ME-as I go through this zany, marvelous, difficult experience called: "LIFE"!

  Yesterday was my Birthday! Though birthdays are generally happy occasions, I felt lost and sad. To explain, my precious mother, whom I love dearly and abundantly, is fighting for her life in a hospital. I visit my mother when I am able to but, it is difficult. It feel like a cutting blade severing every part of my insides, seeing what my dear mother is going through. I feel sadness and helplessness. My sister, whom has been a + support now cannot be. My sister is fighting lung cancer and is going through chemotherapy and radiation. Other family members have health challenges that take up much of their time and energy. Yesterday was my birthday and though I was experiencing pain, sadness and loneliness, my friends came through for me. My friend, Linda who has the same birthday as me, refused to allow me to dwell on such troubling issues. Linda, me and some of my friends at the VNA Assisted Living on Alewife Brook Parkway in Somerville, Mass. celebrated our Birthday

  Life Is Tough Living with serious, life threatening medical illnesses is rough! Living with the knowledge of those you dearly love having serious, life threatening and grim medical illnesses, well, this all places me in a dark place that I never wanted to even enter. Exhaustion, pain and difficulties breathing are symptoms of my medical dilemma, and also with those I dearly love. Sickness, especially serious illnesses happens through no fault of myself, those I love, and all those who live with chronic illnesses. How do we handle this? Who do we go to when the pain gets so severe that moving becomes a crisis? How do we reassure those we love when pain, fatigue and exhaustion call the shots? How do we even sleep at night when we fixate over realistic thoughts that we may not wake up tomorrow? What do we do when we want to ask our healthcare professionals questions when we are scared of and/or don’t want the answers? What do we tell our family and friends? What do

  The Children & Evelyn Dear Friends, Yesterday, October 4, 2021, I experienced a marvelous surprise. A few of the children, whom I used to teach when Mass came to our building, came to visit me. Monica, a dear friend, brought 3 of her 5 children. Yes, there was Lucia, Joseph and Therese. Miriam and Grace were still in Daycare. It was a wonderful time in which the children enjoyed snacks and presents, in which I surprised them with. I love these children and I was grateful to Monica for bringing them. Until next time, my friends! With sincerity, love, prayers and gratitude, Evelyn (Pinto) October 5, 2021  

  Dear Friends, I have 99 neighbors and I love all of them. To explain, I live in one of the Visiting Nurse Association of Eastern Mass. Assisted and Senior Living Residences. Most of us are in our senior years. All of us have medical issues that require us to be here, at our residence and need assistance. My friends, though we have lived with the passing of close friends and closer family members, we truly live each day to the fullest. We eat our meals together, participate in the group activities that our residence provides and we even have a 6pm card game. All of us have known loss but, we continue and go on with our sometimes broken hearts. My fellow residents, who are genuine friends, know God, know friendship and we absolutely know love. Yes, my fellow residents at VNA Assisted Senior Living on Alewife Brook Parkway in Somerville, Mass. are truly the “Best Neighbors and Friends” anyone could ever have! With sincerity, love and gratitude, Evelyn Pinto Residen