The coming week is going to be difficult

and I may not always get to a blog  post. 

Middle Cat, who knows far more about medical matters than I do, has made the decision to call on the remaining family to come and visit the Senior Cat for what will almost certainly be the last time. We were hoping this might be for a birthday celebration in February, albeit a subdued one, but she has judged that may not happen. So, our brother is coming from another state with his partner and two adult children. Our other sister is coming from yet another state.

There are currently restrictions on visits to residences such as the Senior Cat's residence. Middle Cat, who is much more assertive than I am, has simply informed the residence manager that our brother will be here. I don't think she has yet mentioned that the rest of the family is coming. They are all vaccinated and they will follow all the required measures - even putting on full PPE if necessary - but they will see him. The Senior Cat knows they are coming. Middle Cat informed him yesterday. 

I had a conversation with the priest at the church the Senior Cat attended until he could no longer get there. I think D.... understands that the Senior Cat's beliefs are not quite the same. "I'll go in and see him after morning service. They can't deny him spiritual care." That care may end up being D... telling the Senior Cat about the plywood he has taken from the shed to make drawers for something at the church. But, to me, that is spiritual care of a sort. The Senior Cat loved being in the shed making things for other people. He has had many a "woodwork" conversation with D... in recent months. He has delighted in the fact that D... is taking up a hobby that seems so fitting for a priest. That has meant as much to the Senior Cat as any sort of "religious" discussion.

And D... will, in a sense, take in all the visitors the Senior Cat has not been able to have because of the newly increased Covid restrictions. I thought of all this yesterday when Middle Cat and I were discussing arrangements. We are both very conscious of the fact that there are people in the residence who have had no visitors the entire time the Senior Cat has been there. They had no visitors even on Christmas Day. We tried to at least say "hello" to some of them but we knew it was not the same as having their own family there. The Senior Cat has had Middle Cat or me there almost every day and other visitors several times a week. 

If that is what they want then I wish it could be that way for all older people.