Yesterday my son and I went to visit my uncle and aunt who live in a town 2 hours away. My uncle is the last remaining Wosnack of the family of eight. He and my aunt had three children and have many grandchildren. They recently celebrated thier 65th wedding anniversary and my uncle will be 90 and my aunt 88 by the end of this year. Their lives have been dedicated to each other, to their family and to helping their community. For year my aunt selflessly did the books for the town and accepted no money for her services, plus she bakes and does crafts for anyone who asks, and they always ask. She never says no. My uncle runs the local seniors centre, going there many times a day to check on the heat, condition of the hall, the tables for various events and he liasons with caterers and folks wishing to rent the building. He and my aunt are both computer literate and own modern cell phones. They have attended the same church their entire lives and lived in the same town, and the last house he built for the family finished in 1976. The house is spotless and looks today as it did when it was built. My aunt was explaining to me how she oils the cupboards yearly to keep them in top shape and how she removes the windows to make cleaning them easier and so she can really ensure the tracks are pristine too. Now, I love these two with all my heart and admire them for the inspiring people they are. They are in great health and they attribute that to being busy and being needed. I agree.
And here I am on this journey, isolated on my farm in an area where I knew no one, not attending any social events or a church and not being needed, except by my animals. I have an agenda of my own, but how am I being of service to my community? I am not.
So, I have given this some good thought, even prior to visiting my family, and have decided to once again attempt to integrate myself in the tiny community of Elk Point in some small ways. I will find a church that feels comfortable and try to attend when there are no guests to look after at the Inn. And I will join the seniors centre and see if I can be of service in some way. What good am I here when I could be helping so many in various small ways? So, I will.
And then the sojourn, alone in a place that is not friendly in the least, will change, because I will change. I have had several open houses with few attendees. If the people will not come to me, I will go to them.
And here I am on this journey, isolated on my farm in an area where I knew no one, not attending any social events or a church and not being needed, except by my animals. I have an agenda of my own, but how am I being of service to my community? I am not.
So, I have given this some good thought, even prior to visiting my family, and have decided to once again attempt to integrate myself in the tiny community of Elk Point in some small ways. I will find a church that feels comfortable and try to attend when there are no guests to look after at the Inn. And I will join the seniors centre and see if I can be of service in some way. What good am I here when I could be helping so many in various small ways? So, I will.
And then the sojourn, alone in a place that is not friendly in the least, will change, because I will change. I have had several open houses with few attendees. If the people will not come to me, I will go to them.
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