"INDEPENDENCE"

"Independence" is a concept that I have been mulling over lately. We just celebrated The Fourth of July but the independence of our nation is only one kind of independence.


Mike and I know about independence. We have a very independent life; we are independent of real estate tax and the pressures of work. But more importantly, we are free to choose where we go and when we go there and what we do when we get there. We both have freedom of movement; we can walk independently and talk and eat without assistance. In the mundane daily activities and the major life decisions, we are independent.


I have seen my mom loose her independence gradually over the last few years. The independent lady who drove others to church is now dependent on the TV for Sunday Mass. Her car keys sit in the cup by the door; a symbol of independence lost.


This past week mom got a new bracelet, a life line. With just a touch of the button, she is connected to a real person who will help her in an emergency. It is another symbol of that lost independence; she used to be the one who helped others.

Yet, mom has independence; it is just more limited. She still decides what she wants to eat and what she wants to wear and who she welcomes into her own home. Here she is with her nieces who took time to visit recently.

Since we arrived in Minnesota, we have watched our Grandson, Mac, get more independence in the form of a high school diploma. We have seen mom struggle with her restricted independence. We have seen our Great Granddaugher, Amariah, demonstrate the independence that comes with growth. (This picture of her saluting the flag during a parade was taken by Grandma Janet.)

And we have watched a very independent man, Mike's life long friend, Bob, adjust to lost independence.

Bob was diagnosed with lung cancer less than two months ago. In the last five weeks, we saw him go from a person who gave directions and got things done to a man who did as he was told and was unable to independently do even simply tasks. Today he lost his brief battle with cancer. He drew his last breath independently and now he is gone. Our sympathy goes to Corky, his partner in life for the past nine years, and to his children and grandchildren and his many friends. We will all miss his "garage parties" and his friendship.

The people who knew and loved Bob will all rely on each other for strength in the coming days and long into the future. And so, my mulling over independence leaves me with this idea: A person (or a nation) achieves true independence only when they know when they need others.