In thinking about how to remember Dad, I started with the literal route. I wrote out what he did in his life after his divorce from my mom, all the way to his death. I wanted to create a record of what happened in his life. It was not an uplifting exercise, and I didn’t want it to be read out loud to anyone.
David Lundquist was my older brother, ten years older to be exact. He made me laugh when I was a little girl. I was never happier than when he would play with me or tickle me. I adored him and was always thrilled when he gave me some attention. I remember him being so busy in high school; always working on a science project or practicing the piano. Always a good student. Always a little joke on his lips. He was well-liked and got along with everyone! He also played the violin and viola. In later years, as an adult, he took up the mandolin. In Michigan, he was even part of a mandolin orchestra. I heard them once. Boy, did they ever have a good sound!
Right off the bat, I apologize if the title of this essay is a little too cutesy for you. I like a clever turn of phrase, and I could not resist playing off the popular pregnancy book. The population I am discussing is about as far away from pregnancy as you can get. This essay is to help prepare a person, or the relatives of a person, who is about to enter a care facility.
When you are a strong, independent woman, like me, being disabled is a huge pain in the ass. It puts a real crimp in my ability to do whatever I want. Being on Medicaid really doesn't help as I have a little bit of money. Not enough to live in my own place and have helpers come to me. But enough to make living in a care facility a little bit nicer. In any case, I am not in charge of my money while I am getting great care from Medicaid.
How are you so nice all the time? That is a question I do not get asked, but it's something I pose to myself sometimes, and I figure some of my readers think that but are too polite to say it out loud. So I'm going to answer that unasked question and relieve you all of any lingering doubts about my own mental well-being.
Every day there is growing evidence of this administration’s lack of regard for the rule of law, for any kind of accountability, and for any modicum of decency for human beings. Everything they do contradicts everything they say they are doing. They say things that sound good, but their actions show they are carrying out the mission outlined in Project 2025 and have no interest in following the structure of our government.
Thank you, GOP, for all you are not doing in this administration. It is a real lesson to watch who you have put in charge of the government and how they work. There's so much to learn and I have been taking notes.
Revised February 6, 2025
I lived in Los Angeles for 21 years, starting in 1985 when I attended UCLA. After graduation, I lived in Studio City, Santa Monica, Venice, and Mar Vista. I worked in Studio City, Hollywood, and El Segundo. I went from a naïve 19 year-old to a naïve 39 year-old. I had a lot of fun and formed many friendships that I consider some of the most influential in my life. LA is an important city to me and it is heartbreaking to hear of it being destroyed.
I arrived at this hospital on November 15, 2022, so I have been here exactly two years and six weeks. Let's round that off to two years and review what I have learned and how I'm doing so far.
* This is an updated version of the original. *
It is too soon for me to fully understand Humphrey’s significance in my life, but I can see some major ways he has affected me. It was so wonderful to have someone completely devoted to me while I was moving islands and navigating the long-term care facility the first year or so. I could absolutely depend on his unwavering support through everything.
