a year of morning thanks

Respite care

It's a blessing, really, that there's always more to learn. A couple days ago a little plastic bag full of what looked to be half-pint, pink Tootsie Roll Pops lay on the table in my in-laws' apartment at the Home. Candy suckers aren't something one sees around there all that often, in the land of the false choppers.

"Where did those come from?" I asked my wife.

She took one from the bag--a tiny sponge on a sucker stick, meant for keeping people's lips moist. I had no idea there was such a thing. But then, I'm sure that my not knowing is a bad thing.

And yesterday I learned something too. There's something called "respite care," and, when pressed into service, it relieves the care-giver, temporarily at least. "Respite care"--even sounds like a blessing.

Respite care--care for the caregiver, who we often don't think about, except in heroic terms, and who doesn't want to be a hero, really? A little time off for those who never are. Some breathing space for the short-winded.

I'm not the one who needs it, but I know some folks who do. And this morning, they're getting it. So for it--and them--this morning, even if it's temporary, I'm very thankful.