2024-04-30 14:18:07
„When there were two of us, it was better”
Grandma Veruta is 90 years old, when interviewed, she laments: “I live alone. Soup is the biggest help here. When there were two of us, it was better.” Those words about the recently buried beloved daughter. She had a disability, Verutė nursed her for 50 years. It was not easy, but there were two. And the Maltese helped – warm soup has been going to their homes for seven years.
While her daughter was alive, she used to carry double portions so that there would be enough for both of them. Now, after the loss, the old woman needs support and comfort like bread every day – after all, not everyone can listen to the painful emotions of a mother who has buried her child. “Although my years are big, I was strong while my daughter was alive, I knew that I had to gather strength – I would have to give it to her. And it only hurt when she was in pain. Now all ends no longer hold.”
“For me, Verutė’s pancakes were the tastiest”
Vita from Malta remembers her grandmother Verutė from her childhood. “My father had a neighborly relationship with Verutė’s husband. And where dad is, there I am. I don’t remember my mother, she died when I was only 8 months old. The men used to master something, and Vida (Verutė’s daughter’s name) and I “baked” mud cakes. Nothing was lacking in that house – both love and kindness, and freshly milked milk was not spared here. Growing up with my father, I was not always pampered with pancakes with sour cream and jam… We lived a manly life. But my father was the best driver in the village – I remember how my father taught Verutė to drive. They used to let us kids sit in the back… Now I can’t imagine a day without a car. I deliver soup to the grandparents, and sometimes I also drive them with errands.”
Growing up, Vita created her own life and only in 2018. heard about Verutė’s problem – the social worker appealed that a woman with a disabled daughter in Užpaliai is struggling and needs soup. After burying her husband, Verutė tried to survive on her pension alone. He had a vegetable garden near the house, where he dug up any kind of potato or carrot. But with the passing of the year, the strength decreased, and along with it, the kindergarten also withdrew. That’s how Vita started visiting Verutė’s house again – she’s been delivering soup for the seventh year.
After the death of her daughter, there was no more concern to live
“I am going to Vyžuonas. The houses are small, the church, the school… A yellow-painted little tree shines from afar. Verutės… I remember there was a garden in front and the most delicious apples. A cat greets you at the low door. He purrs strangely and disinterestedly slumps into the kitchen. The grandmother appears – bent over, with a hump, very bright smiling eyes. As far as I can remember, – says Vita, – no one saw her angry, she didn’t even know how to scold us children. We both look at the soup that was brought – žirniene. Will it be tasty, I ask. Verutei all soups are delicious. She wants to sit down to eat right away – the room is filled with the smell of homemade food. A half-loaf of white bread is also pleasing: it’s so soft, you won’t find it in the store in Užpalių.
Verutė hangs a few spoons and “breaks up” the wobbly table: “Such a lame person as myself.” But once upon a time there was enough room for everyone. The whole family would gather – and for you, Vitel, we didn’t spare you the bread here. Now I am alone. No health at all.”
While her daughter was alive, Verutė never mentioned her health. Her whole life was about her daughter, about her affairs. And now, having seen it, he starts talking about it. Memories: what he liked, what he said, how he played with the cat. After her daughter’s death, there was no more concern, desire, or energy left. More and more often, Vita finds a plate of uneaten soup – her appetite has failed. After escorting her daughter to Anapilin in the summer, Verutė herself surrendered.
From no when to no where – a moment
When the article was already prepared, Vita urgently called and reported that Grandma Verutė was in intensive care. Stroke – doctors do not promise anything good. All Verutė’s energy during her life was given to her daughter. No daughter left – no will to live left.
The Maltese invite you not to be late to help, while the elders are still with us, while they patiently wait for our help. Allocate 1.2 percent. for Maltese friendship with old single people. Helping them when they need it is critical, there is no compromise – bear with it, wait, man. It is sometimes equivalent to first aid: after all, you cannot survive without it when you cannot get out of bed, prepare food, when loneliness takes away the desire to open the door of the house. We simply do not have the right to respond to such help.
Today we care about global things, so sometimes it is difficult to notice the “small” person. But after all, all worldly things begin in one’s own backyard. So let’s hurry up to see our loved ones for an unplanned time, even though there is no time. Let’s hurry there while there is still room. Because from no when to no where is a moment.
The identification code (number) of the Maltese beneficiary is 190740859. The name of the beneficiary is the Order of Malta Help Desk.
2024-04-30 14:18:07