Tag Archives: hope

My Second Home

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I have taken many trips to this place ever since I was a young girl. I rejoice in calling it my “second home”. Over the span of many years, I was able to familiarize myself with the space. Here you are accompanied by your neighbor’s murmurs, the cries of nameless voices circulating through the halls. I get a room all to myself with a beautiful view of the city lights. Most of everything in my room is dressed purely in ivory. The bed, the sheets, my pillow. The tile floor, the ceiling, and all four walls. I find comfort in the reclined bed, under the crisp, cool sheets. At this time I don’t sleep for long, knowing I’ll have another visitor soon.

When one of my visitors enters my room, they kindly greet me, and I graciously greet them back. I’m connected to multiple wires and monitors, all performing as they must in order heal me. So, they begin to repeat the same steps that they did just hours before, and that they will in another two. They observe the screen next to me, then ask me how I’m feeling. Sometimes I stubbornly pretend to be asleep, but they always graciously check on me before allowing me to get more rest. With one hand atop my warm forehead and the other pressed into my aching side, sleep does not come easy to me. For the moment, I remember why I’m here. Yet with the lulling sounds of water droplets nearby, I quickly succumb to sleep.
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The next time I’m awoken, golden rays of sun beam through my window. Another one of my visitors stops by. This hospitable person never fails to bring me meals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, even if my stomach can’t bear to eat them.

Shortly thereafter the same visitor from the night before returns. This time they present to me a chart that shows a range of faces. They tell me to choose which one best describes how I’m feeling. Although I know they simply want to help me, I’m always shy in my answer. Even with hot sweats and chills alternating throughout my body, I always wear the best smile I can, as I give them my fabricated answer.

Mindlessly focusing on the tube connected to my forearm, I recall just how it was placed there the night before. It’s never an easy experience, but I have to remember that it’s to help me. Catching my attention, they inform me that I can expect another night’s stay, before leaving me alone once again.
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I have other visitors occasionally, all my loved ones. They always look down at me with sympathetic looks, as if I’m fragile, ready to break at any given moment. They tell me to “get well soon” . From what my face may tell them, I am weak. But how I continue to see it, it’s no battle I haven’t fought and won before. This feeling is temporary. I just need fixing, and soon I will be well again.
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Most fear this place, but not I. I have no objection in going to a heavenly place of healing. Days have gone by and now I’m replenished. They say I may return home. After thanking them, I insist that it won’t be long until I’ll be back for another visit. Soon I am taking one last glance of the place as we drive off, further out of the city, further away from my dear second home.
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I never wanted to admit that I ever felt any form of pain in those rooms. Truthfully, I was seemingly never without physical pain from these unrelenting sicknesses. Fortunately, I could always count on this spot as my haven. That place was the only scene at which I could seek full recovery. In recent years, I haven’t needed to pay them a visit. I don’t know when I’ll be back, but until next time, I remember all my past trips to that beloved building that I still call my second home, the hospital downtown.
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“Let the Good Times Roll!”

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Yesterday marked Mardi Gras, a day of celebration on the eve of Lent, which is the 40 days (excluding Sundays) proceeding Easter. Today, the first day of Lent, is known as Ash Wednesday. As I embrace my Cajun heritage, it sparked my interest to research these practices.

Some common traditions of Mardi Gras include parades with extravagant floats and marching bands, wearing colored beaded necklaces (mostly in the Mardi Gras colors of gold, green, and purple), and eating a delicious icing and sprinkle-topped pastry called king cake. Per tradition, one slice of the king cake is to hide a small, usually plastic, figure of a baby to represent baby Jesus. The rule then is that whoever receives this slice must provide the king cake at next year’s gathering.

Mardi Gras, translating to “Fat Tuesday”, is a French term that historically describes a day of feasts and festivals. This is the last day that it is acceptable to binge “fat” foods before entering a period of fasting and reflection known as Lent. These celebrations have extended from the streets of Louisiana to across the map. The festivities are adorned with the colors gold, purple, and green. Each color has its own significance to the true meaning of this day. Gold represents power, green symbolizes faith, while purple stands for justice.

In truth, there is far more to this tradition than beaded necklaces, parades, and king cake. If you are Christian, particularly Catholic, then you are probably familiar with the idea that you are to give up eating red meat on Ash Wednesday and on every Friday during Lent. You also give up something extra of your choosing, to commemorate the 40-day fasting Jesus endured. But, this period of self-reflection does not have to be solely for Christians. Any time someone carves out time for self-reflecting and setting aside their vices it is commendable. We are able to take back control of our life in areas we may have lost grip. It is a vow to not give in to temptations and a reminder to be thankful. Becoming in tune with oneself allows you to clear your mindset and strengthen your spirit. This is a practice that, as of recent, I have chosen to embrace. Everyone can benefit from introspection and humble gratitude.

With this year’s Mardi Gras and Lenten season, join me in letting go. Devote your days to making sacrifices. Set about challenges with resolution and determination. No longer give certain things the ability to impede on your happiness. Don’t waste your selfless energy on those unworthy of such. Surround yourself only with people whose efforts match your own and whose actions speak louder than words. But above all, choose yourself. Take this time for yourself to reach internal peace and harmony.

I will sign off by reciting a common Cajun phrase: “laissez les bons temps rouler!” It is commonly used to announce that the festivities have begun, therefore proceed with all that is going well. This saying, declaring to have fun and live life to the fullest, means “let the good times roll!”