The fire department visit us the other day for a 'pick up'. That is what it is called when they call to pick up some one that can get off the floor or the ground.
I would not of known of this service except the care givers that have been in and out of my life because of my brother's illnesses and John's helpers. Because of the size and in John's case his inability to take instructions, one person can lift a fallen person, the fire department comes to the rescue.
We were in the back yard and the day was sunny and pretty warm about 50. I was working against time of the end of the day and quickly wanted to spread some compost on a couple raised beds. John was sitting in his usual chair about three feet away. I cut the last bag of plastic and was lifting it to dump when I hear John said something like, "Oh, Shit!" He was down. After a moment of calmness and a couple questions I realized that he was not hurt and we simply had to figure a way to get him up. John could not follow any of my ideas of getting on all fours and then using the chair to get up. The neighbors were not home. There was nothing left to do but call the people at 911.
In five minutes they were here, in ten minutes John was sitting in his chair in the living room and a few minutes after that they were gone. This non-event was very important for me because the courage it took to make the call was the hardest part. I realized that I had to act and I could not do it myself.
The other visitors are of a different nature. Spirits of family and friends are visiting John. John has been seeing visitors for some time now. The last ones he commented about were the other morning while getting out of the shower. "They are all laughing at me!" "Oh, why is that John?", I asked.
Sitting eating dinner a few days earlier, John said, "Do you see all of them?" I asked where are there. John pointed to the center of the living room. I suggested some names and he replied sometimes. I asked him if he talks to them, John replied, "sometimes".
I told Ken as a couple of these comments and Ken relayed the story a month ago while caring for John one evening, John asked Ken if he see the angel people.
John seems to float in two worlds with his body here and his spirit/mental/soul back and forth. This phenomena is often talked about with caregivers and priests. My brother working with the dying had many stories of this nature. Most caregivers can tell stories also but will only journey in the direction is they find a person open to hearing the stories.
In John's case it is not everyday but every week now I hear some comment.
