You have to show up

Here I am wondering what this column is about knowing that the only way I am going to find out is to start writing. Surprise! If you have read this far you have taken the plunge into the river (flow) of life experiences which is Stories and Journeys.

HEART CONCERN IS NOW SHAPING MY LIFE
A veterinarian to one of my cats back in the day once observed the heart has just so many beats. The reality of this observation just got personal. At my recently completed Medicare Annual Wellness visit with my family practice physician, he detected a heart murmur that could be a sign of valve leakage. He ordered an electrocardiogram – which when completed revealed what he suspected. One of my heart valves is leaky making that observation by that vet that the heart has just so many beats all too real. A follow-up visit with my family practice doctor has been scheduled.

READ THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE AGAIN.
In so doing, I discovered the heart and soul of this country to be opposition to tyranny which to me means opposition to authoritarian government. That’s what the streets of Minneapolis were/are about. The streets of Minneapolis were/are about standing up for what this country is about in the face of tyranny, in the face of the authoritarian play book that is in play in this country 250 years after the Declaration of Independence.

A VISIT TO NOKOMIS FARMERS MARKET
June 22. My intent is to visit five south Minneapolis farmers markets. My visit to Nokomis Farmers Market reminded me that each farmers market is unique. At Nokomis, I observed numerous families showing up with young children. Not so many people with walkers or in wheelchairs. Not as much diversity in clientele versus Midtown Farmers Market. That did not stop me from buying produce, donating to the market administration, checking out other vendors and enjoying the music being played as I waited for Metro Mobility to take me home.

ON MY FIRST VISIT TO NOKOMIS DAYS
With this column, I am submitting a photo intended to document my attendance at Nokomis Days thanks to Metro Mobility. I made the Wellness Center my Nokomis Days headquarters. My overall impression of Nokomis Days is this: The only way to know what Nokomis Days is all about is to experience it. You have to show up.

MICHAEL HAS LEFT THE NOKOMIS-BASED WELLNESS CENTER. SAY IT ISN’T SO.
I’m still in shock. Unable to imagine the Wellness Center MN without massage therapist Michael. The words unexpected and abrupt run through my mind as I process this news.

I have been a client of the Wellness Center for many years. Michael had been a massage therapist practitioner at the Wellness Center for many years. Over time, Michael became a good fit for me in that capacity. Over time making small talk ,we discovered we live in the same Greater Longfellow neighborhood, encountered one another long enough to say hello at Turtle Bread Longfellow and the Midtown Farmers Market. And we discovered that as renters at different periods of time and locations within Longfellow we had the same landlord. And I discovered that he knew something about Chinese medicine along with other topics. Last, but not least, he knew I was the writer of Stories and Journeys in the Messenger.

July 15. I had no hint that this would be my last massage therapy session with Michael. On my way out the door nothing was said about Michael leaving when I scheduled my next appointment in August. Then on July 30, I got a call from the Wellness Center informing me that Michael had left and I would need to identify another massage therapist for my August appointment and beyond which I proceeded to start doing. I believe in continuity of care. A rarity these days. I got that from Michael and now that’s what I am losing.

Unexpected and abrupt. Still in shock. I wish Michael the best and I thank him for giving me his best at The Wellness Center.

And so, dear reader, what do you think this column is about? Tell yourself, tell others or tell me via tesha@tmcpub.com. 

ELDER VOICES (TELLING OUR STORIES/SHARING OUR JOURNEYS)
Next meet ups Aug. 28 and Sept. 25, 10-11 a.m. officially at Turtle Bread (4752-Chicago Ave.) Look for the table with the Elder Voices sign.
In gratitude.

Donald L. Hammen is a longtime south Minneapolis resident, and serves on the SEUI Health Care for MN/IA Retiree Council and Minneapolis Regional Retiree Council.