Independence and dependence is what I’ve been considering lately. The reason is simple; I have lost much of my independence for a period of time.  

Normally I am a fairly independent person, and I enjoy the freedom to do what I want when I want. If we need something from the store, I’ll drive my car to the store of my choice and buy the item or items. When laundry piles up, I enjoy sorting, carrying the baskets-full downstairs to my dependable washer and drier. Most of the time I even remember to be thankful for them and the laundry they clean for us. When the sun shines and the weather is warm, I love to go outside and dig in the dirt, weeding, planting, pruning – everything my gardens need.

But with one misstep, all of those freedoms have been snatched from my life. Only for a time, I trust, but the loss is hard. I am struggling with my lack of freedom. Days drag from boring hour to boring hour and meld into nights of tossing and turning.

I am blessed to have a patient, loving husband who (so far) has not even grumbled about having to wait on me hand and foot. Besides all his normal work, he now has to cook and clean, fetch and assist. He brings me my food and water and even takes me for the occasional car ride. He says it’s like having a pet! The fact that he doesn’t want a pet bothers me somewhat…

But what about those who don’t have someone to lean on, ask of, depend on? How do those living alone manage when their independence is suddenly gone? If they cannot afford live-in help or call upon family to step up, what then? I can’t imagine how traumatic it would be.

Have you or someone you love experienced a sudden or gradual loss of independence? How did it affect you and those around you? What changes had to be made? What were the long-term outcomes? Has the experience changed relationships? I’d love to hear your stories!

Please leave a comment or email me at kf1928@telus.net. Thanks!

The last two weeks have been quiet at my computer. Other than emails and catching up on Facebook, I haven't done any writing. I have an excuse, of course. Because of an injury that makes stairs nearly impossible to navigate, I only come downstairs to this computer once a day. And my husband's laptop that I use the rest of the time doesn't have a word processing program. Is that a good enough excuse?

No, not really. I could have gone retro with pen and paper, or I could have at least made notes of ideas. Two weeks are gone without any real production. I can't go back. I can't change that now. But I can make better use of this quiet time.

No one knows how many days God has allotted, so wasting even one is shameful. And I am ashamed. It's time to start working on the next project, whatever it may be. Maybe some poetry to purge my soul or a short story to tease the imagination? Anything is better than nothing, so tomorrow the old pen and paper will get a workout. I can't wait to see what happens!

If I were a better poet, I'd write a poem of thanks to my dear friends who have read "Melody's Song" for me. Some found errors, which I appreciated and corrected, and several offered wonderful words of encouragement and praise. Of course I appreciate those, too! This journey has become less solitary, and that brings comfort. Your help is more precious to me than I can express. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.