During today's visit, I called Etta's sister on my cell so the two women could talk. I overheard Etta tell her sister that she was at the mall. Hmmmm. The mall? It's a stretch but I suppose the dining room could be the food court...the PT room is the spa...the massive shower room is the salon...and the oodles of new clothes and accessories for the both of them incorporate the retail side of things. I have no idea where that came from, but I just act as though what she says is perfectly normal and reasonable.
I arrived right after lunch so James was very happy and content. He was actually up and about in the halls today- as if he was checking things out. He even opened the window blinds and looked outside for a bit. That is excellent! Etta said they had been to the dentist earlier this morning to get their new teeth.
I brought along a joke book today and was reading jokes to Etta. She always loved a good joke and I was happy to see her laugh again! I couldn't help but notice how curious and interested James is in our conversations. Though he isn't actually interested or able to carry on a conversation himself, he seems to enjoy observing others. When this happens, he looks so relaxed and peacful...as though he is daydreaming...or thinking of days gone by...when our eyes meet, he just smiles warmly back at me.
On Sunday, I had taken some pictures during our visit. They are posted in the gallery. I brought some of them with me today. When I showed them to Etta, I quickly noticed the look of concern on her face. She hesitated, pointed to herself in the picture, and said, "Who is this?" I responded, "It's you! I can see why you wouldn't recognize yourself with that long, blonde, Barbie hair!" I showed her a mirror and she looked at herself but then said, "I think you might be mistaken... that isn't me in the picture." I just kissed her on the forehead and changed the subject. As I think back on this moment, my heart trembles a bit at the thought of her not recognizing me. I know it may sound selfish, but I just got my grandma back...I am not ready to lose her again. Sure things are different now in so many ways...and yet still the same too.
I CHERISH my visits with them. The chance to return all the love that my grandmother gave me as a child....and the chance to know my grandfather like never before.
Many know this already, but my bond is especially close with Etta. My mother married my dad when I was almost 4. I had known Etta since I was a baby but officially became a Jennings in 1979. When my parents got married and dad was adopting Stephen & I, Etta expressed one concern about Dad entering into an "instant family" situation. She wanted to be certain that she was our grandma. That was it and that she was. Now, I find myself with the same concern expressed some 30+years ago...I just want her to be grandma. Not Alzheimer's. Not the owner of a condemned house. Not the mother of a incarcerated son. Not confined to a wheelchair wearing diapers. Just my grandma.
I arrived right after lunch so James was very happy and content. He was actually up and about in the halls today- as if he was checking things out. He even opened the window blinds and looked outside for a bit. That is excellent! Etta said they had been to the dentist earlier this morning to get their new teeth.
I brought along a joke book today and was reading jokes to Etta. She always loved a good joke and I was happy to see her laugh again! I couldn't help but notice how curious and interested James is in our conversations. Though he isn't actually interested or able to carry on a conversation himself, he seems to enjoy observing others. When this happens, he looks so relaxed and peacful...as though he is daydreaming...or thinking of days gone by...when our eyes meet, he just smiles warmly back at me.
On Sunday, I had taken some pictures during our visit. They are posted in the gallery. I brought some of them with me today. When I showed them to Etta, I quickly noticed the look of concern on her face. She hesitated, pointed to herself in the picture, and said, "Who is this?" I responded, "It's you! I can see why you wouldn't recognize yourself with that long, blonde, Barbie hair!" I showed her a mirror and she looked at herself but then said, "I think you might be mistaken... that isn't me in the picture." I just kissed her on the forehead and changed the subject. As I think back on this moment, my heart trembles a bit at the thought of her not recognizing me. I know it may sound selfish, but I just got my grandma back...I am not ready to lose her again. Sure things are different now in so many ways...and yet still the same too.
I CHERISH my visits with them. The chance to return all the love that my grandmother gave me as a child....and the chance to know my grandfather like never before.
Many know this already, but my bond is especially close with Etta. My mother married my dad when I was almost 4. I had known Etta since I was a baby but officially became a Jennings in 1979. When my parents got married and dad was adopting Stephen & I, Etta expressed one concern about Dad entering into an "instant family" situation. She wanted to be certain that she was our grandma. That was it and that she was. Now, I find myself with the same concern expressed some 30+years ago...I just want her to be grandma. Not Alzheimer's. Not the owner of a condemned house. Not the mother of a incarcerated son. Not confined to a wheelchair wearing diapers. Just my grandma.