My roomie is 80. She gts braid extensions and manicures. She is from a family of 12 and has outlived so many family members. She outlived her husband of 51 years just 5 years ago. She said she endures dialysis for her niece and nephew who are like her own children and she never had any of her own.She used to live with her niece. She has a quick wit and wonderful sense of humor. She points out that we are a generation apart but we like the same things. I love listening to her stories and I just marvel over the fact she lived in the midst of so much history. I feel dull beside her. She loves politics and is getting me more informed than I used to be. She wanted and asked for me as a roommate. I love waking up and sitting by her bed by the window.

My days are full of companionship and now I do not stay in my room.

When the stalker man comes peeking in my room, I ignore him. Hey I got a cable box in now too. They finally it in all the tvs and not just 1 per room. I guess enough complaints works.

Now I have time to look outside and contemplate life.

But I never get used to the men dressed in black with the black gurney. Sometimes it comes in the day,but mostly at night. I always feel so saddened by the appearance of death,yet I believe we are freed from our old bodies and live in eternal life free from death. But it surrounds me now.? My roomie chuckles and says that is what this place is for. I forget. But I do see frail bodies being walked around on walkers,with wheelchairs behind! Our spirits strong! As I communicate with those without speech,I know we are spiritual beings.

The really difficult part is when the man dressed in black pushing a gurney draped in back shuffles down the hall usually in the early morning hour. I dislike the reminder of death, the losses so frequent,the sounds of mourning,the death.

Roomie laughed at me and said thats what this place is for. I am not ready. I want to live,learn to recover.

So I do that.

Roomie had a clutter around her. I helped her hide away things all organized and rearrange things on display. My daughter bought her new tote to take her blankets to dialysis. She was so happy because she had wanted to do it for a while. I asked the kitchen for ziplock bags. She was surprised how fast we were done.

Organizing clears the soul.