Sunday evening the General and I attended a retirement celebration for a woman and her family who have owned and operated a small, assisted living resource for seniors who cannot live on their own. The facility is located on Shenandoah Drive in Cedar Park and has been operational for the past 28 years. It is in a picturesque setting in a residential neighborhood rather than on a busy thoroughfare.
During adulthood, I learned a couple of things I've never forgotten. I know from experience that when your children are doing well, you are doing well. That was one of the first observations I discovered. There is no time limit on that being true. The desire for your children to be doing well and enjoying life is perpetual.
There are many levels woven into the periphery of a parent's focus on the choices made by their children. As children move toward independence, almost every decision they make has consequences (i.e.: interests, choice of friends, values, college, vocational choices, marriage, parenthood, where they choose to reside). It is a never-ending list of variables that all impact life.
The second observation surfaced mid-life for me. It is closely akin to the earlier observation. I discovered that when your parents are doing well, you are doing well. At some level, the trajectory of that being a high priority for adult children increases as parents get older and their ability to live independently becomes more taxing.
I have jokingly said that if anyone ever mentions my need for assisted living, I might be amenable to taking up skiing black diamonds. I didn't start snow skiing until I was 61 and up to this point, I've never trekked down a black diamond course. Truth be told, I never will. I don't have a wish for self-harm.
It is interesting how the continuum of relationships influences the choices subsequently made in one's life. When my former sister-in-law moved to Cedar Park over two decades ago, she subsequently found that her father who was widowed and still living in Odessa could no longer live independently. Fortunately, she located the facility on Shenandoah Drive.
It was during a visit with my former sister-in-law's dad, that I met Zalina, the owner and operator of Shenandoah. Zalina moved to the U.S. from Trinidad. Her two daughters who were also nurses, assisted with the care of those in the assisted living environment. Her son also managed other aspects of the operation.
As a family, they were responsible for the care of adults needing support 24/7 for twenty-eight years. Interestingly, most of their family activities and celebrations took place at the assisted living facility. The dozen adults residing there became a part of their extended family.
My former sister-in-law's dad died twenty-one years ago. The friendship forged with Zalina during his care continues to flourish. Sixteen years ago, I was invited to participate in a baby dedication for one of her granddaughters. In short order, I was subsequently invited to officiate at the wedding of Zalina and Clemith. As a couple, their friendship was important, and we periodically met for dinner. Subsequently, a couple of years ago, I was asked to assist at Clemith's funeral. I was shocked to discover that he was in his nineties. I thought he and I were the same age.
Zalina, who is now seventy-five, is ready for the next chapter of her life. The same could be said of her children. What an incredible difference they have made is supporting families needing help in keeping loved ones safe.
All My Best!
Don
No comments:
Post a Comment