Friday, April 4, 2014

I returned to market yesterday. Martha was ill. So I was called in to help out. I was so looking forward to being back. Had to get up and out of the house extra early, leaving Rob to walk and feed the pups and give Lucy her meds and get mom up and feed her breakfast and at least make sure she had washed her hands. But things didn’t go as planned. 

Pups were still asleep and quiet. I decided to make a cup of tea. I got my clothing ready the night before. All I needed to do was shower and go. Market isn’t far, and I had to be there by 7:00 am. Then, she called… 

Sandy!

Oh no, mom is awake.

Sandy!
What is it, mom?
I’m so dry.
I’ll get you water. (Putter, putter putter)
Here it is, mom.
Oh thank you so much.
Now go back to sleep. You’ll be fine. 

I made my tea, then prepared to get into the shower. Turned on the shower…

Sandy!
What is it, mom?
I’m still so dry, and I have to go to the bathroom.
OK, mom. You go to the bathroom, and I will give you something to help. (Putter, putter, putter. I prepared some Biotene for her to gargle.)
Here mom. Gargle with this, but don’t swallow it. Just spit it out.

Mom went back to bed, and I hopped into the shower.

Sandy!
I quickly wrapped a towel around me and went to her side.
What, mom! I have to go work and I need to take a shower. Are you OK?
Oh, where are you going?
Nowhere. I’ll be here.
OK.
Good. Now you stay in bed and go back to sleep. It’s early. (Mom usually stays in bed until 10:00 am or so.) 

When she’s awake, she doesn’t want to be alone. Hers is a lonely life. Mom called several times more while I showered. I hurried, hoping that Rob remained undisturbed. But he wasn’t. I ran off to market and the rest of the day with mom and the pups was left to him. 

At Market—

Was great to be back at the butcher shop, but my foot soon reminded me that it wasn’t prepared for a full day of standing. There were many small, heartening changes at the stand. R had resigned as meat cutter and Melissa was now doing the bulk of the work with the help of her brother. Both doing an excellent job! The schnitzel was perfectly cut, the cases were neat. Melissa’s husband had been purchasing intelligently for the shop: a flexible table, metal storage shelves, new counter tops. They got rid of the ratty wooden tables and stools that had probably harbored every bacteria known to man. The atmosphere was different too. More relaxed. Less rushed. There was even more space, or so it seemed. We were all able to move around more freely. 

Melissa is a brilliant woman to begin with, and one would wonder how she managed to become the proprietor of a small meat stand at market. It’s not a vocation one would have associated with her. I could see her working more as a research scientist than as the proprietor of a meat stand, but there she is. You never know where life will take you. It took R’s leaving to move her to take ownership of the place. 

I love market—mostly because I love people. I so enjoy talking with them, even if it’s only a small insignificant exchange about food or weather or cars or the best pizza places in town. I love also visiting the other stands and knowing the other proprietors and having them know me. I belong. I love belonging. 

As a freelance writer and editor, I don’t belong to any one company—which for my money is a plus. I would rather not put up with the daily stresses of office life. I love instead being with my puppies and Rob and mom and in my own home, where I can have a cup of tea or make some soup whenever the mood strikes me. My hours are my own. All I have to do is deliver a job on time and do an excellent job. (Excellent is the key word. A freelancer does not have the luxury of “getting through the day,” the way many workers do. Government workers come to mind… Hmmm…) 

It all works out for me: At home, I belong to my family. At market, I belong to a bigger family. Yes, it all works out. 

Mom is up and calling again. Valentino and Lucia are in my office. Door is closed. Valentino is restless once again. Trucks, school buses, motorcycles, other dogs… I cannot change this pup. He is the house alarm, and he needs to be. It’s part of his perceived value. 

Look mommy, I am chasing those [insert vehicle, person, or dog] away from our house!
Great job, Val. But come into mommy’s office and rest a bit. Save your strength for when the school bus returns the urchins to the neighborhood. 

Val and Lucia are sleeping once again. So is mom. This quiet will not last. But ah sweet silence!

My friend Mary just called from LA to give me tips on singing. She’s taking lessons again and this time, from a really good teacher. Mary put my name in Ardas again, as she does many, many times. I am so grateful for her. We practiced the singing tips, and I will pass them on later to Mike. I know he’ll be excited, too.

 

Mom is up now. She washed her face, looked in the mirror and asked if she had to wash her face. I assured her she had done just that. I asked her to sit on the toilet, but she insisted she did not have to. I insisted further and won. She did need to. The spoon symphony is now in progress as she moves each piece of Cheerios into place. It’s as annoying as ever, but she enjoys her cereal and would eat it all day long if we allowed her to. 

Going to practice singing Putting On the Ritz with my tongue over my lower right teeth. Catch you later!