Epiphanies

I'm not a stupid person.  I've been around, and I know things.  And some of the things I know, I have known most of my life.  Then something happens that makes the known things light up with new meaning that I had never considered before.  And then I feel stupid.

This is one of those times.  

My neighbors of almost 30 years, Fred and Sharon, live directly across the street from me.  We don't visit socially, but we have given each other keys to our doors for things like taking care of pets in our absence, collecting mail when we are gone, using driveway space when there is an overflow for special events--that sort of thing.  When my breathing and mobility became a problem some years ago, Fred started bringing my mail up to my house and takes my garbage can to the street each collection day--then brings it back up to the house later.  I never asked him to do that.  He just does it out of the goodness of his heart.  It makes my life sooo much easier.

And what about the goodness of his heart?  Freddie calls himself my "Nosy Neighbor".  If he sees something going on over here that he doesn't know about, he emails--or comes over.  Once, I had called the EMTs when my sister needed a health evaluation.  Fred saw the ambulance and came in the door.  One of the EMTs alerted me:  someone just came in.  Yes...of course...that's just Fred.  We have a bit of a family joke: Freddie knows all!

One time, when my grandchildren were here about three years ago, my grandson couldn't get the hot water to shut off when he was done with his shower.  The water control knob just spinned without doing a thing.  Fred was outside, mowing, so I hailed him to come over to figure things out.  He found the water turnoff valve, tightened a screw under the little plate on the face of the knob, then turned the water back on.  Problem solved in no time! 

Another time, he jumped my car when the battery was toast.  It was enough to get me to a place that would put in a new one. 

Another time when I tore the meniscus in my knee, I called and he was johnny-on-the-spot to come over and help me out.  

Yet another time, when I wasn't responsive to knocks on the door, etc., he came in with his key.  He found me asleep in bed, napping, patted my hand to wake me up to see if I was okay.  People in other circumstances than mine might have felt violated by the intrusion, but I was grateful.  If having a nosy neighbor means someone might find me in dire straits, I'm all for it.  God bless Nosy Neighbor Fred!

Well...now Neighbor Fred is in trouble.  He messed up his ankle in a fall, so I found someone to mow his lawn.  The next time I talked to him on the phone, he didn't sound well.  His wife called me a couple of days later to tell me that he was in the county hospital, in ICU, with COVID.  I texted him with my support.  His wife also took a test but hadn't received results yet.  Then she called to say that the hospital had put him on a respirator...which is not good news.  She still didn't have tests results for herself, yet.  Both Fred and wife Sharon were vaccinated.  I don't know what to think.  Later, Sharon got the news that she also is COVID positive.  Doing okay...but who deserves this? 

Just yesterday, I was reading something that put a wave of understanding over me.  Why are we here?  What is our purpose?  Why is the current wave of nastiness not important?  Jesus said, "If you love me, tend my flock.  Feed my sheep." Etc.  Yeah, okay...I've tried to help others as long as they don't intrude into my meager life.  But when we are talking about life or death, there are no choices.  DO!  Do whatever it takes to have no regrets on your soul when it's your turn to beg for mercy in life.  There are no second chances.  There is no do-over.  Life isn't a dress rehearsal for something better: this is IT.  

Regardless of your religious bent, we are on this earth to contribute to the survival of our species.  If we can't help each other or respect each other's existence, we are nothing.  Dust to dust.  Nothing left by which to remember us as individuals.

I don't pretend to be important as part of the Universe.  I just don't want to feel that I lived, loved, and died for nothing.  Please God...make it not so!