Homebodies - When you feel alone, reach out

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Published on Saturday, February 27, 2016

By Rita Friesen

The Neepawa Banner

The past several weeks have been tough slugging with my studies. I feel a need for frivolity coming on. For starters, I decided to practice what I teach. I encourage people who feel alone or lonely to reach out. We are not mind readers and can’t know what someone else needs. 

I tried the exercise on for size for New Year’s Day. I called a family who loves me and has adopted me as a grandma figure and asked if the meal was being served at noon or five and to set another plate. They were delighted, as was I. 

This month was a milestone birthday for me, three score and ten, or sixty-ten, whichever you prefer. I called my sister and we debated if she and her family would come here, or would I drive down. There would be six of them and with all my downsizing, I was going to be short of seating. And I don’t prefer to spend my time in the kitchen! It was determined that I would head south and I made it abundantly clear that to mark just an auspicious event, the family recipe for boiling water chocolate cake was a necessity, and birthday girl would have the corner piece! (She made a round cake and so I simply needed two pieces to acquire the adequate amount of decadent icing!) So, if I was heading south, it was logical to fit in at least one other stop by. I called up my sister-in-law, the one who has been my security blanket at countless family gatherings, and asked what was for lunch. Had a lovely time with both families!

Two of my nieces, a nephew and a nephew-to-be were present at the gathering with the cake. My niece waited until I was ready to leave before she quietly asked me if I would officiate at the wedding this summer. After a proper show of modesty and humbleness, I flung my arms around her and happily agreed! (I have been privileged to officiate at one other wedding. I think I will apply to be a commissioner rather than go for the one time permit to marry!) That’s exciting to me.

I was humbled by the outpouring of birthday wishes, cards, calls and messages. The support enabled me to give ardent thanks for life. The choir’s offering of ‘Happy Birthday’ Sunday morning was another type of icing on the cake. I highly recommend three score and ten!

This column is a collection of thoughts of the week past. A comment from a classmate set me thinking. When one is uncertain of a fact or bit of trivia, it has become commonplace to say - “google it!” We were debating a fairly deep theological point and someone used that phrase. Without batting an eye, my fellow student intoned, ‘God or Google?’ Think about that in theology!