Bellingham, Washington
Not much room or time for pushing legs today. I took a trip to Bellingham by car to see Nina who is 99 in a nursing home. The entire day saw rain which can pose a hurdle for walking. The car didn't mind being wet. Robert and friends and I drove to see his aging Mom. This was more important than to appear heroic by walking in the rain. I had warned Robert about my sleeping propensity when in a car - and the light snore that accompanies it. Playing passenger always drains me.
After an hour or so trip from Vancouver, we reached this rather liberal college town. At the seniors home, Nina had been waiting anticipating her son's visit. She didn't really expect to see a full-blown monk with him. She got real comfortable after a while.
Robert was eager to have her hear a mantra. It was the most charming thing to see a child-like innocence in her, especially when receiving a gift, a pair of hand cymbals to accompany our low-key chant.
Nina appeared frail but she's strong. With the chant that we had with her in a quiet section of the corridor, she appeared meek, but peaceful. Whatever incoherent thinking and talking that transpired was now relaxed. We continued the chant and could have gone on for so long but lunch was on and Nina needed nourishment. Well, she got it.
I predict she's got another five or ten years to go. Who knows? In the meantime, we all came out of the home richer in heart. And so did Nina. It was certainly worth the while missing a day on foot and just seeing Nina and learning from her even though her faculty powers are greatly diminished. I'll keep in mind the calm smile she wore and the funny straw hat she had donned.
Like everyone, she is a devotee of God and that certainly came through today. The sun (Nina) shone.
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