A different lens

Last weekend, Ms. Muse and I traveled north. To visit her daughter who is getting married in a month. And to attend a gala for Sunflower Hill, an assisted living facility founded by her sister Susan, for adults with I/DD, Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities.

Since my previously-noted wardrobe has been depleted by my new salmon and fruits and vegetable diet, this also required me to purchase some new fancy duds. As a shorts and flip flop guy, this required me to step out of my all-too-comfortable denim and khaki zone and purchase some slacks. I like saying that word. I also like being the owner of two new well creased pair of slacks.

You can barely see the slacks here, but I like to think to my attire cut the mustard. Ms. Muse never fails to look to look stylish. And "tidy." 

Prior to the evening, which was a huge success, Susan gave us a tour of the Sunflower Hill facility. Which was stunning in its own right. Each resident has their own little apartment. Think of your college dormitory. Only much nicer. 

And without any beer can pyramids. 

Additionally there are group activity rooms. A full garden. Fitness Center. Even a small pool. And you know how I love pools. 

In short, it's everything an assisted living facility should be. And I know because, in the last few years of his life, my uncle left his home in Palm Springs and lived in a couple of outrageously expensive assisted living facilities in West LA, that were 180 degrees in the other direction of Sunflower Hill.

I also know the plight of adults with I/DD, as my other uncle Jackie was fully dependent on the lifetime care of my grandparents, then my parents, and then on myself and my brother and sister. I suspect there all many people in this, the richest nation on Earth, in similar situations. 

And it begs the question, "why can't we do more?" 

Can we get by with a thousand fewer tanks and invisible fighter jets and re-direct our wealth to a better, healthier standard of living? Contrary to Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and his demand for a Warrior Ethos, why can't we develop an ethos of compassion and caring, you know the material that fills every page in our precious bibles? 

I'll step down from my soapbox now and unclench my teeth. And leave you with the website address where you can add an insignificant drop to the significant bucket, https://sunflowerhill.org/get-involved/donate/

Thank you.