I just sat down after a busy afternoon, a busy day. Sometimes, I think, I ‘bite off more than I can chew,” to borrow an old expression from a book my dad read to me as a kid.

I had cleaned house and done laundry in the morning, preparing for company coming and an upcoming trip. (I must admit, the laundry-washing came about because I reached in my drawer for a certain item this morning and realized I was OUT.)

Late yesterday, a small bag of rhubarb had come in and was waiting patiently for me to attend to it. I’ve become the chief orchestrator of rhubarb-cutting parties over my years at St. Anne’s. It was a small bag, though, and I thought it not worth bothering the residents with; I would simply cut it up by myself.

It’s not for no reason that one of our residents has dubbed me “Sister Rhubarb” – what a prestigious title!

After lunch, I was on my way to the activity room kitchen to do just that when, low and behold, I met a couple bringing in MORE rhubarb. They had called earlier in the week, promising to bring some in. I had mistakenly thought yesterday’s small bag was the promised allotment, but I had another thing coming.

I graciously thanked them and headed to the activity room with this additional quantity of “the North Dakota State Weed,” as I dubbed this plentiful plant a few years ago. Actually, my co-worker who was working the front desk helped me carry the (roughly) 3o pounds in.

Realizing that day hours are best for our residents and that I would be tied up working the reception desk on the morrow, I decided that there was “no time like the present” for one of my famous “rhubarb-cutting parties.”

I made a few unfruitful visits, inviting a few residents to help cut and finding others not home. Eventually, after pre-washing dirty rhubarb, I settled down for a party of just TWO. One of our blind residents was my only helper. 😦

Eventually, though, a few more people came. After taking a break for a game, we finally finished up the endeavor before supper time. I even got a 36 cup batch of sauce cooked up.

Thankfully, an appointment I was supposed to have a 3:30 p.m. got cancelled and I was not needed, as I had feared, at the reception desk until later.

I am thankful, too, for our kind residents and staff who helped Sister Rhubarb make it through a somewhat overwhelming afternoon.

Sr. Christina M. Neumann, OSF

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