Things that I care about.

[Jingley]

I care about my wife of nearly 24 years. She is not my rock nor is she my soulmate. She is so much more.

I care about my sons. I am so proud of what they are achieving. 

I care about my parents and in-laws. They have a collective age of 318 and remain independent despite health issues.

I care about my neighbour, Ernie. For 16 years he has waved to me every morning as I set off work, then waved me back in at home time followed by 10 minutes chat over the garden fence. Now aged 92 has been in a care home since March.
The dementia slowly progresses.
He knows me, but doesn't remember my name. He doesn't recall that we have ever been neighbours in our village. 
The stories told to me, I now tell back to him. How he used to cycle along the Pinxton canal to work on the bacon counter at Burtons store. Built Sturmey Archer hubs at Raleigh in Nottingham. Drove a tank in the war and only survived because he had meningitis. He drove Midland General buses for the majority of his working life.
 I visit him once a week after work. We talk about familiar things and sometimes play dominoes, he beats me most games.
He bangs his head with his fists when the memories don't surface,"it's bloody funny this, I can't remember" he says.
My eyes watered as I typed this just as they do as I leave after visiting. He's still my neighbour.
I care about the environment. I recycle, repair and re-use whenever possible. 5p for a carrier bag? Not a problem, we have used 'bags for life' for ages at home. The recycling bin always has more in it than the general waste bin. We took the Aldi challenge in January, after years of Morrisons and Sainsburys shopping. I didn't realise how cheap some of the products are, we are much better off as a result. There is very little food wasted at home, the wildlife gets the few scraps we leave.
In December 2014 I assisted at work with the delivery of food hampers that the company distributed annually.

My eyes were opened to food poverty so close to home.

At one house, a single mum with two small children answered the door, it was obvious they had very little. As the food was handed over, the smallest child said "I want to show you something" and went into the house. Expecting him to return with maybe a favourite toy to show us. He reappeared and handed over some of his sweets to us.

Another delivery later on, the lady was so moved she cried as she hugged me. My shoulder was wet with her tears.

I had heard a little about foodbanks and found out there was one in a nearby village. I added a few items to the weekly shop and since January I have dropped them in most weeks when passing by.

The people that distribute the food are very nice and they always offer me a cuppa. I notice people calling in to collect food, usually with a voucher from a support worker or charity.

They look just like you and I, but look closer and you see they are just a little worn down, a bit raggy at the edges, just getting by. The food they recieve will be the next thing they eat, maybe just in time. They are always grateful and sometimes a little overwhelmed when 3 or 4 bulging carrier bags are given to them.

Do someone a good turn sometime, not just at Christmas, but it's a good time to start.
John

 

[tractorboy]

Thank you John,
a timely reminder at this time of rampant commercialism, with our screens filled with material desires.
An action, a kind word or a smile for someone else - small to give but huge when you receive.
Let us put aside our misconceptions and stereotypes and see people for who they really are, fellow travellers on our life journey.

[durangokid]

John,
Thank you for sharing your personal and heartfelt note. I have also dealt with elderly parents/in-laws/friends over the past few years and it can be trying at times, but I'm always thankful for the earlier and better times of recollection. Family and friends are the essence of life.

Thank you for reminding us to do some good turns --------- yes, it is the right thing to do!
A Happy Holiday Season to you also...................

Bill

[GHOSTHUNTER]

Thank you Jon for the reminder of how many of us live out our lives.

Father got his first Christmas card today, from the council officials who maintain his property, a block of flats with 14 floors, we (Father and I), are on the Seventh floor, he is registered disabled and I live-in with him as full-time carer.

I am expecting to see a food parcel soon, downstairs in the lobby for all us residents to pop in anything we can to help out with the less fortunate residents in the other flats.

All those who visit this forum will have met people in similar circumstances or have Family members who need help, so please, anybody who has been moved to do something for the elderly and infirm, by Jon's story, put aside your material wealth and get stuck-in with whatever help you can, thank's.

Seasons greetings to all forum members.

Kevin.