Tiny Horse

If you want to get a smile from a veteran confined to a wheelchair, try bringing a miniature horse to visit. Some lovely folks brought in Dakota, a tiny, friendly horse and the guys all loved it. That visit was a few weeks back, during one of the rainy spells. The rain stopped just long […]

A Monday

Couldn’t go Sunday, so went Monday instead. The ward has many new patients and staff; the energy in the room was off. Normally it is at least peaceful, but these days it is a bit chaotic. The only woman there, who has been unconscious for years had her eyes open for the first time, though […]

Horses

It was raining today, so instead of taking my guy out for a walk (a wheelchair roll) I brought a book of my photos and we went through it, page by page. Speaking is difficult for him, so an activity like looking at photos (or listening to music) is better. I told him that I […]

July 4th

I have not posted recently about my visits. Sometimes there is nothing remarkable or poignant to offer. You just go there and spend time with people. Today, Buddy Number One was not in sight in the dayroom and Buddy Number Two called for me so I went and sat with him. He asked me again […]

Appreciate

Since I am no longer allowed to take my guy for our long wheelchair rides on the rail trail or the paved forest trail, we look for places within the VA grounds. About the only option is the 9 hole golf course, which is operated by nearby Hanscom Field. So we wander there, where there […]

Permission Denied

Meanwhile, at the Bedford VA On this perfect spring day I went to take my guy out for a spin and was met by a nurse with lots of attitude who informed me that I can no longer take him for walks on the trails near the VA, including to Fawn Lake. She said if […]

Lakeside

(This is from last Thursday’s visit and today’s.) When I got there my two guys were side by side in their wheelchairs; my Jewish vet buddy had his hand holding the armrest of my first buddy. I explained to Jewish buddy that his family won’t allow me to take him for rides anymore but that […]

Play Bingo?

This Sunday’s adventures actually allowed some light to penetrate my pervasive black cloud. It was about 50 degrees outside, and damp, so an inside trip seemed like the better idea. We went to the Sunday basement Bingo game where we usually meet old friends. In the past he never wanted to play Bingo; he seemed […]

Birdhouse

Warning: This post starts out nice and light and then descends into a virulent political diatribe. You were warned. My guy has been greeting me for the last month with the same question: “Birdhouse – birdhouse – birdhouse?” This is a reference to eight birdhouses we recently placed in the park where he and first […]

A Day in May

Finally, it was warm enough to take my guy outside today. Too warm, to be honest. There is a paved path on the edge of the woods and we went along that path for most of an hour. In general, the plants have not woken up to spring yet, but you can see the purple […]