Back in Oregon after a week with my family in New York. It was really excellent to be there, as things are in a period of change, mostly due to Lois' melt-down during Passover last month. It was some kind of stroke that landed her in the hospital and in a few weeks worth of rehab after that. She got home the day before I arrived, and the timing was fortuitous, in that I was able to plug in and help with stuff like getting her to doctor visits, doing some cooking and shopping and helping with her physical therapy regimen. Considering everything that she's been through, she's in pretty good shape, intact mentally and emotionally, but needing a walker to get around (slowly). It's hard to predict how far back she can come to 'normal', and I guess it's more a case of finding out what the 'new normal' is. It seems like she's ready to sell her house and relocate to a wheelchair accessible apartment somewhere in White Plains. Ch ch ch ch changes...
It was as though the universe was encouraging my trip back east as the arrangements came easily, a good and cheap flight, a place to park my car for free in Portland, and a ride to and from the airport on each end. And my time in White Plains was very satisfying; I needed to participate in this chapter of the family's story, and I'm very glad that I made the effort. Seems like it's a period of helping out others lately, and after a lifetime of primarily selfish pursuits, yeah, that feels right too. Before I left Eugene, I put in a bunch of hours helping my friend Jack complete his cedar fence... that was me digging holes and moving dirt around. And I paid a rehab visit to my friend Jabali on the way to a gig in Portland. Simple stuff, but appreciated by my friends and family (and by me too). It makes for a better balance.
And it's great to be back home here in Eugene, the weather is warming, the sun is shining, dance classes are happening, and this is where I live. I'm getting back to doing some gigs, and within a month, I'll be in eastern Oregon on a library tour, where I'll be able to add some zeroes to my bank account. It's looking a little paltry at the moment. What, me worry? I actually don't. Instead I have the strong sense that every day is a blessing, and that if my body is moving around OK, then wow, that is something to be treasured. And I do...
