To Eric, Of my two sisters, the Country Mouse and the City Mouse, I am the eldest. It has been over a decade since the City Mouse last paid a visit to the Country Mouse (me). A half-day train ride, station pickup, a private room and TV, access to her nieces and nephews, and the fresh rural air are all part of the journey to see me.
Due to upcoming health problems, I’m afraid I won’t be able to see the City Mouse again. The City Mouse said, “Why can’t I visit you?” as I, known as the Bully, went up to her. Have any suggestions? Was our sisterhood forsaken?
The Country Mouse
To Country Mouse, please: I don’t want to seem like the city mouse, but why can’t you go see her? You mention that the health problems are coming up, and I know you might need to make some arrangements in before, but if you’re able to visit her right now and would like to, it could be a nice way to take care of yourself.
However, the moniker “The Bully” is concerning. Although this is only a portion of your relationship, I don’t see bullying here. To make room for a more fruitful discussion about visits, you should address any other conflicts that might be deterring your sister from coming.
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To Eric, I appreciated your answer to Hobby Help’s query regarding what to do with finished crafts. Your concepts were original and imaginative.
Another thought I had was that Hobby Helper could be able to get in touch with local memory care providers, assisted living facilities, or nursing homes.
While choosing giving tree items for a nearby assisted-living facility, I recently learned that a number of the residents had asked for decorations. According to what I’ve been told, some memory care centers use seasonal décor to help people become used to the time of year; maybe any donated seasonal crafts could also be helpful for that.
Another Thought
Respected Concept: It is a wonderful idea to donate finished craft creations. I also appreciate that you suggested getting in touch with the nursing homes beforehand to make sure the letter writer is genuinely able to accept donations. The letter writer can make sure the donation has a higher chance of being used and making other people happy in this way.
For inquiries, contact R. Eric Thomas at [email protected] or by mail at P.O. Box 22474, Philadelphia, PA 19110. Subscribe to his weekly newsletter at rericthomas.com and follow him on Instagram.
