Infrastructure

I continue to update the Jan. 6 post.  Check in once in awhile.

*

Last evening our neighbor, 91, called.  He lives almost literally across the street.  He lives alone, and he’d fallen twice and was in distress.

We went over.  It resulted in a 911 call and an ambulance trip to the hospital where he spent at least an overnight.  At this writing, I’m not sure of next steps.  He has increasingly severe cognitive problems, and he’s afraid of losing his independence.  But that issue will be forced at some point.

*

About now, you’re saying, “so what else is new?”  If you have family reasonably close by, you’ve experienced something akin to what I’ve just described.

As I told my wife, we’re on deck for the same experience ourselves.  We’re older.  Stuff happens.

*

With all its messiness, humans tend towards empathy for each other.  We care.  And that’s where the infrastructure – society itself – comes in.

The 911 operator last night was very helpful; the ambulance arrived in appropriate time; the EMT persons were professional; as were the people at the hospital in St. Paul.

Of course, Covid-19 makes room visits impossible at this point in time.

My wife is arranging a visit with our friends brother, who’s in his mid-80s himself, and live a half hour from here, to begin arrangements for an in-person meeting to decide on next steps if will be needed sometime.  Our friend has three other friends who in their own way will be involved in this as well.

Our society in general is inclusive.  So far, kindness trumps selfishness; caring for each other is valued as much as caring for our own well-being.

There are many ragged edges, granted, including the one we are not living through.

But I can sit here less than 24 hours after a crisis across the street, and know that society is directly involved with caring for a neighbor who cannot at this moment care for himself.

Thank you.