Depression, Loneliness, and Lunch
It's Saturday, my day to spend time with friends. This is something I made as a goal for the new year because lately I seem to have so little time with my friends. Work seems to spill over to the weekend with ongoing telephone calls and unexpected time in the office. Today it was JC who I chose to visit. We have been my friend for over 25 years. She lives alone and is ill resulting in a huge weight lost, loneliness and depression.
I arrived just around 11:30 am to surprise her, talk and share a meal. She seem happy to see me. We talked for quite a while catching up on life and watching television. During that time I talked about her weight lost. She admitted that she hated to eat alone. In addition, she added just the thought of cooking was often much for her. Hence, she choose not to eat. I already knew that information, but I was shocked that she admitted it
As the clocked ticked and more and more television shows exhibited delicious meals, I realized that my early morning breakfast was gone. My stomach was beginning to complain. I knew her breakfast of oatmeal was also gone. Still I said nothing. I just kept watching the food on television and discussing what was being prepared. Around 2:00 PM, she went to the kitchen and came back with water and crackers for us to share. However, both of us knew it was just a tease. To my astonishment she suggested we order carryout. This is something she never does. She did not have any menus or telephone numbers for places who delivered. I had one - a pizza and wing (http://www.wingstogo.com) place nearby.
Since she was in the mood to eat, I quickly looked up the menu online on my phone and shared the menu with her. She found something she liked - a vegetable pizza and wanted to order an extra large. She suggest I call and order the pizza. When I questioned her, she stated that her voice was too weak to order. I refused. Her voice was fine and she needed to take more action in her life. She has been on 'pause' for over a year even refusing to drive. She complained and stalled for over a half hour. Her stomach, however, got the best of her; and she called in the order. I was glad that she ordered and extra large because she could now have prepared food for two days.
When the pizza arrived, we both ate like we had not seem food in weeks. We both ate four large square slices with plenty leftover. She really enjoyed the pizza. With every bite, her demeanor perked up. She sat up straighter and her voice got stronger, She may have been still depressed but her stomach was full and she was not lonely. Lunch is far less lonely when you eat with a friend. I was glad I chose to visit her.
I arrived just around 11:30 am to surprise her, talk and share a meal. She seem happy to see me. We talked for quite a while catching up on life and watching television. During that time I talked about her weight lost. She admitted that she hated to eat alone. In addition, she added just the thought of cooking was often much for her. Hence, she choose not to eat. I already knew that information, but I was shocked that she admitted it
As the clocked ticked and more and more television shows exhibited delicious meals, I realized that my early morning breakfast was gone. My stomach was beginning to complain. I knew her breakfast of oatmeal was also gone. Still I said nothing. I just kept watching the food on television and discussing what was being prepared. Around 2:00 PM, she went to the kitchen and came back with water and crackers for us to share. However, both of us knew it was just a tease. To my astonishment she suggested we order carryout. This is something she never does. She did not have any menus or telephone numbers for places who delivered. I had one - a pizza and wing (http://www.wingstogo.com) place nearby.
Since she was in the mood to eat, I quickly looked up the menu online on my phone and shared the menu with her. She found something she liked - a vegetable pizza and wanted to order an extra large. She suggest I call and order the pizza. When I questioned her, she stated that her voice was too weak to order. I refused. Her voice was fine and she needed to take more action in her life. She has been on 'pause' for over a year even refusing to drive. She complained and stalled for over a half hour. Her stomach, however, got the best of her; and she called in the order. I was glad that she ordered and extra large because she could now have prepared food for two days.
When the pizza arrived, we both ate like we had not seem food in weeks. We both ate four large square slices with plenty leftover. She really enjoyed the pizza. With every bite, her demeanor perked up. She sat up straighter and her voice got stronger, She may have been still depressed but her stomach was full and she was not lonely. Lunch is far less lonely when you eat with a friend. I was glad I chose to visit her.
Comments
Post a Comment