A retiree, I no longer make a living and live on a limited income. So giving money away or spending it like before doesn't happen anymore. Still time and energy is plenty around here. That's where it begins.
Once a week I go to a local public library as a volunteer to help library patrons with computer questions. It's not that busy at this branch. Finishing up a book or two or reading up on reference books makes the trip there very useful.
Recently, a 6-year old boy came to my house. His mother has two other children. His older brother has learning disabilities, his younger sister autism. A middle child, he probably feels left out. He asked to stay and hang out with my two kids who are older than he. He goes home to sleep in his own bed.
We feed him and help me with his homework. We take him with us to my kids' after school activity classes on weekdays. He spends weekend with us and goes to the library, too. He walks with my children to school about a quarter of mile away.
The other day, I helped his mom briefly watch his autistic sister as she had to go drop off her son at a bus stop.
Like me, she doesn't work. Some subsidies from the governments provide her with a three-bedroom apartment and paying her bills and gas and food. She's not married to the father of her youngest child. In fact, he's in a rehab. The father of her two other children doesn't support them.
I gladly accept her offer of excess supplies of grocery. I'm a gracious giver and taker. Cannot take any of these with me at the end. Enjoy it while I still have all of my senses.
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