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View From my 6th Floor Balcony 5/13/2010 5:51:07 AM
Another view from my 6th floor balcony
It has been a year now, looking from my 6th floor balcony and many things have taken place, so I think it is time to catch up.
My first entry, about life as I see it from my balcony, was about Henry and the issues he has dealt with over the years; including polio, a very sick wife, and children that are scattered all over the map.
In the intervening time, I have found an oyster bed of rich, vibrant people that have offered themselves in this game of life, and now rest on the merits that they did the best they could.
Today let me introduce you to Sid and Abhi, a most unusual couple.
The first thing I learned about this fascinating couple is that you can’t have one without the other, yet they complement each other in such a seamless way, it would be wrong if they were not together.
Sid was music major in college, aspiring for his few minutes of fame. As a kid he started a band and played in around his home in Madison, Wisconsin. After graduating college he started his life as a trumpet player in the smoky jazz and blues clubs in Chicago. After s short period of time, Sid decided to go into teaching, then work as a school counselor, and finally going into school administration; all in all, a great decision which allowed him to contribute richly to young people’s lives.
Abhi, by profession was a registered nurse, and I know by experience a great care-giver. While working as a nurse, Abhi also raised six children from a previous marriage, in addition she has this powerful concern for human life, and puts that concern on display even today. while in her early 80’s.
Some of their richest experiences have come after retirement.
Sid and Abhi joined the Peace Corps and served in Granada for a time, and then they ventured out to a wider world, spending time in South America, and a few years in Mexico. Their time was spent teaching, nursing, and getting to know their neighbors in a much vaster neighborhood that still lives in their hearts and minds, today.
Today Sid is living with Macular Degeneration and has lost much of his sight, but his mind is as sharp as a tack and loves to involve anyone that will listen to join him in conversation. About once a month Sid and I will hop on the bus and find a new and interesting place to enjoy lunch, so far it has been quite an adventure.
Abhi is one of those creative types that just recently discovered her voice as a writer, but she also cares deeply about people. When I became ill this past February, I gave Abhi the keys to my apartment, as I was being wheeled off in the ambulance. Little did I know that while I was confined to a hospital bed, Abhi was busy cleaning my apartment from top to bottom, and when I was discharged from hospital, she was there every day, making sure I was recuperating properly.
I could write more about Sid and Abhi, but suffice it to say, my view from this balcony is much better because of knowing this wonderful pair of bookends to life.
Tomorrow, meet a few more friends I have made while viewing life from my 6th floor balcony. dlj
