dangerous compassions

I call you / from the comet's cradle

Saturday, April 05, 2008

intergenerational

Last night at the Samiti after-party--well, to begin with, there were only six of us there, which is a remarkably small group. So during the party time where we're eating food and talking, the group was small enough that it was just one shared conversation. They got on the topic of an intergenerational home where Samiti members could live. This used to be a Samiti objective, but it was taken off the list. Some people want it back on the list.

The whole idea of this has to do with where old folks will live. We think it's sad that the seniors who need to go into a home can't be with other devotees. So for a long time there has been this idea of starting an intergenerational home so the young people can take care of the old people. Of course, I'm the only young person! So this is a weird idea. I can't really put my life on hold to care for seniors. And that's how it would feel, for me. I don't know how to take care of the elderly. If there were a whole bunch of young people, I might be interested in joining in. But I don't have what it takes to be in charge of seniors' care.

Really, rather than an intergenerational home, we should be thinking of just a special old folks' home, with a housekeeper and a nurse. And someone brought this up. I was considered. "Laura-Marie is married. What if her husband doesn't want to be around a bunch of irritable old women?"

I needed to go--it was getting late, for me. I need to stick to a strict sleep schedule for my health. So I was trying to get out the door, but they wanted me to speak on the subject at hand. "She never says anything," someone commented about me. P pretended she was going to lock me in if I didn't give a speech. I was trying to hug her goodbye so I could go. We stood there with our arms around eachother rubbing eachother's backs while other Samiti members tried to get me to talk. "I have no comment at this time," I said. "I pass," I said. Finally I hugged P a real good hug and got my shoes on and left.

The after party food was all sweets. I ate two servings of rasmalai and two cookies. And a little piece of banana bread. I'm surprised I could sleep. And we did have some problems sleeping in the night.

I'm doing okay so far scoring North Carolina.

2 Comments:

  • At April 05, 2008 9:57 AM, Blogger Amanda Laughtland said…

    Maybe there is a parallel for this group of elders in some communal care arrangements that lesbians have worked out; I've read about groups of older women buying a house together or buying some adjoining property so that they could offer mutual care and support.

     
  • At April 07, 2008 8:19 AM, Blogger Laura-Marie said…

    There was an attempt at this years ago with some local Vedanta women, but it ended up folding. I admire those who are able to make it work.

     

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