Day 165

Restless night. Kind of flashbacks of the vehicle coming at me and a second of running. I walked twice yesterday and will admit feeling vulnerable and less confident. I’ll get over it. Walking is an important part of my routine. Today is Tea and stories group. I smarten up the house so it’s welcoming. The group is a significant part of my life. The writing is less so than the sharing and friendship. I like knowing that I invited them and keep us together.

HEADLINE NEWS; Kellene Sanders is coming for a visit. When her hostess, Sharon, first heard this news, she was less than excited than former years for many reasons. Kelle and Sharon first met in 2002 at Optimum Health Institute in San Diego where they were both patients. They started talking at a class and laughed and smiled at their reasons for being there. Kelle wanted to break her sugar addiction. Sharon wanted to feel well after a long recovery from spinal surgery. Later they both showed up at the meditation room at the same time. Both were carrying journals and lots of colored pens and crayons. During the three weeks they were there Kelle took Sharon over the wall and out to movies and picnics away from the institute. It made it feel like a vacation instead of a rehab.

Months later Kelle began calling Sharon on Sunday evenings usually when she was in her car. It became a routine even when Kelle was in Detroit or Memphis and Peru.  Sharon gave Kelle the confidence to know that anytime she could come to C,City, she would be welcome. Kelle has made at least a dozen visits to C. City.at first she drove from Long Beach during her Christmas break from work. Later she flew and twice she came with a friend on a road trip who left her here and came back for her.

This time when Kelle announced that she was coming, Sharon was not excited. She thought about Kelle saying how “low maintenance” she is followed by asking for the heat to be turned up, no pork please, organic coffee, etc. Not low at all.

Then, the change came in Sharon’s attitude as she realized it was not about Kelle’s visit,    It was about her routine and her curmudgeon reluctance to change. She likes going to bed when she’s tired, eating when and what she wants, getting up early, doing her duties in the community. Then the light dawned as she remembered the fun they have had and her recent loss of her father. Kelle needed to get away from the business of his death and the sorting process with her siblings and called the one person she sure would be there for her. . What’s a week of being present for a long time friend. It is not too much to ask and Sharon is now ready to gleefully accommodate and lovingly step out of her habits to give respite to her friend..