The ‘Get Well’ cards and balloons filled the dining room. Marta was well-liked by all.
But, her diagnosis was grim. It was a rare form of cancer. It had spread throughout her body. If it hadn’t been for COVID, she wouldn’t have known until she died.
We haven’t seen any family visitors. Has anyone called her family?
There is no family.
Nonsense, everyone has a family.
She does not. How long does she have to live?
Perhaps, a month.
Good Odds.
How so?
A neighbor found her during a well-check visit. She arrived here as an attempted suicide.
Readiness to help the weak is no more. Let me unveil the tale.
Several weeks ago, while waiting for a table on the patio of one of my favorite Italian restaurants, hubby and I sat chatting and feeling free that the mask mandates were lifting. It was a pleasant evening to be outdoors. You can order drinks, but there is no outdoor service. Mama’s is a popular restaurant with delicious food. There’s a crowd. Everyone is chatting, laughing, and enjoying the wonderful feeling of being able to be out and about.
The wait is short, our names are called, and off we go to meet the hostess.
Due to my compromised immune system, I wasn’t confident to go mask-less. So, I put my mask on as I approached the young lady at the entrance. When I got to the doorway, my toe from my sneaker caught the edge of their entrance doormat.
Down … Down … Down … I went. I was flat on my side with an outstretched arm, bent leg, and my head right on the indoor mat.
Plop … Plop … Plop
I lay there on the ground for what seemed like a month, but it was only a few seconds. Hubby grabbed my arm to help me up, but I was like jello. My body wouldn’t respond to what I wanted it to do.
Eventually, I begin to focus and grasp that I’ve fallen when a man with a pizza box in hand steps over me on his way out of the restaurant.
The man did not bother to ask if he could help, nor did the other patrons out on the patio. Actually, he said, “Welcome!” as he continued on his way.
WHAT???
Hubby picked me up, and we walked to our table. The owners of the restaurant came over to ask if I was okay. I felt shaky and embarrassed. I was mad at myself for putting the mask on while walking. I think it impeded my visual concept of space. I haven’t worn a mask since. I much prefer COVID to a fall.
Now, let’s not get angry about my mask rebellion. I’ve been wearing a mask from the very beginning of the pandemic. I continue to support wearing maks. I’ve had COVID twice. I know it’s no walk in the park. It’s a horrific illness, and I am not ready for a third Covid event.
But, falling at my age is a big problem. I have osteoporosis which means my bones are thin, thin, thin. I have bad knees too. I did fall on the side of my body. My injuries are bruising, some headaches, swelling, and overall body aches.
Despite these symptoms, the most painful thing is knowing that we are no longer willing to help someone who can’t help themselves.
*****the photograph above is of my daughter. She works in Hospice care. This is what they wear in their office. The mask they wear with patients involves a lot more covering.
Welcome – make yourself at home. Pick a pretty cup or mug for coffee, hot chocolate, herbal tea, or a cup of my peppermint Christmas tea. Sit in a comfy chair so we can chat.
A little Christmas music might be nice. Hope you like my selection.
Piano Songs – Good Vibes are playing softly for you to have a blessed Christmas.
Some changes in our weather, recently. It’s still bright, warm, sunny but with a little nip in the air. It feels like a light winter.
November and December have been busy months for me here at home. Covid canceled all art shows and gallery exhibitions. We’ve been resurrecting our Etsy on-line shops to keep the business going. Although we’re at retirement age and do fewer art shows and gallery exhibits than in our younger years, our creative juices cannot be satisfied unless we are expressing ourselves with art. Be sure to get in touch with me if you see something you’d like to add to your collections. No, they will not arrive for Christmas but we do deliver a wonderful work of art for you to enjoy.
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It’s difficult to understand the magnitude of how far our words are going out there on the World Wide Web. For those of you who aren’t tech-savvy, I feel your angst.
I’m cautious about everything I do on-line. I’ve had a lot of SPAM calls since COVID. Perhaps, it’s coincidental or perhaps, the perfect opportunity for hackers to catch the unsuspecting isolating victim. However, I have a Covid friend who appeared from out of nowhere.
I had several messages about a FaceTime caller on my cell. It never failed, it was always at a time I could not answer my phone. I was curious though. I decided to see whose name was being left as the caller. I didn’t recognize the name. I thought I should ignore it.
A few days later the phone rang and I answered. A sweet voice from somewhere with a British accent began to speak. She rambled on about my smile and about how much she enjoyed my photographs of my orchids. We chatted for quite some time but we never discussed the reason for her call or the location of where she had found me.
When I hung up I had a feeling of well-being. You see this lovely lady said, “You made my day today. Thank you for putting a smile on my face. I hope I can call again.”
A few days later, I decided I should do a little research on where my new acquaintance had come from. I have a friend of over 20 years. She is one of my FB friends. Her last name is the same as the woman who called me; however, she is native American Indian. This nice lady had a British accent. I thought about my lack of due diligence. I should have asked for the info while she was on the phone. My mission the next time she called was to get the information.
I did. She’s my friends’ brother’s wife. My friend’s sister-in-law. Her husband has passed, she lives alone and isn’t mobile. Her family, like many others, are far away. It turns out she saw my photograph on my friend’s FB page and the rest …. well, you know. We’ve chatted many times. She a lovely woman.
She has mentioned that COVID has left her feeling very isolated and lonely. I believe she felt through this WWW of technology that there would be someone out there she could reach in order to feel connected. I suppose I was that one person.
Reach out and touch someone today, and during the this loneliest holiday season.
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I hope the coming week is a peaceful and stressless one
Welcome – make yourself at home. Pick a pretty cup or mug for coffee, hot chocolate, herbal tea, or a cup of my new favorite chai tea. Sit in a comfy chair so we can chat.
A little music might be nice. Hope you like my selection.
Relaxing Hang Drum – Good Vibes is playing softly. Mother Nature’s Fall …
No changes in our weather here. It’s still bright, warm, and sunny.
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It’s difficult to understand the magnitude of how far our words are going out there on the World Wide Web. For those of you who aren’t tech-savvy, I feel your angst.
I’m cautious about everything I do on-line. I’ve had a lot of SPAM calls since COVID. Perhaps, it’s coincidental or perhaps, the perfect opportunity to catch the unsuspecting isolating victim.
For Example:
I received a text message from Amazon.
Yes, I do shop through this site. I have family in different states. The free shipping helps. A major convenience for me especially during COVID.
The text said, “A large purchase has been added to your shopping cart. It’s for a 72” Sony TV.”
Well, hubby was happy. He thought I was about to purchase this TV for him. No … No … No!!!
I called the phone number listed on the text. It looked official. A man answered.I told him about the text and the number I had been ask to call for more information.
In quite an official voice he said, “Your account has been hacked. A large charge has been added to your shopping cart. Amazon has frozen your account until we can figure out these charges.”
I told him I didn’t charge a TV and would never purchase anything of that amount online. I asked if he could remove the item since I don’t see it in the cart.
Then, his questions started:
What is your email?
What is your computer type?
Have you purchased anything recently from Amazon?
What is your Amazon account number?
What is your password for your computer?
I told him I didn’t need to give him my information if he was from Amazon. They have all of that on file.
He said, “No, he’s the one that will clear up this charge, and in order for him to do that he needed my password, email, and account number.”
When I refused, he said, “He had to put me on hold until he spoke to his supervisor.” Sometime later, a very flustered man returned to the call.
“Madam, you must understand that your account will be frozen until this is all taken care of by me. I will need the information in order to do that.”
While he was speaking to me a great deal of chaotic noises were going on in the background. I questioned why it was noisy as I was having difficulty hearing him.
“No worries, I am here and will clear the noise for you. Let me put you on hold a minute.”
Now, it was very, very quiet. A cautious chill overtook me. I immediately wanted to hang up. But, I also wanted my account unfrozen.
He came back.
He said, “Now, if you can give me this information I will clear up the issue for you.”
I told him, “ I’m afraid I don’t have time right now. I’ll have to call back.”
I never did call him.
I never did have a TV in my shopping cart.
I never did have a frozen account.
I contacted Amazon. They informed me that many, many accounts had been hacked but they had adjusted their security.
Do I feel safe using Amazon?
Yes, but I’m even more cautious about giving information than ever before.
Have you experienced an incident like this or a similar one?
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I hope the coming week is a peaceful and stressless one
Welcome – make yourself at home. Pick a pretty cup or mug for coffee, hot chocolate, herbal tea, or a cup of my new favorite chai tea. Sit in a comfy chair so we can chat.
A little music might be nice. Hope you like my selection.
A Mozart – Clarinet Concerto playing softly. The video images are showcasing the changes of Mother Nature into fall.
It’s been a bright sunny day today. The humidity is low so it’s pleasant out. It’s still swimming pool weather, though. We don’t experience leaves changing down south here in Florida. A quick three-hour drive can take you to picturesque places with Mother Nature painting beautiful landscapes. It’s an annual weekend drive for us to see this change of colors but, this year, we’re staying close to home instead.
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Before COVID, I was a member of a knitting group. A once a week meet, chat, and helpline for beginning knitters. It was held at one of the public library meeting rooms.
Since January the library, as per county restrictions, has been closed. I decide to continue with my projects despite my lack of knowledge of certain knitting stitches. I learned a great deal from watching YouTube Professional Knitters. It’s been fun learning and continuing to create.
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Has anyone been experiencing odd people behavior when you go out in this time of COVID?
I’ve only ventured out for MD appointments, dental appointments, and a well-needed manicure/ pedicure.
On my last outing, I decided I needed a change of scenery from the mundane MD offices. I went to a Home Good store. It’s a fun shop with a variety of seasonal decor and items for home decorating. I enjoy seeing the decorations set-up for the different holidays. Right now, Halloween was everywhere as were some Christmas things. They have a specialty food area I like too.
While looking at the ingredients of an exotic jar of whole figs in a luscious syrup, a woman came up to me and said, “Your cart is facing in the wrong direction.”
“Is there a proper way for the cart to face?”, I asked.
She pointed to the arrows on the floor. “You must follow the arrows in order to socially distance the correct way.”
Well, I would have laughed but I didn’t think she’d appreciate it. Instead, I looked at her and said, “I’ll do better next time.” I walked away chuckling within.
Too bad, I might have considered buying the figs but left the store instead.
We have now gotten to the point where we have Nazi aisle police. Funny and sad all at the same time.
Have you experienced a situation similar to this one?
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I hope the coming week is a peaceful and stressless one
Tears flowed faster than Esmeralda could wipe them away. She was inconsolable. Five years of waiting was all for nothing. The dreams of a better life negated by a virus.
Pedro was fortunate to have found a job as a dishwasher at MaMa’s pizzeria when he arrived in America. Leaving his family behind was a high price paid but worth it. It meant a better life for his family. Drug cartels were taking over his town. Random shootings with crime rampant too edged him on for a better way of living.
The landlord trashing his life onto the sidewalk: Defeated!
Welcome – make yourself at home. Pick a pretty cup or mug for coffee, hot chocolate, herbal tea. or a cup of my new favorite chai tea. Sit in a comfy chair so we can chat.
A little music might be nice … enjoy my selection.
It’s a warm overcast day with rain forecast for the rest of the weeks in September. All this is due to Hurricane Sally. Spared by her wrath, we are only experiencing a lot of flooding from the outer rain bands. Unfortunately, it looks like New Orleans and Alabama will have an abundant amount of water and wind damage.
Emotions have been roller coaster rides with exuberantly happy days and some sad days too. I suppose it’s all part of the COVID series of emotional lifestyle changes.
Let me begin with the joyous moments I’ve been experiencing.
I celebrated my birthday on July 20th. I am an on the cusp moon child baby. Since in isolation and under quarantine, hubby created a special dinner with flowers and candles added for an intimate restaurant atmosphere. We danced away our dinner calories afterward. Since we don’t have a restricted bedtime, we added a midnight swim in our pool. The water was warm since our weather has been quite hot this year. BTW … no fires ignited from the amount of candles. ~~~ : – )
Vincent Alfonso Carrozza November 25, 1994 September 17, 2018 … R.I.P.
In August, my middle daughter celebrated her 50th birthday. She did have a big celebration in South Carolina; however, we were concerned about COVID and decided not to attend. Hubby and I are at a high-risk health level. I did send a gift of a specially created portrait, created by artist/author Rochelle Wisoff-Fields, of her son. He died in September of 2018. Far too young at 24. It was a tragedy for our family. He will always be in our hearts.
Hubby and I celebrated our 55th anniversary the 3rd week in August. Our usual celebrations of anniversaries or birthdays on cruises have been interrupted by COVID. Instead, we found a wonderful concert to attend on social media after a fabulous dinner we both participated in making. A midnight swim was a must for calorie burning. A blessed ending to a journey we’ve walked for a very long time. I believe it is One that will be A Lifetime Forever.
A Wonderful Anniversary Song
The final bit of news is about an unexpected call from a stranger. I’ll have to post that next time.
Hope you’ll join in and post some news on your blog. Leave your url in my comments so others and I can visit.
Please continue to stop by my blog for more updates, news and challenges I’ll be posting whiles in my little piece of paradise.
Have a wonderful week … be safe … keep your spirits up
Inside the Mind of Isadora 