Central Plateau, North Island

Central Plateau, North Island
View from a friend's farm

Thursday 4 June 2015

Yesterday, as it was from dawn to dusk

 

Wednesday 3rd June, started as usual.Coffee by the fire, check emails, make porridge, and then print my words for Judith’s funeral

sunrise  in the East

That was when it all went wrong, The wireless printer  didn’t show on my laptop, the jar of flowers tipped over and spilt water everywhere, and I worried about my ability to be able to  stand   and say some words.

The Big Chair and equipment

Off to the optometrist, a scheduled appointment for new distance glasses, new frames, and a  document I need to have when I get my driving licence  before my 75th birthday in July.

Lots of “ Look up, look down, then to the left, now to the right” Can you read the bottom line? NO, Can you read the top, second and third lines, NO, only the top 2. Try this, is it any better? Not much… Now I want to do ONE more test, this is after drops, a sort of tiny piece  of paper waved over my eyes, so I had more drops, and more trying not to blink.How hard that is.

glasses lensestest sight glasses

Now, I don’t want to worry you with anything else today,,,, but….

Well I believe in straight talking, is there something else wrong.. as this is after I was given the news I have the start of cataracts,  in both eyes.

Well, the space?? Somewhere??? isn’t as good as it should be, maybe the  beginning of really early glaucoma. I want to refer you to the Eye Clinic at Wanganui Hospital.More sophisticated equipment….. Hooray, There might be a wait, the usual few months, this isn’t urgent.If they decide you need something done, they laser a small hole??? Somewhere??? and seemingly this will work?? For all time? a short time?? I will wait and see, and try SOOOOO   hard   not to consult Dr Google!!! I was too stunned to ask more questions, but will do when I get the wonderful new glasses with superb frames next week.

Next, a  visit  to Dennis , Judith’s son, a few flowers, a card, some muffins for the freezer, a hug, some tears, and a smile.

Home, connect my laptop to Hugh’s printer and print the words.

Judith’s funeral service, a truly loving   family  event, lots of tears, some laughter,  a slide show with photos of Judith, her family, her children, her Mum, sisters and brothers, and words from her sister  Chrissy,  her son Frank, her daughter Diana,  and on behalf of her daughter Veronica who was not able to come, she is in hospital, and then  others were invited to speak. Why did I worry so much, I didn’t need to look at my words at all,apart from a prompt at the end.By this time my eyes were full of tears, and I couldn’t read at all, even if I needed to.

 

“”The ship leaves the harbour and sails over the horizon, gone from our sight, but others on the distant shore shout “Here she comes”.”

True friends are precious and rare, and memories of our friendship will be with me always.”

Later, total strangers came and thanked me for my words. I guess that made our friendship so much more special, to know that others appreciated what I said.

Home in a light drizzle, the fire still glowing, and then that magical moment of sunset.

Looking to the west

 

Sunset 3rd June  2015

looking to the East, above   the house rooftop

Eastern sky  in the evening.

Down the driveway, cherry tree leaves glow, and give a carpet on the ground.Flowering Cherry Trees, with Eastern sky behind

 

Cherry Tree Leaves on the ground

Quotation of the day, from Stanley Horowitz

“ Winter is an etching, spring a watercolour,

summer an oil painting,

and autumn a mosaic of them all”

Greetings  from Jean

22 comments:

eileeninmd said...

Hello Jean, I love all your beautiful images and lovely sky shots. I am sorry for the loss of your dear friend, hopefully you will remember all the good times. Lovely quotes and words. My hubby has had glaucoma for years( maybe two decades) now and has had the laser surgeries. He can still see good enough to drive so he is happy. He does go back for checkups. Wonderful post, enjoy your day!

Out To Pasture said...

Quite a full day for you. In my experience, eye specialists can do wonders nowadays. Your friend's funeral was a celebration of her life and the role her family and friends played in it. Lovely sunset pics.

FlowerLady Lorraine said...

Oh dear Jean ~ What a time you have been having.

I loved what you said at the service, especially that first part. That really got to me.

Your sunset photos are beautiful.

Be well, in body, mind and spirit ~ Love and hugs ~ FlowerLady

Carol Mattingly said...

Jean, I read your post word for word and my heart ached. I will pray your eye appointment will go well and tell you I love Google for all of the info it gives me and it seems when I look something up I then have all the questions I can muster to ask the doctors but I trust you will do what is best for you. I am sorry for your loss and can't imagine having to speak at someone's funeral but I have a feeling whatever words you shared were heart felt and welcomed with open arms. Beautiful Fall with Winter soon on your doorstep. Take care my sweet friend, Carol

Georgia said...

So sorry for your loss dear Jean.

TexWisGirl said...

beautiful photos and beautiful sharing of love for your friend. i think funerals are so important for that loving kinship and closure, too.

i am sorry for the eye worries! i do hope all will be well (or can be easily corrected!)

Julie Fukuda said...

You overcame a rough start in your day with beautiful words and a glorious finish. Japanese driving tests for "senior" citizens begin regularly at 70 with memory tests and reaction time tests and driving a course in a strange car, but scary part is the eye check. I passed all the tests when I was a kid by reciting the eye chart, not even knowing I couldn't see so passing the memory tests was a breeze. My prayers go with you to your eye appointment.

Tanya said...

You have a lot on your plate right now, I hope you can find some quiet time and things to do to enjoy yourself. I know that eye situation sounds worrisome but medicine is wonderful these days. Think positive! It was wonderful that you could be a blessing to your friends and their friends in their time of grieving.

Coloring Outside the Lines said...

I am sorry for the loss of your friend. I hope your eye problems will straighten out soon. My mom has had the cataract surgery for both eyes, and now has to put drops in her eyes every day for glaucoma. It's better than the alternative, I'm sure. Have a blessed weekend!

bj said...

Such a wonderful post and tribute to your sweet friend. It's so hard to lose those close to us. We lost a cousin that we loved to the moon and back last year and it is still so hard to know we won't get to be with him again. He and his wife and Bill and I took vacations together...had one planned for this summer and now....we don't even have the heart to want to go without him.(oops...sorry to get off on such a long thought)
I love your pretty photos...and I know there's such good treatments now for eye problems. You have reminded me that I've not been in several years...I am not having trouble but maybe I need to have them checked anyway ?
hugs to you....

Susan Heather said...

Another busy day.At least you are getting care and possibly treatment for your eyes but at least you are in the system and will now get regular hospital check ups.

A sad day as well. Loved your quote.

You do have such wonderful sunsets and autumn down there. Just love those leaves,

Take care.

Sue

KB said...

Those were truly beautiful words for your friend Judith. I'm so sorry for your sorrow and her passing.

It seems that the sky put on a show for her day too. Those were incredible colors at sunset.

My dad had cataract surgery, and he said it was like a miracle because his vision is so much better. He is blind in one eye but the other one is now about 20/20 vision! I hope that you get similar great treatment.

Allie-oops Designs said...

Praying for your eyes hon - and for your heart - mom has glaucoma and has had two cataract surgeries, she's an artist and still painting. I'm so sorry for the loss of your friend, hon. ((((((((hugs))))))))

Jim said...

Jean, now THAT was one full day!! And you made it through with flying colours.
You are so wise and poetic in your approach to life. I admire how you line things up and join them all together into one moment in time, so to speak.
Good luck with your eye appointment. My aunt had glaucoma for decades and it didn't exclude her from anything.
I hope your weekend is going well.

Karen said...

A beautiful start and end of your day Jean, lovely photos. Your words came from heart, thus no script was needed.
Sorry to hear about your eyes, they can do wonders with laser surgery these days. {hugs}

Fundy Blue said...

Losing a friend is so hard. Your words were beautiful, Jean. You're reminding me to get after that eye appointment! Those autumn leaves and that wonderful sky! Thank you for sharing!!! Hugs to you!

Hannah said...

It's unexpected, all the things we go through when we get to be the older generation and faced with our own mortality. It's sad you lost a good friend, but you inspired others with your comforting words, and I'm comforted by the day coming with no more goodbyes, and lots of hellos, in the land that knows no parting, as in the sad "Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain." song. I find my eyes are also showing effects of my many years of being out in the sun, so now I'm trying to wear UV sunglasses outside for the front of my eyes and blue-blocking orange glasses for using my computer for the back of my eyes. Hopefully that will slow things down.

camp and cottage living said...

Jean, I'm so sorry to hear of the death of your good friend. I know I think often of the loved ones who have gone on before me and I can't wait to be reunited with them someday! I bet those strangers appreciated your words perhaps because it was what was in their hearts also.
I do hope the laser hole helps you immensely and you can see better for it!
Beautiful sunset photos again, Jean. How blessed you are to have such pretty ones.

Gunnar Hustad said...

Many nice and interesting pictures, in this blog - I like!

Jenn Jilks said...

You are such a beautiful person. I'm so sorry for your trials and tribulations.
Will you be able to manage living where you are, do you think? I reviewed a good book that wrote about planning for retirement, and the aches and pains of aging. I can see us moving from here sometime. My bottom line is when we can't cross the road in time to get the mail from the mailbox. Look after yourself as much as hubby!
Keep us all posted, we love you so much.

Out of Sight L said...

I hope all works out for the best...and your photos are beautiful, I love Fall more than anything...

Barb said...

Jean, my mother used to say, "When it rains it pours." That seemed to be your day for pouring! Bob has also been told he has the start of cataracts and is noticing some fuzziness when reading. I think maybe he'll need a laser treatment in the fall. He'd like to put it off until biking season is over (and before skiing, of course). I'm sorry you lost a dear friend. Your words are comforting.