“Love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries. Without them, humanity cannot survive.” – Dali Llama
Every day here, I’m meeting and interacting with people in a profound and fun way. It’s like I’m in one giant neighborhood as I meander around from venue to venue. Often, I’m chatting with them while making a purchase or something, and it usually comes into the conversation that I don’t live here but am from California, and then it takes off. I tell them exactly why I’m here and watch their eyes grow large and become curious. I often say, “Did you know you have a world-class Multiple Myeloma Institute here for over 30 years?” “Did you know that people have been coming here from all over the world and the 50 States?” Many don’t. I’ve enjoyed making them incredibly proud of their little town of Little Rock and how much I’ve come to LOVE it here. As I recount the cliff note version of our story, they are just amazed. Each time, I’m having fun and sometimes meaningful conversations with strangers and having a ball doing it. It’s been an unusual and wild ride here this time. I haven’t quite put my finger on why my interactions daily, multiple times a day, are so profound and exciting, and beyond just a superficial, ‘how ya doing?” But for now, I’m just loving every encounter and find myself having the most fun.
Today, while sitting outside on my little fenced-in patio, which I do every day, a man was strolling by. He said ‘hello.” I returned the greeting. He stepped back toward me and said he had seen me sitting out here almost every day. I said, “yes, I’m enjoying the weather. “Is this your apartment,” he asked? I said, “Temporarily. It’s a Goodness Village Apartment. They supply over 20 Apartments for people like us who travel to Little Rock to go to UAMS for healthcare treatment, where we need a place to stay for a while. We’ve been coming to Little Rock for 13 1/2 years. My husband is a Multiple Myeloma patient.” With that, he leaned on the corner of my fence, and a long and delightful conversation ensued. We must have talked for over an hour about many topics, and we were truly enjoying each other’s company. It wasn’t until the very end that I discovered through this conversation that he is homeless. He then shared with me how he ended up in his situation over the last two years. But it was evident that he was overall doing quite well. Healthy, though, slightly thin, and not an alcoholic or druggie that I could discern at all. He was bright and engaging and quite worldly. As we started to wind down our conversation because I needed to get ready to go to the clinic, he asked me for some advice. On how to talk to others about some of the deep conversations we had where we shared similar views. “What do I do when they don’t seem to get it?” I smiled and said, “Well, sometimes if they seem open to having a conversation, even if we differ, but are respectful of differing views, I use my instinct whether it will be enjoyable or not. Because after all, I want it to be enjoyable, Yes?” He smiled. “And sometimes, if I sense that they are not so open or very entrenched in a strong and opposing view, I tend just to let it go and not bother. I mean, I might like them anyway and not want to ruin that. You know? And besides, I’m pretty entrenched in my view. So it’s respectful in a way to allow them theirs just as it is to let them allow me mine, wouldn’t you agree?” He smiled again. I said, “Does that help a little?” He said, “Yeah, it does.” Anyway, as we were parting and in our conversation about his situation, he made it clear that he was doing well and quite satisfied with where he was. I said, “Well, Jay, I have thoroughly enjoyed our conversation, and I hope that you’ll stop by again and say ‘Hi!’ And I have a feeling when you decide to change your situation, you will, and it will be wonderful for you.” He smiled and said he would stop by again. He also shared something that warmed my heart. He told me how he finds so many things. He used to sell them for money. But now, he doesn’t anymore. He hangs on to them until he finds someone who needs it, and he gives it to them. He said it’s been wild how he’ll find something and then find the person who is supposed to have it. How much pleasure it brings him. Anyway, I’m looking forward to more fun encounters and conversations with Jay as I enjoy this fantastic pre-fall weather here in Little Rock on the little patio.
Yesterday, I shared with Dave that one of the reasons I hauled my heavy MacBook pro with us here was I wanted to trade it in for a smaller one that’s lighter in weight; I needed more hard drive memory, and it was time. That I investigated, I could get a good amount for mine to help offset the costs, and I had a plan to pay for it. I have some big plans in the works, and I have wanted to upgrade for some time. The timing is troublesome, of course, with the added expenses of being here, buying the car, and all that. But, I was determined. He reluctantly gave me his blessing, and off I was on another adventure of meeting someone wonderful to help me at the Apple Store here, which is large and always crowded. So a similar conversation I recounted earlier of who I am, why we’re here, and ‘did you know you have a world-class Myeloma Institute here’… ” haha Michael and I had a ball getting me all setup. I got great discounts and a trade-in value but had to leave my computer with them as they were closing and the migration would take too long. On my way home, I stopped at Kohl’s to try and find Dave a second cardigan sweater. We packed so light that we have picked up a few things just because we are getting a little sick already of seeing ourselves in the same attire day in and day out. While checking out, it turns out the guy was from Sacramento! Citrus Heights and Folsom! We had fun talking. He and his wife have only been here two weeks, so he’s a newbie!
In the middle of the Myeloma drama, I’m having fun interacting with people on my outings near and far wherever I am, whatever I’m doing, and it’s been such an uplifting daily experience.
Dave continues to be a ROCK STAR! He keeps chipping away at my job and relieving me of many duties. Dave is wheeling himself in his wheelchair instead of waiting for me to push him. He is getting himself dressed instead of waiting for me to help him. He can get his own watermelon/pineapple out of the fridge and into a bowl but can’t handle the bowl and the walker to the recliner, so I still have some menial tasks where he needs me! We don’t need the walker anymore at the hospital to get in and out of the car. So, we use it to get to the car and then back to the apartment, and that’s it. Every day, we have to cart less and less around with us, and every day it is getting smoother and smoother.
Today we got the estimated schedule for Dave to begin the Abecma Car T. End of October; it all begins. So we are a few weeks away yet. I’ve got to get the PT going and will give them a call tomorrow. Dave’s walking improves daily, he’s in great spirits, and he is eating well and working every morning. So that’s when I head out for my daily encounters with humanity!
Formerly the Peabody Hotel in Little Rock.
And of course, we are just a couple of days away from our daughter and new son-in-law arriving for a three-day weekend here in LIttle Rock with us! We can’t wait! As Marriott Vacation Club members, we have points to burn right now, so Dave is putting them up in the old historic Peabody Hotel in the River Market that Marriott bought several years back. It’s a great Hotel, and they will feel incredibly spoiled and be able to pop out and meander around and enjoy the River Market nightlife. Jeffers’ Dad and Granddad are from Little Rock, so I’m sure they are tickled that he’s coming for a visit.
