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AS FAR AS THE EAST IS FROM THE WEST

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It’s amazing how productive a day can be when one gets up early. It’s only 10am and I have already showered, been to an appointment, eaten breakfast, and spent an hour at the beach.

If I didn’t have to arrive for an appointment at 7 this morning I might still be in bed. And now…I sit on a bench on the boardwalk, with a friend on the phone, writing together in silence. Bliss.

It’s a perfect beach day – blue sky without a hint of cloud. The tide is going out. My chair awaits my return to the waterline.

Alas! The invasion has begun. It’s hard to keep the ocean a secret.

People are pulling up by the car-load, dropping off bodies and blankets and umbrellas and coolers, before driving off in search of parking spaces. BENNYs, we locals call them. They are loud, oblivious to anyone else around them as they spread out.

I might not last here too much longer. . . unless I decide to brave the ocean. It’s getting pretty hot, and crowded, and I have no more water.

The ocean is pretty calm, but the occasional decent-sized waves are a little intimidating for me. My balance isn’t that great anymore. Getting in and out, navigating the waves and sand drop-off, can be tricky.

Being overweight doesn’t help. Although it’s great for buoyancy…it makes climbing back up the aforementioned drop-off and getting back onto dry sand, gracefully…well, let’s just say “grace” would not be an apt description… a definite challenge.

Once I fell on my way out and attracted the attention of a life guard – who came running – as it took several clumsy attempts to get back on my feet while the waves bounced me around. I managed to get upright just as she arrived. She asked if I was okay and I responded that I was, physically anyway.

Did I mention that I’m out of water? I finished drinking the bottle I brought with me at the hospital earlier this morning…before a pelvic ultrasound. That was the 7am appointment.

I thought I would refill said bottle at the water fountain on the boardwalk; however, said water fountain no longer exists. The only evidence that it was ever there is a metal plate. After writing, I will see if the refreshment window is open and I can purchase a bottle. Otherwise, I guess it’s time to head home. Got to stay hydrated!

Speaking of the ultrasound…UGH…Aging gracefully – there’s that word again. I had to drink 32 ounces of water 30 minutes before my appointment, which I did. I even considered not emptying my bladder upon waking, to ensure it was full at the appointment…but…as one who battles at times with urgency incontinence, I decided against it.

So…after drinking 32+ ounces of water, I climbed on the exam table, and…my bladder was not full. So…I was led back to the waiting room to drink more water.

True to her word, the radiology tech returned in the 20 minutes she’d promised, and, thankfully, I was ready to go – literally. As she pressed on my lower abdomen I prayed my bladder would hold. Phew! It did!

Next, I empty my bladder and remove my bathing suit bottom, because, WHOOPEE!!! It’s time for the internal portion of the exam.

I get to insert the probe myself. I am grateful for small favors, including the fact that the tech is a woman. I think about the indignity of this whole, painful process, but I can’t wallow for long in self-pity because, today, of all days, I have begun reading Victor Frankl’s “Man’s Search for Meaning”.

The indignity I CHOOSE to suffer in these moments, for the good of my health, pales in comparison to what he and others endured. The depravities and horrors to which humanity can sink go far beyond anything I could imagine. And I have absolutely no desire to imagine.

The distance between the glory of this beautiful day and the horrors of Auschwitz go way beyond the vastness of East to West, Heaven to Hell.

Father, forgive them.

Bring peace to tortured and torturer alike.

Keep me from ever having to find out just how low I can go.

And thank you for the sunshine and the ocean.

Amen

SEVEN YEARS AGO

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Seven years ago today I buried my youngest child. He was 22 and would never live to see 23. At the cemetery, I stood at the foot of his casket while Deacon Steve performed the burial rite. I held the rose I would place on top of the casket when I said my final goodbye to his body. I think it unnerved the deacon, my standing there, not taking a seat under the tent meant for mourners. I don’t know that to be true. All I knew was that I had to stand with him, until the end.

It’s unnatural, burying one’s child. He’s frozen in time, forever 22. This year he would turn 30. What would he be doing now? Would he still be in his room, upstairs, creating computer programs/games? Apps? Beats? Those delightful cartoons? Would he be on his own? Perhaps with a family? Might I have more grandchildren to cherish? Would his jet-black hair be tinged with grey? Would he be clean-shaven or have a mustache and/or beard?

I sit in his room now, most nights, to watch TV. Last night, after watching a film on Netflix, I turned on my back and put my legs up the wall. I don’t remember now what triggered it, but I bawled my eyes out. It hits me like that now and again. Seven years ago yesterday, we held his wake. People poured through and I embraced each and cried in their arms, except for one. I still can’t believe she had the nerve to show up, but that’s a story for another time. It has nothing to do with Joseph. Maybe there were others I didn’t fall into, but she’s the one I remember most clearly. Anger replaced grief, momentarily. Even my therapist showed up and one of the members of my psychodrama group. Honestly, I have no idea who all came, or who didn’t. I have a copy of the sign-in book somewhere…but some of the pages are missing.

To all who showed, to all who sent flowers or food or cards, or thought of us at that time, great love and gratitude. If I didn’t send you a thank you, please forgive me. I tried, but I couldn’t get through them all.

HOW MY BROKEN TOILET BECAME A POLITICAL ISSUE or THE RICH GET RICHER

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Yesterday a plumber came to my house to fix my broken toilet. It cost me about $135 and a lot of aggravation. It was not the plumber’s fault. He was a very nice young man, who very patiently tried to explain to me why the repair was not covered by my protection plan. Understand that I pay almost as much for protection plans, for my external water and sewer lines and internal plumbing, as I do for my water usage. Sometimes more. Oh, and I donate $1 a month to assist others who might not be able to afford to pay for their water.

Like many, I have been working from home during this COVID-19 crisis. My hours have been reduced and I am not making as much money as I was pre-COVID, so I have to be careful about my spending. My toilet has been “misfiring”, so to speak, for quite some time now. For a while, I would catch it running. The usual handle jiggle would solve the problem. After a while, I noticed not everything was going down. Holding the handle down until it flushed completely seemed to resolve that problem. Then came the day when it would continue running and no jiggle would stop it. So…I turned off the water after flushing. Turned it back on after use. Repeat. Finally, it would run and run but not fill the tank, and thus, not flush the bowl. So…I turned off the water and kept a bucket handy to flush the solids, following the green philosophy of: “If it’s yellow, let it mellow. If it’s brown, flush it down.” Obviously, this was only a temporary fix.

Not long ago, sometime during the winter, I had discovered a leak in the waste line from my washing machine. This discovery came while I was in my crawl space replacing smoke and carbon monoxide detectors after a visit from police and fire fighters when one of my CO detectors’ alarm went off at 2am. False alarm by the way. Batteries were corroded onto the circuit board.

So, I called a plumber, the company with which I have my heating system protection plan, and had it repaired to the tune of over $350. AFTER which I remembered having the water protection plans. I had been paying for them for so long without incident that I forgot I had them.

When I called New Jersey American Water Company, I was referred to American Water Resources to file a claim. The helpful attendant explained to me that I might not get anything back, but if I did, it would take some time. I was, therefore, happily surprised when I received notification that they would reimburse me for $150 of the expense. After all, I did not follow procedure and call them to initiate the repair.

So…this time I remembered I had a plan and followed procedure. I describe the problem, in detail, to the claims attendant. I am told that I have to pay a $50 service charge and she can collect that. I am annoyed, but I figure okay, it’s a copay, deductible, whatever. I ask if it can be charged to my water bill. No. I ask if she can take a credit card. No. She then tells me it will be collected by the contractor. I am a little confused but okay. I am told I will receive a call from the plumbing company shortly.

Four hours later, I have not heard anything, so I call back. I get a different attendant. I am told the plumber reports calling and leaving a message for the homeowner. Nope. So, we determine that the attendant I spoke with earlier gave them the wrong number. This is corrected. Not too terribly long later, I hear from the plumber. Someone is on the way. A nice young man shows up. We both wear our masks. He goes up and looks at the toilet, comes back down, and tells me the problem is the flap in the tank. That, he says, is not covered by my plan. I am annoyed. He kindly offers to tell me what part to buy so I can fix it myself. This option had occurred to me. I figured it was probably a simple procedure. I could have pulled out my Reader’s Digest home repair manual, or asked the Google, but I had an INDOOR PLUMBING PROTECTION PLAN!!!!

So, now I not only have to pay the $50, but it is going to cost me 70 some dollars plus tax for the repair. I am pissed and begin to rant. I realize it is not his fault, and I tell him this, but I was specific about the problem when I called in my claim. He, very patiently, explains how it could have been misconstrued as being a clog, which would have been covered. I am not buying it. I call the claims number back and get yet another attendant. I explain the situation. she insists that, yes, I have to pay the $50 whether or not I decide to go ahead with the repair, in addition to the cost of the repair, should I decide to go ahead with it. In fact, she says, the plumber should have collected the $50 service charge before he even looked at the toilet.

Now, the way I see it, I am paying a $50 referral fee. Had the attendant told me it was not a covered service, I would have been annoyed, but I would then have had the option of repairing it myself or calling the plumber I used before, without paying a $50 service fee! At this point, I just want the damn toilet fixed. I tell the attendant that I want to cancel the inside protection plan. She cannot help me with this. I have to speak with customer service. While I am on hold waiting to be transferred to customer service, I pay the $50, and sign an agreement for the repair. I speak to the customer service representative and cancel the service plan, which I am told will be effective today but may take two billings cycles before they stop charging me. The plumber fixes the toilet. I pay for the repair, and he is gone before I am off the phone.

I tell the customer service rep that I would like to be credited for the $50 charge because, as I see it, I explained very clearly what the problem was and the claims attendant should have told me that it was not covered. Unfortunately, she tells me, customer service cannot help me with that, and she must transfer me back to claims. She asks if there is anything else she can help me with; and, I tell her my remaining issues are political in nature. I complain that this is a case of the haves getting and the have-nots paying. She kindly humors me.  Why is water, I ask her, which is a basic human need and right traded as a commodity? While I am waiting to be transferred back to claims, I am disconnected.

I call the claims number back and get another very nice attendant who tells me she believes I will be able to get my $50 back but “it’s a process”. I ask if I will get an email; and, she assures me I will hear directly via telephone. No call yet.

I call the company with which I have my heating system protection plan and ask the operator if they offer a home plumbing protection plan. I am told they do not. I tell her the water company has some racket going. They, the water company, also offer electrical protection service. Water and electricity?

So, just for the hell of it, I look up the price of a flap for a toilet. It costs about $7. American Water Resources is trading on the NYSE for $124 a share. Yep, what is that old adage? The rich get richer and the poor have babies? Time to buy a lottery ticket.

The Sound of Children Playing: a writing prompt at Project Write Now, Red Bank, NJ

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At the beach. I close my eyes. Face to the sun. I hear the waves crashing. Seagulls calling.

I note the sound of children playing. “Daddy, help me build a castle.” No response. I open my eyes. A little one, in solar protective swimwear, holds her pail in front of her. Sad face. Daddy sits in his beach chair, ear buds in, looking at his not-so-smart phone. My heart breaks for her.

I want, oh-so-much, to join her…to scoop her up, run down to the water and fill that pail. Pick up some shells and stones along the way. Come back and build a sloppy-but-magnificent castle in the sand.

I yearn to yank those god-awful earbuds from her ignorant father’s ears, take his phone and throw it into the sea.

Jesus, man! Don’t you see the magic in front of you?! This blessed child will be little for only so long! A blink of the eye! LOOK at her! Really SEE her! LISTEN to her! Hear the little voice that will all-too-soon be silenced in our so-called “halls of learning”. Teach her just how magical, how precious she is! Let her know: “Yes, Baby, I see you! I hear you! You matter to me, more than all the distractions of the world.”

Put away that little black box. Better yet, throw it into the sea. “Today I set before you Life and Death. Choose LIFE!”

For God’s sake, man, see the magnificence of the sun, sand and sea before you! Teach her about what REALLY matters!

Look at the sand! Do you see how tiny it is…one little grain of said? And all of these little tiny grains of sand make a BIG, BIG beach!

Fill that pail with water. Show her a drop. All those little tiny drops make a BIG, BIG ocean!

Look at the sky! What colors do you see? Are there clouds? Are there birds? Do you see that sparrow over there? What is a land bird doing on the beach? Crazy, right?

Oh, Baby…If I wouldn’t scare the hell out of you, I would hold you in my arms and tell you how wonderful you are. But I know it wouldn’t matter coming from me.

Wake up, man!

So, I close my eyes again, and I pray a little prayer…and I hope his battery dies.

The Cleansing of Ten Lepers

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The Cleansing of Ten Lepers, Luke 17:11-19, New American Bible:

11As he continued his journey to Jerusalem, he traveled through Samaria and Galilee. 12As he was entering a village, ten lepers met (him). They stood at a distance from him 13and raised their voice, saying, “Jesus, Master! Have pity on us!” 14And when he saw them, he said, “Go show yourselves to the priests.” As they were going they were cleansed. 15And one of them, realizing he had been healed, returned, glorifying God in a loud voice; 16and he fell at the feet of Jesus and thanked him. He was a Samaritan. 17Jesus said in reply, “Ten were cleansed, were they not? Where are the other nine?” 18Has none but this foreigner returned to give thanks to God?” 19Then he said to him, “Stand up and go; your faith has saved you.”

Warning: If irreverence offends you, stop here.

In my journey with Jesus, he has taken on more human form. I look at this passage in a contemplative manner, from where I am now. I find myself noticing nuances.

In the first verse (11), Jesus is travelling through Samaria and Galilea. As he enters a village he is met by ten lepers. Is he really met by them? They stand at a distance…why? Because they are lepers! They are diseased, considered unclean. But, they have hope; and, despite being marginalized, outcast from their communities, they dare to call out to Jesus. They call him by name, “Jesus!” They defer to him, calling him, “Master!” They ask for pity. Jesus SEES them. Jesus HEARS them. He does not ignore them, treat them as though they are invisible, worthless. No! He tells them, “Go show yourselves to the priests.” And off they go. He gave them a direct order and they followed it.

I’m no Scripture scholar but I believe that when someone, a Jew, received a healing at that time, they were required to go show themselves to the priest, and, perhaps offer a sacrifice of some sort in thanksgiving. In any case, these guys did as they were told. However, a Samaritan among them, noticing he’s been cleansed, goes back to thank Jesus.

This is where I begin to get irritated. This man is grateful to Jesus. He returns to thank him personally because he is aware from where his healing came. I recall that Samaritans were looked down upon by “the Jews”. (Remember the woman at the well?) They don’t go to the temple to pray. They realize they can pray on the mountain.

So! The Samaritan, a foreigner, who by the way may be in his own land as Jesus is travelling through Samaria, goes back to Jesus as God’s representative, God’s human form, on earth! He has no obligation to go to the temple! But, Jesus asks, “Where are the other nine?” They’re on their way to the temple where you told them to go! They are being obedient!

I get it! It’s all about the personal relationship, but let’s cut the other nine a break. They may have been institutionalized by their religion. It may take them a little longer to get the personal relationship…or they may never get it. Does that mean they won’t enter the Kingdom? I don’t think so. They may just not be called to deeper healing, deeper relationship.