The gifts of neighbors and friends

Cheyanne, an amazing manager of many, boxed and mailed my Fallbrook avocados to friends who helped me last year through a difficult loss.

One friend sent cookies, one came by with Thai Food, one drove me to the crematorium and walked me in. One stayed here and coordinated my law practice and helped cook. One, wrote me of his trials taking care of a sick friend who died. One sang a song of mourning on YouTube in his language and custom.

The avocado ‘thank you’ boxes are a surprise they all love.

Many of us are now at ‘that age ’where we are recognized as being extremely vulnerable but not expendable! Admittedly, my hair needs coloring by Jeannette; but I’m not going and will pay for it anyway because she is the greatest. The ritual three to four week reprieve from gray and the youthful anonymity ritual must wait.

This Covid-19, quarantine at home is a luxury compared to my youthful years of working in Third World disasters. However, like everyone else, those years have taken a toll. I guess it might be why I now have the ‘preexisting conditions’ that statistically are now separated when a death by virus occurs instead of the real reason, which is “no medical supplies or equipment available.”

Our social neighborhood is our family more than ever. Those neighbors who call to check on you and offer to drop off extra potatoes. I offer vegetables from my garden, bagged up cupcakes, a teapot for a friend.

A woman I walk with sends silly texts and I kid her to do my shopping because she is faster than I am. An attorney friend of mine has a family member home from the hospital from surgery with an IV; another who is a nurse who works in the hospital interventional radiology department in Seattle, is home recovering from exhaustion and less than safe working conditions. I counsel them as they have advised me so many times.

Finding fun and comfort in this situation is a gift. Be a helper. Look for your special vulnerable group, persons, creatures or even a plant or a tree, and be a helper.

I am especially touched this week by the truckers who keep our country moving. Truckers have less and less room to park their vehicles to sleep and to eat. and shower. They are waiting interminable periods for food and other kinds of loads for deliveries to stores and ultimately to us.

They need a shower and a clean bathroom. If you see one in a parking lot, send a bag of things they can eat now and don’t forget the treasured toilet paper.

Be well, be a helper, let others help you!