love

“Listen to me!  You seem to think you’re 35 years old, in good health, and with it.  But you’re a senior or better, in so so health, and losing your mind!”  I was talking to Ming about his morning journey.  It was an act of love.

His plan included taking the bus to a fasting blood draw.

“Should I walk?  What if I get off the bus at the freeway and walk the rest of the way?” he asked.

“I don’t think you should walk a lot before your blood draw and before you eat,” I said.  “Please, sweetheart.  I don’t want you to collapse on the sidewalk.  Where’s your narcolepsy bracelet?”

“It’s on my bag,” he said.

“Can I put it on you right now?” I asked.

He got the bracelet, and I put it on his wrist.  I kissed him.

hubris

“Please be realistic about who you are right now.  Leave your hubris at the door,” I said.

I thought about where to leave hubris.  Probably giving it the earth would work best.  Anything intangible that I don’t need anymore, I give to the earth.

But I learned recently that my new friend gives stuff to water.  I never even thought of giving it to water.  Wow, I wanna try that.

“You can have an uber or a lyft.  But not hubris,” I continued.

I thought it was a funny joke, but he didn’t laugh.  He was thinking about his plan.  Narcolepsy means Ming has fallen asleep on public transit and woken up disoriented and

list

“Did you make a list of what you’re doing and what you need to bring with you?” I asked.

“No,” he said.

“Ok, I’ll make it for you,” I said.

I wrote down Ming’s plan, and he read it out loud to me.  We talked about how he was going to pay for things.  Four dollars exactly for the bus.

change

It’s good to change.  It’s an honor to grow old with you.  I love you.  Please be realistic about who you are right now.  Please be responsible.  There are things we can do to care for ourselves and others–let’s do them.

Life is full of risks, but please take the risks you really want to take, with good potential payoff.

Don’t die in a thoughtless way.  I need you, and many people are blessed to need you.  Please stay with us for as long as you can.  We adore you.