My Kind of Charity

Thinkgs have settled down after a rather unpleasant week. The move of ancient Mom was nearly a catastrophe to the very essence of who I am. D2 was with me, and we loaded her into the car. As I was driving about 70mph on I-95, my mother started talking gibberish, and then passed out. I started making my way to the side of the road, but thought that I would get the privilege of having my second parent die in my arms. And worse -- I would visit upon my beloved D2 the same trauma I experienced when I was 20. Luckily, Mom perked up, and we made it to Miami Jewish Home. Right now, she's still in the rehab stage, where they are attempting to get her as strong and mobile as possible. After that, it will be time for "long term care," the euphemism for "nursing home." But she's clean and safe and well fed, and I'm at peace regarding my duties towards her. Yesterday I took a day off from visiting her. D2's car needed service, so I left it and then took the Metrorail to my office. On my way home, D2 called -- she had been baby sitting for my friend and roommate Brian's three boys. She was headed to her friend Ben's brother Ethan's pre Bar Mitzvah project. Ethan got the local Sir Pizza to donate a portion of profits to an AIDS charity. To participate, one simply had to go there and eat. This is MY kind of charitable project. As I'm avoiding carbs, to I can regain my boyish figure in time for July 4th this year, I had a great anti pasto and some wings. I felt beneficent as I downed each wing... Ben and Ethan and their brother Josh and parents Julie and Steve are favorites of ours. Julie organizes a toy drive for the homeless each Christmas. A LOT of folks turned out last night -- a true testament to how popular this fine family is. I plan to take a small break from visiting Mom this weekend. Next Wednesday there's an ässesment meeting, where the staff will tell us the future rehab needs. The good news is that MJH is only about 35 minutes from my house, so I'll now be able to visit her often. Those 3 hour round trips to Delray were getting real, real old. Sort of like Mom...