[menscouncil] Fwd: Checking in...

[Larry Works]

Greetings,

Forwarding this update from Kenji Yano with his permission.

Men... if you have something small, and lightweight, you'd like to
contribute to a *Kenji Care Package*, please text me at 313-919-2287 and
we'll arrange a pick up.  Thanks.

Warm regards,
Larry

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Larry Works <lawrence.works at gmail.com>
Date: Mon, Apr 22, 2024 at 1:56 PM
Subject: Re: Checking in...
To: Kenji Yano <onayijnek at gmail.com>


Hi Kenji,

Thanks for your reply.  I'm forwarding your note to rev theresa and the
Men's Council.  Thanks for accepting my offer to send you a few things.
I'll see what I can pull together and let you know when a package is on its
way.  IF you'd like anything in particular, please let me know.  Sounds
like you and your sister have been very busy figuring out care for your
mother.  I'm glad to hear that you and your sister are on the same page
should the brain lymphoma reoccur.  Keeping all of you in my thoughts and
heart.

Spring has finally arrived and the flowers are all blooming, the animals
are happy running around and people are enjoying sunshine.  Yesterday was a
wonderful Earth Day service including our new Dirt Communion.  Where the
dirt that's collected was spread around the new 7 trees we're calling the
Ancestors Grove.  All native american trees.  I expect this will become an
annual ritual similar to our water communication at the beginning of the
church year.  You may want to bring a little water and dirt from Japan for
next year's rituals.  Just a thought.

Manish was back for one Sunday and then travelled to Warsaw, Poland working
as the Co-Chair of UUSC (Human Rights arm of the UUA) helping Ukrainian
immigrants begin to receive UUSC resources.  More about that project here
<https://www.uusc.org/press/we-demand-an-end-to-the-bloodshed-uusc-responds-to-vladimir-putins-invasion-of-ukraine/>.
Michigan had its annual Spring football game and with FREE admission, there
were lots of kids enjoying their first visit to the Big House.  If you
follow that sort of thing, here's the Maize and Brew Big House Bleachers
Podcast <https://megaphone.link/RRTET5864136183> (~30m) of the game.

I recently learned of a Folk Song Jam Along that happens monthly at an Ann
Arbor Library.  Here's the Facebook page
<https://www.facebook.com/folksongjamalong/> where you can find the email
address to get on their mailing list.  It's run by Lori Fithian and Lori
Fithian & Jean Chorazyczewski whom you probably know from past performances
at UUAA.  All instruments and levels of ability are invited to sing and jam
a long.  I went to one and sang.  It was a lot of fun with the audience
choosing the songs from a list they share.  Pretty wide variety.

Holding you and your family close in this challenging time.

Larry





On Wed, Apr 17, 2024 at 2:59 AM Kenji Yano <onayijnek at gmail.com> wrote:

> Hi Larry,
>
> Thanks for checking in.
>
> The last seven days have been quite hectic for us.  My mother was
> discharged from the hospital last Friday and she has been living with us at
> home.  She had completed a series of radiation therapy as palliative care.
> My sister's family from the States stayed with us for a week, and today my
> sister just left to join her family back in Montana.  I will continue with
> my mom until around late June when my sister will return to switch with
> me.
>
> Since my mother no longer has the qualifying conditions to be in hospice
> thanks to palliative care, we are looking to find hopefully a nursing home
> that would fit her sociable character.  My sister and I have visited
> several assisted living facilities subsidized by the government and
> submitted applications to be on the waitlist.  We are not ruling out other
> facilities but non-government subsidized facilities tend to be costly in
> this region.  Yesterday, we were visited by a team of home care physicians
> and nurses, a social worker, a medical equipment company rep (we are
> renting an adjustable bed and a wheelchair), and a daycare facility rep to
> coordinate a care plan for my mother.  We hope she will be well enough to
> attend daycare several times weekly.  According to my mom's doctor, more
> than 50% of brain lymphoma will come back.  My sister, I, and our mom are
> on the same page in that if the tumor does come back we will not treat it
> next time.
>
> In the last couple of months, my stress levels were constantly high and I
> started to experience multiple health issues, like fatigue, constipation,
> insomnia, and so on.  My sister found a good Chinese medicine doctor near
> us (it's hard to find a good doctor), and I have been on a steady
> recovery.  So, I am happy about that.
>
> Thanks for sharing the words by Rumi.  That's beautiful and reminds me of
> the importance of being open to your vulnerabilities.  The vulnerability
> happens to be my Chalice Circle's topic this week.  I'm glad I belong to a
> community that openly discusses human vulnerability.
>
> I'm also glad to hear that you, Laura, and Jim were able to find a good
> spot to see the total eclipse serendipitously!  That must have been an
> absolute joy and wonder especially since you weren't prepared for it.
>
> I miss Ann Arbor and UUAA a lot!  I could see some Sunday services
> online.  Thanks for thinking about sending something to me.  That's very
> kind of you.  I would greatly appreciate it!
>
> As for another Zoom meeting, I expect to be more available towards the end
> of the month.  Right now, I'm on a steep learning curve regarding caring
> for someone who has dementia and needs total assistance.
>
> Kind regards and please feel free to share this email with people at UUAA
> and rev. theresa.
>
> Kenji
>
>
> On Thu, Apr 11, 2024 at 12:17 PM Larry Works <lawrence.works at gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
>> Hi Kenji,
>>
>> Know that I've been thinking about you and want to support you in this
>> challenging time.
>>
>> I've seen a couple of photos on Facebook from you and am wondering how
>> you've been doing.  Are you and your sister able to lean on each other?  I
>> sure hope so.  I remember quality of life was a huge concern to you and I'm
>> hoping your mother is able to understand and accept the loving care you're
>> able to give her.  The human part of caring is so important no matter what
>> the situation.  I especially hope her doctors have been able to answer
>> questions to your satisfaction and that your mother is as comfortable as
>> possible.
>>
>> When last we spoke, you and your sister had yet to decide how the care
>> for your mother should proceed.  I'm hoping you and she were able to get on
>> the same page.  While none of us know what the future holds, when hard
>> things need doing, we all appreciate information and advice from the
>> medical experts.  It's important to have people around you that you can
>> count on.  Whether they're friends or family may not matter as much as
>> having human connections.
>>
>> I'm not sure of the relationship you have with your mother but know that
>> whatever it is, at some point in your lives, you saw each other as the
>> center of the universe.  To my mind, those are forever memories and
>> connections to cherish the rest of your life even when they bring tears.
>> As Rumi wrote, "The wound is the place where light enters you."
>>
>> Speaking of light, have you ever seen a total eclipse of the sun?  I was
>> able to see this one with Jim and Sherry McCargar and Laura Bollettino.
>> We're all science geeks and the nerd jokes in the car were an absolute hoot
>> on the long drive to Union City, Indiana.  That was 1 of 4 locations we
>> considered as we left Ann Arbor.  The cloud forecast dictated the best spot
>> as all would have high cirrus cloud cover.  The question was, how thick
>> would it be.  In Union City we lucked out, and it wasn't much and we
>> weren't bothered with crowds or heavy traffic.  I credit Jim for finding
>> that spot.  Hard to explain the joy and wonder we felt as it was
>> happening.  I hadn't done much prep on what to expect so was thrilled to
>> learn about and see solar prominences in red
>> <https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/red-dots-around-total-solar-eclipse-explained/>.
>> And the pictures just keep on coming.
>>
>> The Men's Spring Dinner is coming up this Saturday and we will miss your
>> smiling face.  As a member of the Men's Council, you likely know more about
>> it than I do.  I'm looking forward to good food, good company and good
>> conversation.
>>
>> Have you given any thought to personal needs from the USA?  Let me know
>> and I'll do my best to gather things and send them as quickly as I can.
>> Even if it seems like a silly desire, I hope you give me a chance to send
>> you a few things you may be missing.
>>
>> If you'd like to have another Zoom, let me know.  I'll be at the Men's
>> dinner Saturday evening and will gladly step away if 8pm is still the best
>> time for you.  If another day works better, let me know.  Thanks.
>>
>> Take good care of yourself.
>>
>> Warm regards,
>> Larry
>>
>> --
>>
>> "The earth is the mother of all people, and all people should have equal
>> rights upon it." -  Hin-mah-too-yah-lat-kekt, Nez Perce (aka Chief
>> Joseph)
>>
>> Larry Works (he/him/his)
>> *MS Technology & Society*
>> *Retired*
>>
>> *lawrence.works at gmail.com <lawrence.works at gmail.com>*
>>
>>

-- 

"The earth is the mother of all people, and all people should have equal
rights upon it." -  Hin-mah-too-yah-lat-kekt, Nez Perce (aka Chief Joseph)

Larry Works (he/him/his)
*MS Technology & Society*
*Retired*

*lawrence.works at gmail.com <lawrence.works at gmail.com>*



-- 

"The earth is the mother of all people, and all people should have equal
rights upon it." -  Hin-mah-too-yah-lat-kekt, Nez Perce (aka Chief Joseph)

Larry Works (he/him/his)
*MS Technology & Society*
*Retired*

*lawrence.works at gmail.com <lawrence.works at gmail.com>*
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