Report of 26 Feb 2016
And February 2016 is almost over.
A lovely breeze on the balcony, sunlight, cottony clouds in a blue sky, the Bay of Bengal a different blue from the sky so we can tell what's sea and what's sky - this is good.
Naren used to sit on the balcony sometimes to write; it does have a nice view.
We are well. We finished the second edition of "Family Day" at the Banyan - this time at Mogappair, the first time at Kovalam. We had arranged transport for families to come from afar and it was late, but spirits were not dampened. Leela, our chief nurse, had gifted me a beautiful orange sari, I wore that to rattle the populace (I don't usually wear saris to work), all were in their Sunday best again and we ate biryani, sang and danced. The health care workers had been a bashful lot last year, but not this time: there were 3 dances and 1 song from them. I loved every bit of it! Scott and I danced again - an inspiration to skinny white guys, said his cousin from afar - and I enjoyed it. It was a fine carnival-like event ("mela") and we were very happy to indulge the staff and their families for 1 day; they do for the patients the other 364.
We (the B) rescued a patient named Ms. X, who knew she was HIV positive. She does not have a mental illness and did not want to stay at the B. She left, went back to her hometown and found that the relatives did not want to have anything to do with her. From their point of view, she was an 11th grade student who eloped with a man older than her, she was not to be seen for several years and then showed up, wanting a place to stay. One of our nurses, who speaks the language, tried to coax the relatives over the phone to keep Ms. X for at least 2-3 days and they would have none of it. So, Ms. X left, and found herself a tailoring job and accommodation in a women's dormitory. Yes! As we were lolling about on Family Day, welcoming everyone and goo-goo'ing children, in walked Ms. X; we were delighted to see her and practically hugged her. She stayed for Family Day, she has stayed a bit longer; she plans to return to her town and has since asked if she can come back to the B if necessary. The B is like that - congenial, devoted to the client, unfailingly wanting what's best for them. Vandana and Vaishnavi are inspirational people.
My Dad comes into town today and I look forward to it. We will go tomorrow to Bangalore for a cousin's daughter's wedding; she is the first of the cousins' children to marry and it will be a nice event. Her Dad had provided immense succor to my parents when my brother, Manu, was seriously injured and hospitalised. All of them are nice people, and have already warmly welcomed us.
Scott started a new job as part-time professor at a college of engineering nearby. I continue joyously with the B.
Hope all of you have joys of your own.
Unw -
R
A lovely breeze on the balcony, sunlight, cottony clouds in a blue sky, the Bay of Bengal a different blue from the sky so we can tell what's sea and what's sky - this is good.
Naren used to sit on the balcony sometimes to write; it does have a nice view.
We are well. We finished the second edition of "Family Day" at the Banyan - this time at Mogappair, the first time at Kovalam. We had arranged transport for families to come from afar and it was late, but spirits were not dampened. Leela, our chief nurse, had gifted me a beautiful orange sari, I wore that to rattle the populace (I don't usually wear saris to work), all were in their Sunday best again and we ate biryani, sang and danced. The health care workers had been a bashful lot last year, but not this time: there were 3 dances and 1 song from them. I loved every bit of it! Scott and I danced again - an inspiration to skinny white guys, said his cousin from afar - and I enjoyed it. It was a fine carnival-like event ("mela") and we were very happy to indulge the staff and their families for 1 day; they do for the patients the other 364.
We (the B) rescued a patient named Ms. X, who knew she was HIV positive. She does not have a mental illness and did not want to stay at the B. She left, went back to her hometown and found that the relatives did not want to have anything to do with her. From their point of view, she was an 11th grade student who eloped with a man older than her, she was not to be seen for several years and then showed up, wanting a place to stay. One of our nurses, who speaks the language, tried to coax the relatives over the phone to keep Ms. X for at least 2-3 days and they would have none of it. So, Ms. X left, and found herself a tailoring job and accommodation in a women's dormitory. Yes! As we were lolling about on Family Day, welcoming everyone and goo-goo'ing children, in walked Ms. X; we were delighted to see her and practically hugged her. She stayed for Family Day, she has stayed a bit longer; she plans to return to her town and has since asked if she can come back to the B if necessary. The B is like that - congenial, devoted to the client, unfailingly wanting what's best for them. Vandana and Vaishnavi are inspirational people.
My Dad comes into town today and I look forward to it. We will go tomorrow to Bangalore for a cousin's daughter's wedding; she is the first of the cousins' children to marry and it will be a nice event. Her Dad had provided immense succor to my parents when my brother, Manu, was seriously injured and hospitalised. All of them are nice people, and have already warmly welcomed us.
Scott started a new job as part-time professor at a college of engineering nearby. I continue joyously with the B.
Hope all of you have joys of your own.
Unw -
R
posted by Renu Weiss at
11:17 PM
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