#BlogElul -- Inventory time

Am I ready for Elul? Time to take inventory.

Elul check list:

• Rosh Hashana cards for my Jewish families who lost someone in the past year
• handouts for holiday programs in facilities
• resources for facilities for Holy Day programs
•  DVDs of services
• list of congregations that stream services
• CDs of Holy Day music
• Shofar in the car:
•  for my Jewish patients (make sure they're all seen this month)
• for any Jewish residents in the facilities I'm in this month
• for my colleagues at IDT
•  haircut
•  new clothes 

And an unexpected memory from last year:

You wash your hands A LOT in health care. Everyone says to sing "happy birthday" while you wash then to make sure you're doing it thoroughly and for long enough. After a number of Holy Day programs and visits and music and shofar I suddenly noticed that my hand-washing music had changed. As I lathered and scrubbed, I listened and realized that my go-to tune had suddenly become "Avinu Malkeinu."

Caregiving

Five minute response to the writing prompt: "Write about a caregiving experience that moved you."

He was dying. He had been dying for a long time, but not really dying. Eating less. Drinking little. He still said a word or two. He enjoyed music. Was calmed by touch. The sun shining on his face made him smile. But he was sleeping more and more. Less responsive. Less present. And now he was really dying.

The family had all been in - children flying in from far away, his wife at his bedside. They stayed late into the night. Or early into the morning. At this point it was hard to know which. They told him it was OK to go.

Clergy visited. Prayers were said. Everyone was ready. But still he did not go. Morning came. He was still here. Again they gathered. His wife of oh-so-many years stroking his head, caressing his arm. "Oh my beautiful boy."