This past week some things fell through on the caregiver front. There is a state program that I know will eventually come through for us, but I started this in motion in April and we still face snags. I’ve reached out to another source locally, but that has yet to work out. Meanwhile, the companion we do have coming for three hours on Tuesdays and Thursdays could not make it last Thursday, the reason why this is the first post in six days.
Add to that our ongoing car situation: we have one car to meet the varied needs of four people. Last night I found out Noah needed the car for work, which meant I quickly needed to find an alternative means of bringing Cindy to adult day care and to pick up our boarder from the Wassaic train station. I called our daughter Serena to borrow her car. She agreed, but that meant having her come out here from Avon.
That’s when I once again turned to the Whites.
Nels and Phyllis White moved in across the street from us about twenty years ago. We did for them what we did for all newcomers to the neighborhood back then, we welcomed them with open arms and invited them to dinner. They appreciated that … and we appreciated what a fine couple they were. Over the years we have continued to good friends and neighbors for each other.
Warm relationships exist between our kids and them as well. Phyllis now tells some fond stories about our daughters as if they were her own. As for parental roles, lately I’ve started to call Nels “Dad,” due to me asking to borrow his car. On a handful of occasions since the current caregiver/car situation developed I have turned to Nels for help. He obliges, not reluctantly, but with abundant warmth.
Whereas other sources have yet to meet expectations as we plod along trying to make things work, our long time friends and neighbors always exceed them. I gave a call to Nels this morning. As a result Cindy can go to adult day care, Alison can be picked up at the train station and Serena does not have to come here from Avon to rescue us.
When you get right down to it, nothing beats reliable friends and neighbors for support; not government, community nor church programs. Thank you Nels and Phyllis for everything.
By the way, in my previous post, that was the White’s house under the rainbow.
You are so, so correct. There’s NOTHING in the world better than close, dear friends to help us make it through difficult and sometimes seemingly impossible situations. All we have to do is ask. As I’ve found throughout my life, they ARE sometimes mind readers, but they, too, can’t always know what we need. Blessings to all of you–including those irreplaceable neighbors and friends.
Thanks, Christy!