Dietra. Caregiver. Love.

9:25am. At Dietra's. I'm up now writing and getting ready to go to work. I'll leave in about an hour. Thankfully my client only lives about ten minutes from where I am. I pray we have a good day together. This is the fourth of July and I expect that the fireworks will be going off. I hope it's not too crazy. I don't enjoy the fireworks. At all.

Well, yesterday I did get some new art supplies but I didn't end up painting anything. Also, I didn't go to The World Stage last night. I was tired and super unmotivated. I was taking care of Dietra's grandmother when she got home from the center yesterday and that was a challenge. Getting her up the stairs in her wheelchair and getting her to eat. Then going to the bathroom and into bed. I was already tired but that was work. She is not a problem. She is beautiful. She is also ninety-nine years old and fragile and afraid. Afraid of being touched. Afraid of standing up. Afraid of falling. I get it. I feel for Dietra because she has been taking care of her for years. Every day. And she takes GOOD care of her. Maybe you say that she is her granddaughter and she should. But what I'm saying is that she goes above and beyond just her basic needs. She puts hard work and love in the care she provides. On top of that she works a full time job which means she has to get up early in the morning to to get her dressed and ready for the van to take Grandma to the center. This is love work. The work she does is work nobody sees. She doesn't get recognized for any of this. This is a thankless job. I know. I do it. And often the people we work for say mean and hurtful things to us out of fear, or loneliness, or just being old. There is no apology that follows. We suck it up and continue being a blessing. The difference between Dietra's job with Grandma and mine with my clients is that I get to go home when my shift is over. She is never off the clock. If you know someone who is a caregiver to a friend or family member or loved one, especially one that lives with them, check in on them. Go by and sit. Bring a meal. Help them clean or give relief where you can. Believe me it helps. I know that life. I took care of my grandfather who had dementia. The work is not easy.

It's about time for me to get out of here. I hope you have a good day. I plan to have one.

Love yourselves.