The last few weeks I was consumed of basically putting away and packing our belongings after our house became under contract. My entire focus temporarily shifted that I forgot to take a sit and reflect on the things that are going on with our lives. Now that the packing and loading are almost over, I get to take a break and breathe some air.
I was walking the dogs this morning when suddenly the thought of leaving finally hit me. The end is almost near. Almost four years of living at the Cape- I couldn’t help but feeling nostalgic. But ending is also a time to look forward. The memories Bob and I and our dogs created in the last years living here are another great picture I could hang on the walls of beautiful experiences we have.
With my tight and busy schedule trying to accomplish a deadline, I took a five-day off from work and it was only yesterday I returned. At the start of the shift I asked my colleague the usual routine questions, “Who’s in the hospital? Who’s out? Etc.” Then I learned that my 97 year old Lithuanian resident died peacefully last Friday while at rehabilitation coping from pneumonia she caught about a month ago. While this event is foreseeable, I was still surprised that she is now gone. I remember when she first moved to memory care unit, she was confused, agitated and yelling constantly that she wanted to go home. Redirecting did very little but somehow, she got that this place is her new home. Many nights I caught her in her solace and sometimes I talk to her. One conversation I had with her she said this is her final stop. I knew what she spoke was about so I offered my hand and held hers tight. As I got to know her, she has shared me so many fascinating stories of her life- one that I really liked about was her story of how her (and some) family survived the war in Europe. I could feel the pain engraved in her memories and at the same time admired her exceptional strength surviving such sufferings. I have a story of my great grandfather fighting the Japanese during the war as well, so we have a common ground. One night, when I was done giving care to all the residents, she sat next to me and told me in her strong Lithuanian accent, “you’re a good man…” followed by a pause. I told her that she is brave and strong. Part of me felt sad when I learned that she passed. Also, now I know what she meant by “I want to go home.” May she rest in peace.
In two weeks, we will be commemorating the first-year death anniversary of my best friend. Ironic that one year after her death, also marks our official Deland, Florida residence- the town she used to live. It took us one year to figure out that this is where it meant for us to go and be close to her family- and now also our family. Similarly, I am about to start working in the hospital that has been so kind, helpful and compassionate to her while she courageously fought the big C. Though it didn’t turn out the way we all wanted, I am sure she’s smiling above for this decision both My partner and I made. She is our guardian angel and she let everything fall into places.
Few nights ago, I explored the Sagamore Bridge once again for a night photo session. I was there along with just the sound of the passing automobiles and the few early birds fishing. This is one of the two bridges that connects the Cape to the main land and I take this more often when I go on and off the Cape. While this bridge is symbolic to many vacation goers that rest and relaxation has officially started once they crossed it, for us- by next week as we get off, it will be the beginning of another very exciting journey!
Sagamore Bridge, Cape Cod, Massachusetts shot on 06.03.2019 at 3.30AM