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May or May Not

June Donohue
Posted 5/20/21

Two of our family birthdays are in May. One is May second which is my son, Jimmy's birthday. He is deceased and it's not that he MAY be in a better place but he definitely is.

A friend of mine, …

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May or May Not

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Two of our family birthdays are in May. One is May second which is my son, Jimmy's birthday. He is deceased and it's not that he MAY be in a better place but he definitely is.

A friend of mine, whose daughter has died told me that when someone asks her how many children she has, she doesn't know how to answer. Does she include her, now that she is no longer here?

My answer is yes, you may or may not add that she is deceased. One of Jimmy's aides gave me a poem on the first Christmas after he died that makes me cry every time I read it. It says that Jimmy is spending Christmas with Jesus this year.

That aide is, Amalia Vazquez, who is like a member of the family, and has a birthday on May 1, one day before Jimmy's. We used to celebrate their birthdays together. Jimmy preferred ice cream cake so that saved me from the need to bake him one.

My daughter Patricia was born on May 26. For years I had strawberry shortcake at her parties. That's one of my favorites and the perfect time of year to have it.

After many years she finally confessed to me that she didn't really care for strawberry shortcake so now I bake her the one she prefers which is chocolate and everyone likes.

This month I am trying to find time to go to my country home in Callicoon Center. Besides the pandemic which is no longer a problem for me, because I've had both shots of the Moderna vaccine, my new cat, Daisy is so clingy that I know she would feel upset if she is left alone with just someone coming to feed her twice a day.

Then I had a brainstorm. Since Amalia is trying to make some extra money for a trip she is about to take, I asked her if she could fit in the care of Daisy with her other caregiving jobs. Amalia's cell phone had been out of order for months but I knew she was trying to get it fixed.

When I reached the number, I had no doubt that it was Amalia I was texting with. The first text I received was “Who is Daisy?” Either Amalia was losing her memory or she was messing with me as I had told her about Daisy. Then I received a text with an agreement to do it.

But it was followed by one that asked where I lived. That was even more confusing, but I gave her the address and asked if that rang a bell. Finally I reached Amalia on her landline, and I learned that when the government issues a cell phone to someone because of need, the number can be reissued to someone who is also eligible for a free one.

So I fired the other lady before I even hired her and Amalia is coming to meet Daisy this coming Saturday and has agreed to stay with her for the three days and nights that I will be gone. If it works out well she will stay for the full week or two that I may be gone in the future.

Now I have to get ready for a luncheon I am going to at 12:30 today. I could say I may or may not enjoy it, but I know I will.

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