Ego – The False Center, is how Osho describes it, in From Beyond the Frontier of the Mind.
To travel hopefully is a better thing than to arrive, and the true success is to labour.
~ Robert Louis Stephenson.
I have travelled hopefully all my life, alas recently there have been times where I either did not arrive, or arrived in a different place or condition. Before you ask:- No drink was involved on any of these occasions!
I think it was Pope Francis who said: “egoism” has grown much more than “love of others”.
I think it is time for us to take lessons from the animals of our world….
Mrs Peggy Mangan, 65, suffered from Alzheimer’s.
She left her home on Mount Tallant Avenue in Terenure, Dublin, at 11 a.m. on Tuesday morning 22nd September, to walk her King Charles spaniel. She didn’t return home and the family notified the Gardai.* The Gardai sought the help of the public through all social media outlets, volunteers rallied and a search began.
Mrs Mangan’s body was found under a tree in grassy wasteland beside Ikea shopping centre in Ballymun, on the north side of Dublin, in the late afternoon of Saturday 26th September. FOUR days after she left home.
Casper, her pet King Charles spaniel was found standing over the body when police made the discovery. The dog was taken to an animal rescue where it was diagnosed as starving and dehydrated.
Casper died a few hours later.
I was walking Buffy on the occasion of my last fall. Buffy is always ready to make an escape to explore the world around her. As I hit the ground the handle of her lead left my hand. Hearing the sound of the handle hitting the ground, Buffy turned to see what had happened. She returned to my side immediately and stayed beside me until a man arrived to help me to my feet and take me back to Elly & George’s house. Buffy led the way.
For the remainder of my stay Buffy never left my side. She followed me about the house, but never walked across my path or got in my way. She was minding me.
Unconditionally!
Our unconditional LBC leader, Conrad, had the choice of Ego for us to play with today. He has been rather swamped with work (a good way to be in these difficult times) and family commitments, in recent months. I do hope he finds a small window to joins us this week. The links to all the Loose Blogging Consortium members are over in the sidebar, alas not all are active these days. Do you think some of them have fallen asleep?
* the Gardai or ‘An Garda Síochána’ to give it the full official title, translates as “the Guardian(s) of the Peace”, is the police force of Ireland.
Pope Frankie seems to be up to interesting things, many changes afoot over in his new home.
(BTW – I’ve amended my own sidebar and shifted some of the snoozers.)
Frankie had opened some windows to remove the stale air.
Last time I culled the list a couple reappeared for a very short duration. I will wait to see who actually takes part this week, then make my decision.
Oh, that’s a very sad story. Poor Mrs. Mangan. And poor Caspar. I can’t understand why someone didn’t notice something was wrong and try to help. That’s shocking.
Maria, Alzheimer’s is not visible from the outside unlike someone using crutches or a rollator. I wondered if Peggy grew up in the Ballymun area? Patients often try to get ‘back home’, meaning the home of their childhood.
What a nice dog! You were very lucky to receive help.
I was blessed that day that a man not alone arrived on the scene, but came to my aid. So many these days avert their eyes and walk on.
An over-inflated Ego is much like an over-inflated balloon . . . it doesn’t take much prodding, poking, or tossing before it POPS!
I’m glad Buffy stayed by your side.
Nancy, Over the years, I have watched a few over-inflated balloons go POP.They are usually accompanied by histrionics and hysterics!
But without a strong sense of self of what value can you be to others?
Good to have you back, Shackman!
If I see someone in danger or need, I don’t stop to think: “Am I strong enough to help?” I just do it. That is what I saw mammy do, and how she taught me. I am pleased to see that Elly has continued the tradition.
Grannymar, I know that – according to Elly – I’d make you happy by my absence. Still, Ms Mischief can not resist commenting on your assertion that you should NOT stop thinking “Am I strong enough to help?”. It’s where foolishness lies. And why man gets swept away in the same tide as dog he is trying to rescue. You should always stop and think, naturally sometimes primal instinct takes over – but, on the whole, engaging brain first is advisable. Anyway – have I missed something – how did we get from a dog standing by a dead woman and a fallen woman being comforted by Buffy to human strengths and failings?
U
Precisely.
U
Sorry, Grannymar, that was a reply Shackman.
U
Ursula, I didn’t know Shackman had changed his mane to GM?
Grannymar, I am sure Shackman hasn’t “changed his mane to GM”. He’s probably got enough hair on him.
My ‘precisely’ was meant for Shackman’s response to you ” … without a strong sense of self of what value can you be to others?”. A sentiment I strongly agree with. It just went into the wrong wordpress comment space, that’s all. My apologies.
U
Lovely story about your dog and I did see the Caspar story. Broke my heart.
I always love this:
“I only wish I was the kind of person my dog thinks I am.”
As to ego, we need to shove it out of the way and forget ourselves in the service to others. But only if they need it. I’ve seen far too many busybodies in my life.
XO
WWW
WWW, Buffy, is not mine, she belongs to Elly & George. Please do not use that other term beginning with ‘G’, I am a play partner who comes to visit every now and then. I have a set route when walking Buffy alone, and I had told George where I was headed. He was only cross for a minute…. because I did not phone him to come to my aid.
Peggy & Casper’s story was so sad, it still makes me shiver.
God between us and all busybodyknowitalls! The bustle and fluster making more noise that a thunder storm, only adding stress to any situation. Give me quiet calm any day!
Okay, I am treading on difficult grounds, but I think that the new Pope Francis is like a breath of fresh air. And he is unpredictable and that is the beauty of his appeal!
I wonder if he keeps dog/s? He has taken the name of an illustrious predecessor.
I am inclined to agree with you about Pope Francis, He will make changes in his own time. Heard nothing about him having any pets, I read that he went on pilgrimage to Assisi the other day. I know his immediate predecessor had a cat.
Poor Mrs. Mangan. I hope her death was gentle and poor dear faithful doggie too. Pope Francis IS such a breath of fresh air.
Tough one for the Mangan family to deal with. I have known several Alzheimer’s victims who wandered, some from secure nursing homes, only to be found in a totally different area, trying to go back to the only home they remember. One man was found fifteen miles away, the victim of a hit and run motor accident.
I do agree that animals think more about others than about themselves. Their one desire is to belong with their kind, not separate themselves!
Delores, I only know about dogs and most of it is from recent years. Give the dog a good home, regular food, water and and some gentle but daily training, and you have a friend for life.
Very touching post, Marie. You were indeed fortunate to have had a Good Samaritan nearby.
I was. He was a visitor to Irish shores with little English, but that did not stop him helping me.
I’m going to be thinking about this post and your thoughts all day today. I am very moved. The love between a dog and his or her human is so illustrative of loyalty and care, and there is a mutual dependency going on, I think. We need them, and they need us. If we could understand that same level of human reciprocity we wouldn’t need to battle our egos all the time. I hope you’re continuing to heal, my friend. I hate to think of you being on the ground needing to wait for help. When I recently fell it is was in such a public area that I had immediate help, and it was still very frightening. I was grateful I wasn’t without aid. I’ll never again hear of someone’s fall and dismiss it as “it could have been worse.” It could, but it’s jarring and disorienting, and often painful. I’m doing very well, and I really hope you are, too. Special “bless” to Buffy! 🙂
Debra, I am an expert at falling by now. the one thing I learned was not to jump up too quickly in case I do more damage. Glad you are doing well. Most of my bruises are fading at this stage. You could say I am no longer as pretty as a picture! 😆
Dogs truly are our best friends. So sad about Casper. Yes, we need to check up on each other. I live in an aging in place neighborhood and have many senior friends, as well as a few young ones.
You are fortunate to have good friends around you. I have one very genuine caring neighbour, but she works and has a family and home to look after. The other around me are what I call ‘car hoppers’. The hop in and out of their cars and are gone.
My mother-in-law was the most wonderful person I have ever known; I loved her deeply. She came to live with us after she was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. In the ten years I took care of Mildred she gradually turned into a stranger.
It truly was a nightmare.
blessings ~ maxi
Maxi, Alzheimer’s can be frightening and frustrating for patients and for carers. I have known several sufferer’s but so far have not been a 24/7 carer. When you say you cared for your late mother in law for 10 years, it does not surprise me. You always came across as a genuine caring person. Mind that hand and take it easy!
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