Friday, October 23, 2020
Melissa McLeod
Practice
Greetings from California – we were members of St Johns from 1989 – 2015 and have really enjoyed re-connecting through the daily reflection online. I was delighted when Rob asked me to contribute.
When I was a kid growing up in Newport Beach my mom loved signing me up for all kinds of lessons – piano, guitar, cotillion, ballet, a “finishing school” at Sears (!!), tennis, swimming, diving & sailing come to mind. I would dutifully go to the classes and then absolutely REFUSE to PRACTICE – anything! HA! I WIN!
Fast Forward… 50 years later… after wonderful years in Juneau and Portsmouth a retirement choice was made to return to Newport Beach. Charlie, my husband at 65 tapped out as an American Airlines pilot. He wisely pointed out “nobody RETIRES and moves to Southern California!” That’s right! So he now has a new job instructing pilots on the Gulfstream 550. Thankfully he enjoys it and has met lots of interesting people who fly for some of the Titans of Industry.
Our daughter Eliza, who was baptized, confirmed and may one day (?) return to St. Johns to be married has just started her dream job as a first grade teacher in the Irvine School District. I digress… anyways we are all 3 members of the Newport Beach Tennis Club – which is where you find me yes – PRACTICING my tennis game 7 days a week. It’s my obsession and delight (Thanks Mom!). As they say “PRACTICE makes PERFECT” – not there yet!
My other musing in PRACTICE might be “PRACTICE what you PREACH.” Sadly, I have never been adept at sharing my Christian Faith with non-believers. I marvel at the Bible verse Luke 21:15, “For I will give you utterance and wisdom which none of your opponents will be able to resist or refute you” … hasn’t worked for me so much.
I am more comfortable in my other “PRACTICE.” That is spreading good cheer and liveliness at my Mom’s Old Folks Home. My mom, whom some of you may remember from her many visits to Portsmouth is now 88 and has dementia. She lives in an assisted living home where I’d been able to visit her (nearly) daily.
The Covid shut down has been so hard for her and many others who are relegated to their rooms and deprived of the socialization they once enjoyed. I put up such a stink about this that after a Covid test I was designated her “private caregiver.” Now I’m allowed inside the facility – the only nurse who arrives in a tennis outfit bringing flowers and Haagen-Dazs bars.
It has been my “PRACTICE” and Pleasure to make these visits and to get to know everyone on her floor via their back-door patios (shhh!). Covid 19 has been a challenge for all of us but especially for our seniors who would really be preferring to live out their Golden Years to a completely different script.
2020 – CUT!