Scaling that peak
The one looming
Seemingly within reach,
Around the next corner
Until you look up
And see there is still more to go
Much more
Hitting a wall
Slumping down to the pebbled ground
You take a drink of precious water
Breathe deeply
Gulping in the thin air
Retying your shoes
And rising
You push on
Toward that lofty goal.
The art show
A one-woman exhibit
In a high-ceilinged expansive gallery
As I entered through the mahogany doors
The beauty and meaning overtook me
My jaw literally dropped.
There were no more false precipices
This was the peak.
Across the vast space, I was struck by the dance
Of the slender white birds
Flying, prancing, strutting
Displayed in a manner
Deserving of their beauty.
The Pinnacle reached.
People milling about
Appreciating
Smiling
Greeting each other warmly
No pandemic
No war
No hate
No politics
No sickness
Beauty
Merely and truly beauty.
Young mixing with old
Love filling the space
Family together to celebrate the artist
Along with friends and strangers
A wonderful, wonder-filled evening
A celebration well-earned
Spirit Truly Took Flight
And the view from the top
Was breath taking!
Spirit Taking Flight
Colleen O’Connor Exhibit
Hoxie Gallery Westerly Library Westerly Rhode Island
Month of March
My book has been published for a few weeks now. I am elated with the response it has received. It has been my dream to write a book to help inform people in order that they and their loved ones might be able to attain more control and choice as they approach the end of their life. I have received wonderful feedback which has confirmed for me that the book is providing the information and encouragement it was intended to give!
Here is a sample of one of the reviews. Remember you can purchase a book through my website patocwriter.com http://patocwriter.com
Navigating Life’s Final Journey is a well written book about preparing to face life’s final journey. Pat writes from years of personal experience in the field of palliative care. She stresses the importance of communication and decision-making by family members. The real-life stories she shares stress the point that there comes a time in life when exit can be welcome. Things that need to be discussed and planned for are covered in detail with many options explained. Death does not always need to be prolonged when the person passing is struggling to an uncomfortable lifestyle that makes everything difficult and unnecessary for all involved. The book is full of helpful, thought-provoking stories and helpful information. Take time to read it and share ideas with your family and friends who have loved ones with Heaven in sight.
Janis I.
Our physical beings
Are so fragile
So vulnerable
Our physical life
As we have come to know it
Can change instantaneously
A fall
A nearby sneeze
Droplets landing indiscriminately
An infection
Mild or life changing
Any number of circumstances
Most beyond our control
Can end or alter our physical life
At any moment.
Motor vehicle crash, earthquake, war
Homicide, injury, abuse, illness
And untold others.
As people enter their later years
The physical losses are more evident
Our bodies less resilient
But the human spirit
Ahhh!
The Human Spirit
Inspires awe.
The resolve of rescue workers
In Turkey, Syria, NYC
All over the world
Putting their lives at risk
To spare the suffering of others
Human Spirit.
The courage of the silver-haired man
Making his way unassisted
Across the vast floor of the restaurant
Pushing his walker forward
Dragging his thin, bowed legs
One painful step after another
His right ankle randomly turning under
He ventures forth
Smiling and nodding along the way
His spirit unencumbered
His Human Spirit.
The hurried foot steps
Racing down the hospital stairs
Faces of consternation, determination, trepidation
They descend flight after flight
To the Emergency Department
An energy fills the staircase
An energy of love and compassion
So powerful my heart- filled with awe overflows into my eyes
As I stand back, giving them space
To respond to the call
“Code Blue. Pediatric. ED”
Human Spirit undeterred.
The family
Putting their lives on hold
Being there for their dad
Allowing him to remain home
As he nears the end of his life.
Nearing the end, but living fully
Others helping out
Lending a hand, baking a bread
Saying a prayer
Day after Day after Week after Month
They labor
Out of duty, out of love
The Human Spirit living on.
The Slave Spirituals
A testament beyond measure
To this Spirit
Not extinguished
By the evils enacted
Upon them by others
“Swing low, sweet chariot . . .”
Spirit of human beings
Oppressed, enslaved in body
But untethered in spirit
Human Spirit.
Human Spirit
Surviving
despite enduring
Assault, loss, suffering, unimaginable pain
Human Spirit
Who we are
Within our fragile shells
Deep inside our physical selves
That tiny nugget of hope
The fountain of youth, of love
Our truest selves
When we look on in wonder
Look on in awe
And maybe beautiful disbelief
When our hearts leap
toward the warmth of the flame of the actions of others,
We are witnessing the power of the Human Spirit
And within that Spirit lies hope for our wounded world!
9am
9/8/2021
Dad’s living room
A mere 16 months ago
I thought it was 2 years!
Finally, it is complete
Later today, we pick up 300 copies
Of my book!
It is a culmination
Of wisdom and knowledge gained
Over 4+ decades
Of service
4 decades of listening,
Caring, educating,
Relieving suffering,
Telling truth
And giving choices
4 decades of conversations
Labor is over now
Today is delivery day.
So, I lie awake wondering
Is it enough?
Will people benefit from reading it?
Will they hear and understand
That which I passionately believe?
Has it come through
In the words I have written
And rewritten and rewritten
More times than I care to count
Beta Readers
A fabulous editor
So much has gone into
This sixteen-month gestation.
Today it will be born
No more revisions
No more corrections
So tonight, I am a bit concerned
Like the Christmas Gift
The really special one
That you put your heart and soul into
You are excited to give it
But tremulous also
How will it be received?
~
This book is my gift
To people everywhere
In hopes it will bring them
Comfort, clarity, meaning and choices
As they face the prospect
Of Life’s Final Journey.
A journey we shall all face
Someday
So, as I release this creation
I whisper a prayer
That I have done justice to the topic
That I have honored the hundreds (? thousands) of patients
Who have allowed me to accompany them
On their journeys
Today
I send my words out into the world
Knowing, I am merely a vessel
Meant to pour out for others
What has been given to me
May the words be a blessing
To all who receive them.
Amen.
Just a quick note to share some exciting news!! For the past two years, I have been writing a book. It has arisen from my over 4 decades working as a nurse/nurse practitioner. Through writing, I am able to indulge my passion to work to empower people to make their own decisions about how they want to live the final stages of their lives! It is called Navigating Life’s Final Journey Conversations, Choices, Resources
I am picking up the books on Monday! You can learn more about the book and order on my website https://patocwriter.com/
Brilliant white cloaking the yard
Resting upon branches
Bringing beauty to the stark winter woods
Animal footprints
Tracing a path
As they search for sustenance
Ending at the Crab Apple Tree
White frosting clinging to tree trunks
Set against grey sky
Winter
The snow muffles sound
Giving us pause
As roads are cleared
And fires tended
We gather by the fire
Warming hands
Watching flames leap
Coals radiating intense heat
Peace
The peace of winter
Moments to pause
To reflect
On the beauty
And preciousness of life
Moments of gratitude
For shelter, heat, nourishment
And love
The peace of winter
Birds visit the feeders
Bringing glimpses of color
As they feast
Holiday lights strung upon rooftops,
On windowsills
Candles lit
Awaiting birth
Announcing Miracle of Light
Bringing hope and beauty to our winter world
Peace
Pause the frenetic pace
Of holiday preparations
And breathe
Breathe in the beauty, the peace
The quiet joy
In our winter world
Let peace fill your soul
Warm your heart, your being
And radiate out to our winter world!
Happy Hannukah!
Merry Christmas!!!
Imperfect.
Never brand new again
How do we embrace ourselves?
Accepting our bodies
As life makes it marks
Remains one of life’s greatest challenges.
Our body is a temple
We were told growing up.
A temple
Dwelling place of the holy
It was our job to keep it pure.
To keep it perfect.
How can that be done
Without leaving it in the package?
But can we love without opening
Without touching and embracing
Without getting a little dirty?
The first time my eldest was injured
I recall the torrent of love
Which flooded by being.
I can also still feel the fear
Fear of loss, of her suffering and of my failure
to protect her.
That chipped baby tooth
Held all those emotions
While my heart glimpsed a love
Greater than I knew existed.
Imperfect.
Our bodies are human
Human ~ not divine
They are mortal and vulnerable
Yes, we can nurture them
Feed them well
Seek peace for our spirit
And movement for out limbs
We can immunize, do our screenings
Take our vitamins
And breathe deeply
Breathe Deeply
But our bodies
Wear and tear and break
They sag and wrinkle
We sometimes creak and sigh and moan
We sometimes hurt
And it is okay
It is not failure
It is human.
Can we embrace our humanity?
Do we believe the Velveteen Rabbit
Became more real
More loveable
As she lost her velvet sheen?
Is the only way to invest the talents
We have been given*
To open the package
And dare to live fully
The one life we have been granted.
Broken is not failure
It is a side effect of living.
Broken gives path for light
Illumination for the inner self
The true self
When the exterior wrinkles, sags and cracks
The outer shell is more flexible
Creating room for our true being
To stretch and morph
Pain, suffering is a part of our human existence
Can we accept it
And not fear it
While we work to alleviate it
May it grow within us compassion
For the suffering of the world.
*Matthew 25:14-30
Their smiles radiate warmth and love
Their courage steadfast
As they persevere in serving
However they are able
But they are aging.
Their hospitality remains beyond compare
In keeping with their vows,
They welcome with open arms
Providing warm, comfortable beds
Peace-filled rooms
Nurturing, tasty meals
Tea and coffee ever ready.
The nuns of today
Are mostly survivors from yesteryear
Few are coming forth
To take their place
To care for them
As they cared for their predecessors
The days of 500 nuns
Living in the Yankton monastery
And others like it
Are past
The massive bread oven remains
Once providing home made sustenance for the breaking of the bread
At hospital, college and monastery
Now must limit to monastery alone
The oven which for some reason paused my breathing
As I stood before it in awe –
Five rotating shelves
Baking loaves upon loaves
Still functioning
Baking delicious bread
Created though by the hard work
Of fewer and fewer nuns
They pray.
They pray for us all
For our world
They have lived lives of service
Who will serve them?
They have given much
Our hospitals, schools and so much more
I believe
The nuns, the sisters
Have been moulding our world
Mostly for the better
For decades now.
We do not know
What is the power of their prayer
We are not even aware
The many ways they have served
I hope we never need to learn
What our world would be
Without their service
Without their prayers
Without their love.
Thank you, Benedictine Nuns
Thank you, nuns and sisters all!!
Crumbs for the Journey 