More on Meg

What’s can an 80-year old single woman expect in her golden years in the year 2016? And living alone in the city of Chicago – nearly 3 million strong, encased in an urban megalopolis of 8 million plus? Well there are a number of things she can look forward to or, of course, fear! The latter we will defer for awhile. Let’s look at the more positive elements here.

First, Meg has her home. It is comfortable, in good condition and reliable. Utilities are strong and steady, air conditioning is a little old but still works well; so does the furnace. Appliances are of varying ages but all in good condition. Meg takes good care of them just as her mother taught her.

Meg has cooked for her family and now her single self for decades. She is sure of the kitchen routines and does them gladly as daily homage to living a good life. Good diet, meals on time, healthy for a person of her age. And Meg’s health exhibits this fact: she is of good and stable health. For 80 she demonstrates health of a 60 year old! Shoveling her own sidewalks and mowing her own lawn has been good for her!

Meg watches some TV but dislikes the violence, the ever present sexual content and news that really doesn’t seem much like news. More of celebrities, opinions and politicians than anything else. What’s happening in the world, Meg asks, and she reads one daily newspaper (can’t break the habit), reads some Better Homes and Gardens and a few special interest journals about gardening and basic home maintenance (written especially for single women above the age of 45!).

Meg also sews to maintain her wardrobe but that’s pretty much it. She does some needle craft but donates all of those efforts to a church group that creates prayer shawls, cancer hats, and bandage pads for various missions overseas. She keeps her hands busy, but often does this work in a group setting at church where she truly treasurers the camaraderie and sharing of the group.

Neighbors talk frequently in the neighborhood. Their lives are interlaced with sidewalk chatter and unplanned meet-ups, bumping into one another while shopping and doing errands. And of course they entertain each other for teas, dessert, and some grander meals. Meg enjoys these involvements. They share their age differences well and even celebrate the different cultures and life stories that span generations. She senses the rich culture that has built Chicago and continues to keep it fresh and ever-changing.

Meg is engaged in her community. Once, a neighbor came to her and told the story of a young immigrant family who was having a hard time getting settled. The husband had finally found a low paying job but was working hard at it. The wife was home caring for an 18-month old baby. And their small apartment was found for them by a local church. Other churches in the neighborhood were helping with meals brought in, finding ample clothing for them, and day care for the baby while the mother looked for part time work to supplement the family’s income.

Meg immediately helped out. When the young family’s apartment rent came due after the church’s prepaid period, Meg opened her home to the couple and baby. After six months they found their own apartment, but this young family made a lasting friend in Meg. And the bond was returned.

Meg learned a lot from the experience. First, she learned that language barriers were temporary. If you tried hard enough you either learned enough of their language, or they did so as well, or you all invented other symbols that helped smooth daily life in the household.

With only a powder room on the second floor, Meg shared her bath tub and shower with the small family. But it all worked out. Kitchen and household chores were generously shared and the work made light. Even better, multicultural recipes grew into favorites and even blended cuisines!

The young family came to America because their nation was not safe in which to raise a baby. Food and medical support were rare and unreliable. Jobs were practically absent. There was no future. And roving gangs of thugs preyed on everyone less strong than they. So the only avenue forward was escape!

Escape they did. They walked out of their country at night and into a neighboring nation with more civility and promise. But they were overrun by fellow émigré’s. That’s when international service agencies and churches became involved and soon the young family was being flown to America for resettlement.

Their names are Emilio and Juanita Mendeles. Their baby is son Juan. They are happy to be safe and healthy and embraced within a community that cares more than their native land in Central America. Geopolitics is complex and disarming. It is also not discerning of human rights or common decency. That is when action must be taken.

And so Meg provides the homestead for a family now of four. And she is pleased.

She awakes with vigor every morning while this family is with her. She is part of their family now and they hers. Close by and dear.

What could be better than that?

August 16, 2016