I took Josh, Hailey, and Madi to the nursing home with me today. We brought them hot fudge sundaes and apple pies from McDonalds. Etta said she was too tired from running around so much the day before. She said, “We didn’t get here but just a little while ago- just before you got here.” She continues to think that they sleep at home. She said that they may not be there in the moring when I come back but they would be there shortly after.
When I showed her where her extra pie was in the drawer, she whispered, “I put it there myself so James wouldn’t snatch it up.” She wanted me to check her driver’s license for the expiration date. When I told her it didn’t expire for 10 months, she wanted to know if she would need to go in and get a new picture or take a test. I told her no…in part because I know there is NO WAY she could drive and NO WAY she would have the opportunity to get it renewed. Also told her you can renew online and I can help her with that. This seemed to relive her mind a bit. She also wanted to know about her mailing address- was it 1926? I said that is the address of their home. She wanted to know how people would send her mail. I said that if it got sent to 1926, she would still get it. This is true as I have forwarded all of their mail to my address, per Carolyn White. Though none of it has arrived yet. She also asked that if someone wanted to call her would they use “1926”? I said that if someone wanted to call her, they would call the front desk and ask for her. Again, she asked about my weight, how to spell my last name, and when was I in the hospital? She asked if I brought her lipstick and I showed her the 2 tubes already there…she was so excited and asked, “Did you just bring me those today?” I just showed her where they are. Same story, different day.
Etta seemed sad today. I pulled her chair towards me and held her hand. When our eyes meet, time seems to stand still. All the worries of the world, all the trauma, all the changes, and all the years just melt away…I find myself a little girl again, sitting with my grandmother at her vanity table and the only choice to be made is whether it’s a pink or red lipstick day.
James was happy, or really thrilled, to see me walk in with the sundaes. He was very “smiley” with me and the children. He doesn’t say much, smiles, and watches Etta and I interact and that is about it. Told him I bought the supplies to do his bulletin board and would be back tomorrow to get that done.
Brought MORE CLOTHES today- they seem to run out before laundry is done.
When I showed her where her extra pie was in the drawer, she whispered, “I put it there myself so James wouldn’t snatch it up.” She wanted me to check her driver’s license for the expiration date. When I told her it didn’t expire for 10 months, she wanted to know if she would need to go in and get a new picture or take a test. I told her no…in part because I know there is NO WAY she could drive and NO WAY she would have the opportunity to get it renewed. Also told her you can renew online and I can help her with that. This seemed to relive her mind a bit. She also wanted to know about her mailing address- was it 1926? I said that is the address of their home. She wanted to know how people would send her mail. I said that if it got sent to 1926, she would still get it. This is true as I have forwarded all of their mail to my address, per Carolyn White. Though none of it has arrived yet. She also asked that if someone wanted to call her would they use “1926”? I said that if someone wanted to call her, they would call the front desk and ask for her. Again, she asked about my weight, how to spell my last name, and when was I in the hospital? She asked if I brought her lipstick and I showed her the 2 tubes already there…she was so excited and asked, “Did you just bring me those today?” I just showed her where they are. Same story, different day.
Etta seemed sad today. I pulled her chair towards me and held her hand. When our eyes meet, time seems to stand still. All the worries of the world, all the trauma, all the changes, and all the years just melt away…I find myself a little girl again, sitting with my grandmother at her vanity table and the only choice to be made is whether it’s a pink or red lipstick day.
James was happy, or really thrilled, to see me walk in with the sundaes. He was very “smiley” with me and the children. He doesn’t say much, smiles, and watches Etta and I interact and that is about it. Told him I bought the supplies to do his bulletin board and would be back tomorrow to get that done.
Brought MORE CLOTHES today- they seem to run out before laundry is done.