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I Remember Well Continued
Now the trick is to figure out how to still feel connected.
One of the great anxieties of the human psyche is a fear of being forgotten.
Which saying is true: “Absence makes the heart grow fonder,” or
“Out of sight, out of mind?” Sometimes I can be convinced it is the
latter. Then I’ll get a holiday card or a note or email from someone I
thought forgot about me. Instead of relying on these clues, it is really better
for those of us who are isolated, either as a result of geography or as a
result of concerns of cross infecting others, to take it upon ourselves to stay
involved.
One way I discovered was to take on increased correspondence
responsibilities for USACFA. That way, I get to remain in touch with more of
you when I send a note or receipt. It helps me feel connected to the greater CF
community. Also, I hope that writing the Spirit Medicine column will help in
that same vein.
Other people have helped me feel better about my situation.
Sometimes I can have a short chat with someone else with CF around the
nurse’s station or by standing at the doorway of a hospital room (I wear
a mask and observe the 3-foot rule.) This is even more important to me when I
am in the hospital, since I now have to go to the workout room by myself. That
is no fun. On other occasions I am able to get together with a parent, sibling
or some other person who is part of our greater community, but who does not
have CF. That is always a joy for me. I also appreciate the times other people
with CF let me know they are thinking of me. Those good feelings serve as a
motivation to try and keep up with my correspondence or make a phone call. When
I do, I am so much happier. It really does help me feel less isolated.
CF will always cause some losses. That is the nature of the
beast. I am still trying to find my own positive ways of dealing with them. In
this light, I admire songwriter Leonard Cohen’s provocative lyrics in his
song “Anthem:” Ring the bells that still can ring. Forget your
perfect offering. There is a crack in everything. That’s where the light
gets in. That’s where the light gets in.
I have found some bells that I still can ring, but I am looking for more, and I
am sure many of you are doing the same. We may have to relate to each other
differently, but we still can connect.
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