A POSTCARD IN THE MAIL: Caregiver Rejuvenation

Remember the days when people actually went on vacation and sent postcards to their friends and family wishing they were there.  It was one of my favorite things to send and receive. It is rare these days. I think the technological age has changed us all, even those of us who are getting on in time. 

Yesterday my day was quickly spinning out of my control, but late in the day I received an honest to goodness postcard in the mail. Just what I needed to Get a Foothold for the rest of the day! It was from a fairly new friend who traveled to New York City for an art museum.  My love of art and museums still lives on, but it is very hard for me to get to them these days.  I was surprised and pleased to see it. 

I loved three things about this postcard.  It was mailed by a friend, it was a wonderful painting by Edward Hopper that I had never seen, called 7 a.m., from 1948, a wonderful painting, and it reconnected me with the outside world.  The picture reminds me a bit of an older drug store on Broadway, in Saratoga Springs, not too far from here. I love to go inside when I am there and smell the old smells those early stand alone drug stores radiated. It still does.

Between the arctic chill, concerns for my family out west, and our too numerous doctor visits this week, cabin fever had set in and hate for the lovely New England had taken over.  The neighbors are all bickering about the weather, when will it end, who is parking where, why is this one or that one not moving their vehicle.  We choose to hide in our apartment during this type of interaction, but that is not way to live.  We need to out in the world more, as normal people, enjoying the life, and second chance we have been given after Bill's brain injury.

A Little Bit of Respite

Respite is TBI program jargon for a time out.  And  that it what this postcard is to me. It is a small postcard, sitting here, smiling up at me.  I would post a photo but I don't know if it is copyrighted. It has inspired me to clean off that over crowded bulletin board of mine, and get it organized and start fresh.  So today, when all the tasks are done, I will begin to reorganize that board, and this card will be part of it.

These little pieces of reality from the outside world, invading our isolation with joy mean so much. So dear friends, keep them coming.  We received photo from Italy in January and it looked like the two couples were having the time of their life.  I think of them there when I eat Italian food now. 

It is a little more work on a vacation to think of someone else, but it is what Emily Dickinson called a Frigate. An escape. I have become an Accidental Tourist, as the Anne Tyler book was so aptly titled.  I sit in my armchair and write to you and share in your adventures in the world.

Enjoy the day, and keep me in your thoughts and drop me or a caregiver you know a postcard in the mail. Modern technology and the Internet are wonderful ways to stay in touch, but there is nothing like going to your mailbox and finding a postcard from a friend. You may never know how you rejuvenate their life. Thank you friend!

You can find many links to Edward Hopper's painting 7 a.m. on the web, and a well written article the following link: http://thepagansphinx.blogspot.com/2011/01/hopper-and-his-time.html