Posted the day after the D-Day Anniversary
Some of you may be unaware, but my bachelor’s degree was not in information technologies, the landing spot of my career. My BA was in History from Missouri State University. When I received my original credentials, I was already lamenting the fact that teaching history was such a slanted, agenda-driven job that put ideas ahead of reality. Most history classes got bored and stopped teaching just after the American Civil War. Posturing should have no place in history, but it does and it always has.
Something I knew of but failed to mention yesterday because it didn’t fit the D theme (a very weak reason) is the “other” critically important battle on June 6th. Yes, it involved the French, the American’s and their foe, the Germans. The Battle of Belleau Wood saw some of the bravest fighting in World War I, the War to End All Wars. I, sadly, would venture to guess that most (99.9%) of my readers younger than me have never heard of this battle (unless they come from a Marines family). “Bella Wood….the flooring company???” No, not that…try the most critical offensive the Marines had ever undertaken up to that time and the first major battle the Americans fought in WWI. They fought German machine guns, in some cases, hand-to-hand with bayonets and fists. In a famous line in history, just as the brave Americans were entering the scene and stepping into this savage environment they met a retreating French battalion that told them to retreat from the machine gun onslaught while there was still time. Capt. Lloyd W. Williams, commanding the 51st Company, 2nd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment stoically proclaimed to the brave, but retreating ally “Retreat, hell! We just got here.” And it began.
Here is an amazing and quick video the Marine Time Machine website put out about this unforgettable battle:
Thousands were killed in this critical battle and millions were killed or wounded in this somehow forgotten war. How do we forget so soon!? Because it is easier to forget and move on. 🙁 That is the human condition….but it is wrong.
Back to the title topic at hand and a quick bit of preaching to the choir here. If you are reading this, chances are you visit your loved ones or care for them, so I am just venting when I beckon “Why won’t people visit loved ones in nursing homes or even in their home cared for by a loved one?”. Of the Sweet 17 damsels in distress, I figure at least half have never had a visit since we started coming in October. Not bragging or being prideful or self-righteous here (something I can be guilty of…), but I can say factually that Team Mom visits her at minimum 30 times a week. My stepdad blows the curve because he goes 2-3 times a day to eat with her, but me and my sis combine to visit nearly every day too. My brother comes every time he is in town at least one of the days and often more.
Some valid reason possibilities:
They have nobody left. If there is no family or friends living, it would explain it well. One Sweet 17er is in her mid-100s. If she didn’t have kids, chances are all of her close family is gone.
The potential visitor has a health condition that precludes visiting.
All possible potential visitors are in active duty military.
Visitors are sequestered in a jury that has lasted over 8 months now.
The potential visitor is a little child, too young to understand.
The nursing home is on a desert island.
A less good reason:
It is too hard. I get it. 🙁 I seldom visited my Grandma Applegate when she was in a nursing home after her stroke. She was one of my very favorite people in the world and it was just too hard. I would like to encourage you to visit. It gets easier and easier. Lean on the nursing staff for caregiving you cannot do, but be there and hold his or her hand. Who cares if it seems they don’t know you. Mom hasn’t known my name in over a year now. She knows that she knows me and that I am on Team Mom and I sure know her. That will have to be good enough and it may have to be good enough for you too.
The rest:
They are forgotten.
All potential visitors are in prison.
There is no real purpose to this venting session other than to try to poke you into visiting or visiting more. It gets easier. It really does. If you used to visit a lot, don’t give up….keep visiting. Bring folks with you. 🙂 We are not in a sprint here with this disease…more of an ultra-marathon if anything.
So I leave you with this: Dig in! Pray!!!! Fight! Advocate! Donate! Donate more. 😉 (Sorry…I do work for a non-profit 🙂 ) Call your legislator! Visit more! No loved ones in need? Help someone else in this boat! Give time! Make fidget blankets! Set in on frequent care meetings! Charge!!! Hide behind a tree for a minute when you need a break, then jump out and charge some more!!!! Be a soldier for your loved one! I know it feels like we fight the machine gun of stress and grief and sadness with a plastic bayonet some days, but the truth is with faith in our Creator we can fight… and win. If you get tired of the fight and the little voice on your shoulder says “Maybe it is time to retreat”, reply with a hardy “Retreat, heck, I just got here!”
#EndALZ
Update: Mom was doing well yesterday again. Look forward to seeing her tonight and checking out her ankles. They are swelling and her mom had congestive heart failure, so we keep an eye on such for that and other reasons.