Finished Diana Athill's SOMEWHERE TOWARDS THE END, written in her 89th year, a thoughtful memoir. I had a slow start, but the writer grows on one. Her discussion of care giving was particularly recognized; especially as she was referring to her once lover turned friend who lived in her house. He was impossible about caring for himself, a diabetic, who could stop eating sweets only when blood sugar levels brought him down - but once recovered, would binge on cakes again. How difficult it is to live with someone who falls into such carelessness, creating a shallow black hole which effects the house. I know her feelings on this! But I guess anyone of us can fall into such a state of neglect. Health and attitude: ill health is tolerable if attitude is companionable? We are poor care givers to the boring, dull, depressed or disgusted.
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
watching the sky change
After a sudden heavy rain which sent the goats under the deck, sleet came and now rain with large globs of snow. It is lovely in an odd way, an indecisive manner; but all is being painted white. Apparently the snow forecast is happening, altho sooner than anticipated (schools in this county open and now I hazard are scrambling to bus the children home). I'll go out to feed Alaska cat when the sky is all snow; my rain gear is deficient.
Finished Diana Athill's SOMEWHERE TOWARDS THE END, written in her 89th year, a thoughtful memoir. I had a slow start, but the writer grows on one. Her discussion of care giving was particularly recognized; especially as she was referring to her once lover turned friend who lived in her house. He was impossible about caring for himself, a diabetic, who could stop eating sweets only when blood sugar levels brought him down - but once recovered, would binge on cakes again. How difficult it is to live with someone who falls into such carelessness, creating a shallow black hole which effects the house. I know her feelings on this! But I guess anyone of us can fall into such a state of neglect. Health and attitude: ill health is tolerable if attitude is companionable? We are poor care givers to the boring, dull, depressed or disgusted.
Finished Diana Athill's SOMEWHERE TOWARDS THE END, written in her 89th year, a thoughtful memoir. I had a slow start, but the writer grows on one. Her discussion of care giving was particularly recognized; especially as she was referring to her once lover turned friend who lived in her house. He was impossible about caring for himself, a diabetic, who could stop eating sweets only when blood sugar levels brought him down - but once recovered, would binge on cakes again. How difficult it is to live with someone who falls into such carelessness, creating a shallow black hole which effects the house. I know her feelings on this! But I guess anyone of us can fall into such a state of neglect. Health and attitude: ill health is tolerable if attitude is companionable? We are poor care givers to the boring, dull, depressed or disgusted.
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I don't know which is worse...taking care of someone else in that state or taking care of oneself when poor, disgusted and depressed. Talk about impossible "self-care."
ReplyDeleteI like the red chair in snow.
yes, sort of tests the limits of compassion; then again the appropriate care giver may not be a friend or relative! How is your state of snow?? we ended up with little, more slush which is frozen this morning.
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