HAWMC 9 Caregivers' Advice

I'm squatting outside my grandma's apartment trying to pick up internet and a bit of sunshine (fickle, dappled, windy today), feeling my feet go numb. A moment ago, I was staring back at a white cat with a black tail, its left eye an oddly angled slit, the tip of its right ear missing, the pink of its flesh visible under the nappy fur. Descendant of cats I've chased, stalked, befriended, begged leftovers for from my grandma, my whole life. It stared at me awhile, the novelty of a person just hanging out here, and then stalked off disdainfully. Good conversation. I've had whole conversations with nary a stammer, both in Hebrew and English, but also times when I can't get a sentence out. I suspect this afternoon is one of the latter times, but everyone else is talking loudly so I'm off the hook. The canopy is gone, the chairs are gone, the fridge is full of leftovers. (Seeing the food that came in for the big meal last night reminded me of how good the food is here and also of why I feel depressed when there's a gathering in the US with regular American food; it's not just because inevitably there will be nothing I can eat. Hint: even the peas and carrots were spiced.)

In parens, but that might just be my segue. Today's prompt solicits advice and tips for caregivers, professional or otherwise (professional advice and tips, or professional caregivers??). Fresh, fresh food, with the right kind of spice to do honor to the food's deliciousness. That's my caregiving advice. And you can take it literally in terms of what food to offer, but also in terms of how to have dealings with a person with a(ny) health condition. Both for anorexia and for bipolar, an environment of abundance would be a really good thing to create. People with these conditions (I) tend to put themselves (myself) down, be very hard on themselves, and only feel a sense of worth or right to exist if giving and doing and helping others. (Help me out, guys--is everyone like this, or just people with anorexia, or people with both? I don't think it's just me.) So, if there is an environment of abundance, that can help with a sense of safety and security, within which the caregiver can offer an environment of unconditional love and allow the person to feel and experience that she is loved, she doesn't need to be running ragged just for basic survival needs, and there is some beauty and safety in life.

Good nu?