I met Heather McHugh briefly in 2007 when she came to New York City to launch the 2007 edition of The Best American Poetry, for which she served as guest editor. I recently asked her to update us on CAREGIFTED, the important organization she created with her 2009 MacArthur Fellowship. CAREGIFTED provides all-expense paid vacations for caregivers, those who often abandon careers to dedicate reserves of energy to the care of loved-ones. Here's what Heather writes:
“Caregivers spare family and society the sorrows and costs of full-time institutionalizations at the price of their own freedom. We owe them a break,” she says of her encore calling. “Too long unseen and unsung, these heroes have much to teach about love.”
- See more at: http://www.encore.org/heather-mchugh#sthash.c0ndPFSM.dpuf“Caregivers spare family and society the sorrows and costs of full-time institutionalizations at the price of their own freedom. We owe them a break,” she says of her encore calling. “Too long unseen and unsung, these heroes have much to teach about love.” - See more at: http://www.encore.org/heather-mchugh#sthash.c0ndPFSM.dpuf
“Caregivers spare family and society the sorrows and costs of full-time institutionalizations at the price of their own freedom. We owe them a break,” she says of her encore calling. “Too long unseen and unsung, these heroes have much to teach about love.” - See more at: http://www.encore.org/heather-mchugh#sthash.c0ndPFSM.dpuf
“Caregivers spare family and society the sorrows and costs of full-time institutionalizations at the price of their own freedom. We owe them a break,” she says of her encore calling. “Too long unseen and unsung, these heroes have much to teach about love.” - See more at: http://www.encore.org/heather-mchugh#sthash.c0ndPFSM.dpuf
CAREGIFTED grew out of my belated impulse to recognize and serve a huge yet paradoxically invisible community in American society-- the millions of people who keep severely disabled loved ones out of institutions by caring for them at home. These admirable characters are generally inundated, isolated and ignored-- yet they are doing relentless work that benefits ALL of us (since they save society the cost of all those institutionalizations).
Until a similar situation touched my own godson's family, I hadn't realized how widespread it was-- tens of millions of people. Probably in most extended families -- certainly in every neighborhood -- there is one such person who takes on the hardest work of daily and nightly care for one of its constituents, at the cost of her (or his) own resources of time, money and, all too often, health. They do so every day for decades. Too many of us avert our gazes--or move away from the sight-- perhaps the thought (and guilt) are painful. They needn't be pushed away for our comfort. Even an acknowledgment can boost the weary spirit.
All my life the the arts and nature have been not only a calling and an infusion of life force--but also at times my own best respite-- so now I simply bring those instincts to bear in honor of (and service to) the weariest caregivers.
CAREGIFTED gives weeklong dream getaways in restorative locations (island and vineyard settings rich in arts and natural charms) to caregivers who have been at such unpaid work for ten years or longer. Most say their chance to get treated like royalty for an upscale week away gave them the strength to go on another ten years. Sleep late? You got it. Prowl a tourist village? You're in walking distance; turn the other direction for ocean or gardens. Great food? Bien sur, madame et monsieur. Whale watch? Wine train? Read a book and simply rest? They choose! This is their time to recharge.
We're also doing our best --online and in video-- to tell their tales: see http://caregifted.org . It's one of the most poignant human stories. At some point in our lives, all of us need or are caregivers. The immensity of the commitment-- the nature of the love-- embodied in these lives deserve notice and admiration. If February 14 is really about love, if it means to confer some sweet reward on a deserving few, then surely by rights it belongs to them.
Who better than they, at last, to have taught a salty old professor something about love-- its sparkle and its depths?
Heather McHugh
CAREGIFTED is hosting a jazz and poetry soiree/fundraiser on February 28, in Seattle, which happens to coincide with the time when many of us will be attending AWP. The party will feature MOLLY RINGWALD, the film star and jazz singer, ROBERT PINSKY, the former U.S. Poet Laureate, and LAURENCE HOBGOOD, a brilliant jazz pianist plus a poetry reading by Heather.
Please give this worthy organization your full support?
-- sdh
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