Paying One's Dues

Last Wednesday, Isabel had opportunity to once again attend the monthly Aber Seniors' Meeting on Main Street, Abernethy. We kidded her that she could just walk though the door as she had kept up her annual membership since moving to Regina 4 years ago.

So she did just that. Isabel walked up the steps and through the door to take her place at the table to vote on motions, share in conversation with old friends, and celebrate former neighbour Harry's 95th birthday with live music. Thanks Larry & Marj. Your musical presence has graced Wascana for nearly four years (and continues to do so). AND it is wonderful for Mum to hear you back in Abernethy as well. And at the BICC the day before that!

This opportunity for Isabel to re-engage with some former Abernethy community activities while living at the BICC was beyond our imagination a year ago!

Hanging Out in the Field

Oh, bliss!

Chaff in the hair.....sun and dust in the eyes....the smell of ripened grain everywhere.

Isabel had opportunity to be in the field chatting with the family operators, inspecting unshelled heads, and watching the grain augured into the bin.

There's her wave from the passenger seat.

Home again!

Bottling Summer

It is nearly 3 months since Isabel moved to the BICC. The time has flown; most nursing and therapy plans are in place; Isabel's Visitors' Book contains the names of new and old friends; and Isabel has frequently "signed out".

"Signed out" means "outings" away from her new home, and these outings have averaged 3 per week this last month ~ the valley, farms & a ranch, a coffee party in Abernethy, drives to see crops and combining. The summer has been long and hot and the opportunities to be out and about have been many.

One day in late August, Isabel and several friends who live at the BICC had two tea times discussing "preserving the garden". Varieties of pickles and preserves; canning pork and chicken; boiling sealers of peaches and plums; freezing rhubarb and blanching peas. The easiest and best methods of each were discussed at length including how technique changed over the decades.

These conversations included the many ways we bottle summer colours and flavours for the long winter months ahead.

Drives in the country on a summer day with a light sweater thrown around the shoulders are like "bottling summer" for the long winter days ahead.

But first, harvest and autumn and more sunny days to come. Bring on the sign-out sheet!

Strength for Today & Hope for Tomorrow

Isabel's West Nile Survivor friends have a common inspirational motto that has sustained them during these last four years:

"Strength for today and hope for tomorrow".

Today, "four years of Sundays" after the last time Isabel went to Knox United Church in Abernethy, she was delighted to find herself back in the sanctuary amid the beautiful stained glass and familiar faces once again.

Much to the surprise of Isabel and her driver, we discovered that the first hymn, Great is Thy Faithfulness, contains the words "Strength for today, and bright hope for tomorrow" which told us the origin of the familiar West Nile Survivors' motto.

Isabel sat in her portable wheelchair. "Your comfortable pew!" quipped an old friend mimicking a book about church-goers written decades ago.

Isabel responded: "It's great to be here. I never imagined I would be here again except in a 6 foot box!!!"

Gratitude again.

Great is thy faithfulness, God our Creator,

There is no shadow of turning with Thee;

Thou changest not, thy compassions, they fail not,

as thou hast been thou forever wilt be.

Great is thy faithfulness, Great is thy faithfulness!

Morning by morning new mercies I see,

All I have needed thy hand hath provided

Great is thy faithfulness, ever to me.

Summer and winter and springtime and harvest,

Sun, moon, and stars in their courses above

Join with all nature in manifold witness

To thy great faithfulness, mercy, and love.

Pardon for sin and and a peace that endureth

Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide,

Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow

Wondrous the portion thy blessings provide.

- T Chisholm (lyrics) and W Runyan (music) in Voices United #288

Four Years Later

August 7, 2007 (Four years ago)

The entry in Isabel's diary tells of her waking with an upset stomach and not feeling "quite right". She and her friend, Clayton, rehung the door on Foster School following an act of vandalism.

That was Isabel's last entry. Each day thereafter she became increasingly ill until five days later entered the Intensive Care Unit of the Regina General Hospital.

Four years! Where have they gone? Months and months of dogged determination to fight back to health; weeks then months of being unable to move any part of her body on her own other than her eyes; months and years of letters, phone calls and visits from friends; training well over 100 nurses how to care for her daily needs; gratitude to family and friends and therapists and other medical staff who never gave up.

And now back on "my own home territory" (Isabel's words) to enjoy a summer on the prairie....wild flowers and garden bouquets in her room....walks outside with a nurse before 8 AM each day......drives in the country.....pop-in visits from family and friends.

Deep gratitude, again and again.

The Aber Fair

The 100th anniversary of the Abernethy Fair in 2007 was the last big social event that Isabel attended before her West Nile trip to hospital in Regina four years ago.

This year, the 104th year of The Fair never being rained out, saw Isabel back at the big community event.

Mum said she would come to The Fair for two hours. With her hand stamped and entry fee paid, Mum headed in through the gates. Nearly seven hours later, back at the BICC, she rolled passed the nurses' desk to her room and said: "I hope I am not going to be kicked out for being so late!"

Isabel sat in the car watching the horse show and talking to people non-stop all afternoon.

One small boy remarked: "Isabel is just like a star. There are really long line-ups to see her!"

A Wascana employee who rides at the Aber Fair each year rode up beside Isabel so she and her horse could have a chat.

Gratitude for 104 years of volunteers who make this special day happen, and for old friends and community folks who lined up to express their special version of WELCOME HOME, ISABEL!

Cruising by the Coop

Isabel returned to Abernethy last week for a leisurely drive around town.

Her old stompin' grounds are only 9 miles from her new home at Balcarres so there is much you can see on an evening's drive.

Visiting "the gals" at the Coop......wishing Bill M a "Happy 80th Birthday".....stopping by the homes of 6 sets of old friends...and then driving the rural roads to see all the water.

It's good to be home!