back into your memory banks and relive the moment. Emotional triggers can be tricky to navigate. Smells can trigger all sorts of layers, good and bad! 

But I want to focus on musical triggers. Those songs or even a snippet of a song that sticks in your head and can send your thoughts on all sorts of tangents! 

Here’s a couple of examples: sometimes when I’m riding my bike at a nice clip, the theme comes into my head from Wizard of Oz and I can see the Wicked Witch Miss Gulch herself pumping her bike along hellbent on putting an end to Toto.

Not that I think I’m the Wicked Witch, but the song is a perfect biking rhythm!

Speaking of Toto, once as I was riding through town there was construction going on and just as I passed a couple of workers one of them yelled “99” over the noise and boom the song “99” from Toto was in my head! Like from ummm almost 50 years ago!

 https://youtu.be/qhw-XlTMB5I   

A bird flys by and suddenly “Free Bird”https://youtu.be/QxIWDmmqZzY  

Which makes me think managing these triggers is like corralling cats which triggers “The Cat Came Back”. https://youtu.be/LjMffHG1V_Q

A couple are bickering - “Why Can’t We Be Friends” https://youtu.be/sH0Qda32IKM

Hey, it’s Saturday night! “S.A.TUR.DAY…NIGHT!” https://youtu.be/7BKKaKT_dtM 

Lord help me.

Someday, I’m going to start at the beginning of a day and write down all the songs and what triggered them to go off in my head. I mean it is not just me, right? I think not. All you music buffs have the same jukebox going on triggered at the drop of a coin. I’m sure of it! 

TIDINGS OF COMFORT AND JOY

 We are winding another year down: 6 days till Christmas, 12 days till 2022! With the Big day within our grasp, the pandemic raises it’s ugly head again - snarling, snapping, spreading anxiety and fear. 

Tidings of comfort and joy seem far, far away. For some of us, Joy is not the emotion that comes to mind. We have had to let go of so much: freedom, hugs, social interaction without a care, connection and community, big raucous parties and concerts. 

We lost dear ones too. My good friend April passed away this summer. In our community we have lost generous and kind hearted people. I’m providing grief and bereavement support to a man who lost his wife of 60 years. 60 YEARS. 

In the midst of this I believe comfort and joy can still be found. You may have to look deep and focus. You may find it only lasts for a brief second, but there, in the midst of the darkness the light shines, the comfort comes.

Find comfort and joy in the littlest of things:

The beauty of a fresh snow fall, sparkling in the winter sun

The delicate wonder of light and colour 

Take comfort in a moment: a sip of fresh hot coffee, the gentle sigh of a dog or a cat’s purr. 

Take joy in that moment when your child smiles or a baby’s laughter. 

There is great joy in giving: give your time, your love, your patience.

On Dec. 22, the earth tilts and the days will begin to get longer. That’s a comforting thought! 

In the midst of the aching loss, you can, without guilt, find these small offerings of comfort and joy. This is my wish for you this season and in the coming year.

 

HOLY ZINGER!

 Christmas has come around again. Not even a pandemic can stop it! It’s the time on earth where we can shout with the angels “ peace, joy and goodwill to all men”. 

So rightly we acknowledge the birth of Jesus at Christmas and the universal affect His arrival meant to this little blue planet. 

But I want to jump ahead in His timeline to closer to the end of His life on earth, as I understand, when He was just in His early 30s. 

He’s grown into an intriguing, fascinating man. He’s got a pretty good following and an equal amount of enemies He’s ticked off. Sometimes He speaks in parables, sometimes He speaks straight up and sometimes He drops the mike with a Holy Zinger.

The religious leaders of the day, the very ones you would think would be backing the King of the Jews, have some suspicions about this young upstart. 

So they conspire on how to trap Him. They start with a little sugar. “We know that you are sincere, and teach God’s way truthfully, that you treat everyone the same and don’t play favourites. So tell us, is it permissible under Jewish law to pay taxes to Caesar or not?” 

I can almost hear Jesus’ exasperated sigh. Perhaps a slight rolling of the eyes…

“Why are you testing me, you hypocrites. Show me the money…(they hand over a coin). “Whose likeness and inscription is on it?” 

“Caesars” they reply. 

Jesus replies, “then give to Caesar what is Caesars, and to God what is Gods.” BAZINGA. 

The religious leaders are speechless and shuffle on out of there. 

You may know Jesus as just a little babe in a manger. You might envision him as a strict legalistic, no-fun kinda guy. But He was so much more. He had all the time in the world for the rough-around the edge, broken humanity and very little patience with the Spiritual Giants of the day. And He could really dish out a Holy Zinger!

IT’S THE GREAT PUMPKIN!

 I’m dating myself, but Peanuts “It’s the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown” was always a favourite. This TV special came out in 1966 if you can believe it - over 50 years ago! Linus will be happy to know pumpkin is still reigning supreme and seems we are as smitten as ever. 

We went with Randi to take the Little Prince and Princess out to pick the perfect pumpkin. 

And after some serious debate regarding the shapes of eyes and noses, Soren requested a one-eyed “poison” pumpkin and I went with a googled-eyed cat

But pumpkin’s lure goes beyond Halloween and Jack-o-Lanterns! What about all those “pumpkin spice” chai teas or lattes? Did you know you can get pumpkin spice Cheerios?? I can see a few of you rolling your eyes. 

Although I don’t stop into Starbucks very often, I do get caught into that spicy orange goodness. I pick up a little pumpkin, bake it and blend to make a nice batch of pumpkin purée. Then comes Pumpkin Thai soup - made with coconut milk and jalapeño peppers! 

I made pumpkin cookies - some with chocolate, some with nuts and raisins

I still had a bit of pumpkin purée left so one morning I added a spoonful to my Oatmeal. Ok…if you are a pumpkin pie fan this will be up your alley! Topped with maple syrup, cinnamon and some cashew/coconut milk, it was like warm pumpkin pie first thing in the morning! OMGP- Oh My Great Pumpkin!

Finally, let’s consider the straight goods: it is a good source of vitamin C, E, iron and folate - all excellent for your immune system to help ward off those nasty germs. It is high in fibre and low in carbs and sugar too!

Linus was on to something. Pumpkin Is Great!