I don’t believe Tracey and I have celebrated New Years Eve in a very long time. Let alone be awake for the Dick Clark Ball Drop (does that seem like an odd name to you), but we did it. And my gosh did we do it in style.
Hospice Style!!
As we saw with the recent at home Christmas experience it’s always an ordeal to move me, so this time we put me in a wheelchair to conserve my very limited energy. Once we made it to the fireplace room the Rosedale Hospice team had set me up with the perfect recliner to get me through the evening comfortably. And it worked.
We rented the fireplace room and four of our dear friends joined us. As a team everyone worked to make a beautiful NYE themed room, brought some delicious Greek food from Santorini Restaurant and I even got another Rum and Coke, the rest drank champagne. Oh and a loaf of fresh warm sourdough was passed around. Pinch me I was dreaming.
We sat around the table discussing every topic imaginable and before you know it the time was 10:30. We had exceeded our planned time but at the original planned end time I asked if we could keep it going, I was again feeling that immense joy of sharing good times with friends.
The room was cleared up, the two couples then started helping with phase two of NYE which I can only describe at this point as something I couldn’t ever have imagine being able to do in this hospice phase of my life!!
Tracey and I booked the bedroom suite and we got to sleep in the same bed after me being out at hospital and hospice beds for the last two months.
The hospice team got into the fun, they had put chocolates on our pillows and a bottle of Vueve Clicquot Champagne on our bed. And to top it off they put a sock for our doorknob as a warning as the Honeymoon Suite was occupied.
We got into bed, watched balls drop, cheered to our good fortune and then just lay in the incredible comfort of our own arms. Could very well have been the best cuddle ever.
You couldn’t imagine how much the whole evening meant to Tracey and I. Dinner with friends, enjoying some semblance of New Years Eve celebrations, and the Coup de Grâce, spending the night in a bed made of wood with real covers with the best woman in the world. The whole thing was out worldly but in such an awesome way.
Again, and I cannot say this loud enough to those following in my cancer path, the Rosedale Hospice has extended my life. I am happily taking every advantage of their facilities, the staff and I each have our own quirky relationship, every medical need has been addressed and the meals are delicious.
I say this because originally I wanted to go home. The moment I was here I realized the burden that would be on the family. Today I look back and shudder at any other decision.
SO. What’s the next adventure you ask?? As you know over the last six years I’ve created trips and adventures and used them as motivation to keep moving forward. Every three months I would be planning something. These days I’m compressing the time gap between events for what I think are obvious reasons, and regardless there’s an obvious celebration just sitting there ready to be taken advantage of. I’m turning 59 on January 13th!!! Let the planning begin cause it’s gonna be off the hook!!
So yes, if yer wondering if I’m still making each day count, the answer is yes, and I think you should too.
