Day 29

The army pulled out their nighttime laundry support, and now there are no uniforms again. Damp scrubs are mildly uncomfortable. It’s fine.

There’s a weird sense that things might be ending, but without knowing when or how. The army staff have been told they could be staying for awhile but they could also be called back at a moment’s notice, and I suppose the same is true for many of us. I notice the soldiers lingering in residents’ rooms before they leave each day; they’re not sure if or when, or how to say goodbye. It’s a bit sad, and also sweet.

I also find myself lingering with my “favourite” residents, rather than trying to spread my time evenly. I spend a whole hour with my friend Mrs. P today, singing her favourite hymns and chatting about life and death, faith and family, and her childhood in Barbados. She’s back in her old room, with a green sticker on the door.

In the afternoon, my friend from the kitchen teaches me her mother’s favourite song. Armed with the ukulele, we head upstairs together to the new cold zone where her mom, newly recovered, has been transferred. She’s sitting up in bed, looking more alert than I’ve seen her before. We start singing and gradually her hands start clapping and her shoulders shaking, and she joins in with a word here and there. By the end of the song, all three of us are laughing.

I’m gonna lay down my burdens
Down by the river side
Down by the river side
Down by the river side
I’m gonna lay down my burdens
Down by the river side
I’m gonna study war no more

 I ain’t gonna study war no more no more
Study war no more no more
Study war no more
I ain’t gonna study war no more no more
Study war no more no more
Study war no more

Day 30

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