JANUARY 5, 2023
I got up this morning and the first thing I did was check the bathroom for gnats. You see, we have been plagued with them for a couple of months now. It got so bad I started covering my water glass with a paper towel with a rubber band wrapped around it to make sure nothing got in my drink. We started lowering the toilet seat cover after every use. I carefully looked to make sure no critters were flying around. I hate them? Just awful!
My first appointment for the day was with my hair stylist. But before heading there I took time to stop over to Office Depot to pick up my order from yesterday evening. It was on the way. Arrived at my hair appointment early and was offered a drink of water in a fancy slim goblet with ice shaped like olives only white. This place is really classy. I didn’t think to take a picture. I was finished in about 1 1/2 hours.
Next Appointment …
I took this time to go see my friend Gwen for the first time since she’d been admitted. Victor thought it would be good for her to hear my voice. I almost teared up when he said that.
December 21, 2022
I called her because I had this urge to check on her. There were other distractions that prevented me from calling her on a regular basis. But I felt that I needed to talk to her and so I did. No answer. I contacted Victor and explained my concern. He called her. No answer. He called her neighbor who had keys and she found Gwen on the floor. She was rushed to the hospital and been there ever since.
Present …
On my way to see Gwen. I stopped at this Jamaican carry out restaurant called The Jamaican Pot to get my favorite meat pies. I was getting kind of hungry, and it was lunchtime. I ate it in the car and washed it all down with some Ginger Beer. That was some good drink!
They are giving her a couple weeks to live, and arrangements are being made to transfer her to a nursing home. I walked into her room and was heartbroken at what I saw. It looks like it’s taking all her strength just to breathe. I tried talking to her but couldn’t tell if she could even hear me. I didn’t want to startle or wake her because her breathing was so labored and waking her might cause some major discomfort. I texted my son while sitting in the room and told him what was going on. He suggested making time to come with me to see her tomorrow. I told him that was very sweet of him and that I would love that. My son has always had empathy for other people. I told him I love him. Sometimes we need to say it while our loved ones are here.
That’s it for now! Enjoy your loved ones.
Shirley Harris-Slaughter
Shirley Harris-Slaughter 
Shirley, I’m sorry to hear about Gwen. Your son sounds like a wonderful man…you raised hm right!
Best wishes,
Donna M. Atwood
D. M. Atwood
https://www.dmatwood.com
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Hi, Shirley! I am so saddened to hear about your friend, Gwen. You and she are both in my prayers. I know I am getting to this message late, but I still pray for her and your strength to get through her transitioning.
Yes, it’s always good to not let the “busy” of life keep us from spending quality time with, and expressing our love for those we hold dear. In my home, “I love you” rings thru upon waking, when someone is heading out the door, when they return, before hanging up EVERY phone call, and before we go to sleep. Heck, you know that after I speak with you over the phone, I always end the call with I Love You. John Fioravanti can vouch that I am the same with him after our conversations. I never want those I care about to ever wonder if I did or not.
Take care 🙂
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My son and I say, “I love you,” to each other multiple times every day. My dad rarely, if ever, said those words to me growing up, and I wanted to normalize them and teach my son that expressing your feelings is healthy and appreciated. It sounds like you’ve raised your son to be kind and thoughtful of others. Well done!
Yvette M Calleiro 🙂
http://yvettemcalleiro.blogspot.com
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Yes I tried to raise him to be a responsible citizen. My grandchildren are just as impressive. Thank you Yvette for your kind words.
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Shirley, I’m sorry to read this news about Gwen! People very close to me have transitioned and That passing leaves us all shaken. Hug your son even if he thinks he’s too old to hug. Everybody needs an I love you and a warm squeeze.
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Linda you are so right. We do need to express our feelings more to our loved ones. Thank you for the reminder.
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Shirley, are they rotten? No need to refrigerate them, but I would wrap them in newspaper or keep them sealed in a paper bag.
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I am doing what you are suggesting John. I put the onions in a paper bag and did the same for the sweet potatoes and potatoes. We’ll see what happens.
Thanks.
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Hello Shirley,
Telling your son that you love him is good, and you should tell him often. We make the mistake of not letting people we cherish know that they are loved. We forget that after they leave here they don’t need to hear it because they enter into the place of true love if they believe in God.
I am very sorry about Gwen and very thankful that her son has you.
Shalom aleichem
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I’m so sorry to read about your friend, Gwen. She’s lucky to have a friend like you to visit her.
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Shirley, my heart goes out to your friend, Gwen, and you too. I know all who read this will be praying for your friend. It’s wonderful that you can visit her and give her that gift of your presence though. Maybe it will help, and she will rally. As for the gnats, we are plagued with so many things here in the woods, but the teeny, tiny ants we get in the spring are the worst. One morning, I came down to the kitchen to find the counters crawling with them. We got an exterminator, and it has been better, keeping fingers crossed for this spring. You can’t really get an exterminator for flying insects. Hope you can keep them out of things! John’s advice seems sound.
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Patty you are so sweet. I’m glad you enjoyed the memoir. I thought about my mother while watching Gwen fighting for each breath. This is her finale. She made her peace a few months ago. Still, it’s hard to watch her struggle.
Thank you for your kind words.
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Shirley, I read your beautiful memoir of your mother today. You touched me with your memories of her, and I loved reading her writings. And now you’re going through your friend’s home-going with her. When we sat with my mom in her last hours, she didn’t appear to be conscious, but she heard us. Even as the body shuts down, the spirit is alive and active. She became active for a few minutes, stared at and reached for a corner of the ceiling and tried to run, even flat on her back. My sister said, “Mom, you can’t take this old body with you. Wait until the Lord releases you, and then fly home.” She calmed right down and a short time later, when we had all left the room for a minute, she did go home. Who knows? Gwen may still rally. Praying for peace for you during this transition.
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How terribly sad, Shirley.
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Shirley, do you have any fruit in bowls on tabletops or veggies outside of the fridge? How about aging potatoes in a cupboard? These are all causes of gnats. Eliminating their ‘roosts” will get rid of them.
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We keep potatoes and onions in the basement but maybe I should put them in the refrigerator you think?
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