By Nellie Curtiss …
Look out. The floodgates of shoppers standing shoulder to shoulder at big box and little box stores is about to pop out! Santa Claus commercials are at the ready and already have infiltrated our satellites, cable, Internet live and streaming cycles, and traditional antenna digital signals from San Antonio Mountain. With Thanksgiving gatherings this week, Black Friday and shopping local or distantly over the big mountains is only a brief moment away. That means a lot of headaches for shoppers, gatherers, and drivers.
Hey, after all it is the season of Thanksgiving. Remember, in all circumstances give thanks. So, indeed we have a bevy of thanksgiving and goodwill built up over the pandemic.
Speaking of the stop-in-your-tracks pandemic, I’m grateful for the vaccines, masks and ever at the ready medical staff: doctors, nurses, and nurse practioners, emergency medical techs, assistants, and receptionists. For instance, the Monte Vista Rural Health Clinic of the Rio Grande Hospital has most often the singular goal of making their patients feel better. “Call us if you need anything.” Jackie Bennett, DJ, Noette, Heidi, Cory, and everyone who has ever greeted from the get-go. The drive-through pharmacy is a godsend for me, too. The Monte Vista Ambulance has also assisted me. Other nurses I’m beholden to are Linda, Ashley, Andrea, Dana, and more at the Emergency Rooms in the Valley.
The Monte Vista Police Department has checked on me a couple times when the emergency button I wear gave up an unrequested alarm. I remember when I was expecting a new Lifeline, but it hadn’t arrived yet. The police and ambulance showed up because they were alerted that I had fallen down and needed help. I peeked out the door, “No, I haven’t fallen.” I showed them my necklace. Still, they asked. I assured them I hadn’t fallen. “I’m ok,” I said. The next day the package came with the new necklace. It turns out, the new Lifeline was sent in “on” position and every toss and tumble of the box was registered as a fall. Thus, the full emergency squad was called. The Life-line company apologized. I am so thankful I have proof that the Lifeline works.
My family (thank you, thank you, thank you) only this week raised the funds to bring in Angie Ochoa, house cleaning angel and best friend to my nurse Linda from At Home Health. This community cat rescuing operation was on the precipice of a haz-mat clean up in my back rooms. Still, she persisted and delivered a better breathing environment for my asthma and COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease). I promised no more cats inside. The cats will be warm and toasty in their cat-a-minium under the carport now. I can’t say enough how thankful I am for the feral work that SLV Cats Alive provides including trap-neuter-release (TNR).
The other night a lone skunk and one racoon were scavenging around my deck. I’m thankful for them too as it was a prompting jolt to get cat food inside at sunset. Yep, without a doubt— I’m thankful in all situations.
I’m blessed to have such wonderful people around me. It’s so helpful when my neighbor Greg wheels my trash bin out to the curb and back into the yard when I can’t manage it. How nice it is when my neighbor Gayla joins me at my picnic table for a catch-up session. I’m so grateful for my friends Karli, Barbara, Laura, Therese and Genevieve who check in on me. Remember Captain Kirk skyping in his ready room? FaceTime, a reality from Star Trek, is a blessing as I can visit with my sisters, cousin and son as if we have our very own family-sized portal. It’s another reason to be glad we have science fiction that leads to real science and video coffee meet ups on Saturdays.
Yes, the floodgates of good will, and gratitude are flush and opened wide.
Columns by nellie 