Recommit Through a New View

Wednesday, August 9, 2023

Possibility of recommitment through new experiences

We gave ourselves an outing!
Two days, Rochester, MN.
Some errands, non-medical appt, 
Good Gluten Free food, some sights.

Fun! Change of scene gave
Different focus and schedule,
More time for conversation.
Valued side-benefit.

Our reality is that Bob and I have lots of time
With each other.
Still, shifting scene, shifted attention.

Evening walk to Soldiers Field Veterans Memorial
Informative, attractive—
Sobering.

Young man with camera taking picture,
Area map of Africa chiseled into stone wall.

Asked what he was photographing.
“My homeland.  
This map corner, UAE , my home.”

Clearly, he was emotion-filled,
Pointing to that little section of map
Etched into a marble wall.
That moment’s visual of his homeland.

“Had I been there?”
No.
“Did I know of it?”
Only by name.
Still, we connected about his faraway home.

New sights, new people, new thoughts,
Can come with scene change.

We toured “Mayowood”,
Historic mansion from another era.
Lived in by some of original
Family of the Doctors Mayo.

Excellent guide, using stories 
To describe family and dwelling,
Maintained our attention.

I pushed wheelchair with Bob as passenger.
Lengthy periods of standing listening to guide
During one and half hour tour,
Prompted the wheelchair choice.
Very smart, and I’ll tell you that I am 
Glad Bob is a loveable, lightweight, skinny dude! 

Seems to me that an outing,
Its experiences encountered,
Can prompt my recommitting.

Recommit to my good life
With familiar places, 
Available resources—
Our happy-place-Library, 
Its Bookmobile.

And recommit to known friends,
Plus new acquaintances.

Lucky me.

Hugs.
Lin

Limerick:

Just what did you find from your outing?
As you looked around? Were you scouting?
What did surprise you,
With another view?
That home still fits you without doubting!