My late husband Don was a caregiver by nature. I know I have said this before, but perhaps not in enough detail or with enough bravado to properly explain how caring and patient and loving he was, and genuinely loved being. Yes, he was in EMS for his career choice, but even aside from that, he loved taking care of people, animals, and he loved taking care of me. It actually made him very happy.

Ive been thinking a lot about that this past week, because I have been stuck at home with a nasty cold since Tuesday. Today is the first day I finally feel better enough where I can go back to work tomorrow, and not cough my head off every time I open my mouth. Having to go out in the freezing cold weather and get more medication, kleenex, and Pedialyte, just made me think of how incredible Don was during these times. He was pretty incredible every day, but caretaking is where he really shined. He would get all the supplies, then he would sit with me and be silly and make me laugh or rub my back while I was feeling miserable. I would offer to sleep on the couch so I wouldnt get him sick too, and he would say: “No, thats silly. I work in hospital ER’s every day. Im around sick people all the time. I know it helps you to have me in the bed, so I’ll sleep here with you.” He would go out in the middle of the night to get me anything I needed, and he would stay home from work to take care of me and so I wouldnt be alone while feeling sick. And when /i would take a nap on the couch, he would gently put a blanket over me and be humming some tune while doing it. Humming, because he LOVED taking care of me. My god do I miss that.

So, all these years later, while being sick, Im doing my very best to take good care of myself, and to treat myself very nicely. Don would be so proud and so happy, and that makes me happy too.

I miss that man so much.