Je ne regret rien

Saturday 12th December, 2020

It has been one of those days when one simply has no drive or energy. I woke to find that my friend who owns the house had had a bad night. She had appalling stomach pains, vomiting and diarrhoea from about 4am. She went down stairs and slept on the sofa.

At 9am when I got up I found her there. I did go to Church but came back speedily. She has been in bed all day. She has slept much of the time, not eaten and drunk only a little. Her daughter appeared this afternoon but had no more effective approach re eating and drinking than I have. Like so many patients she is her own worst enemy not asking for help. I have simply been around. I have popped in to her room every hour or so to check up and offer anything needed.

It is 5pm and I have just checked again. Her daughter brought temptations as in her favourite foods. My temptation is that Strictly Come Dancing is on television later. I know she enjoys it. Personally I do not. However she will need to get up before another whole night so I have offered a simply supper and a few hot drinks before the television set. She stirred as if interested.

It has been trying just being about in a state of mild alarm. She has been this way before so I am not overly worried. She has refused to see doctors and usually it all clears up within 24 hours and after a good sleep.

I think back to when I have been ill. I think warmth, sleep, silence and being alone helped me. The bribes of ice cream worked as a child. Today I would want a mega chorizo sausage and a bar of Tony's chocolate.

At times like these one realises how one takes health for granted. Like so much it is only when it goes wrong that one realises how vital it is. I recall recently a friend telling me of his Aunt's death. He now notices how much he undervalued, under thanked and under appreciated her.

Say it now. Do it now. Realise that what is today may deeply influence what is tomorrow. Be like Edith Piaf and 'je ne regret rien'. One of the stories I recall as a child was of the Saint who played cards with three friends each Sunday. Asked at one of the sessions what he or they would do if they had an hour to live the replies varied. One said he would tell his wife he loved her. The other said something similar as did the third. The Bishop, as he then was, said ' I would continue to do what I am doing '. More mundanely it was my Grand Mother who always insisted if one was going out that one had clean under wear. "You need to be ready to meet your Maker", she said.