Last night, as I lay in bed, I thought about the beautiful weather we had this weekend. It then occured to me that my grandparents had not been outside in at least a month. Even then, it was just to be transported from the hospital to Charlottesville. I can't imagine that much time without feeling the tickle of a cool breeze, the warmth of the sun, a glimpse of a butterfly, the scent of wildflowers, the harmonious sound of chirrping birds...the list could certainly go on and on. That being said, in addition to my promise to fix eyebrows and redo nails, I wanted them both to get some fresh air this morning!
After I chatted with the charge nurse and got the latest updates, I asked Etta if she wanted to go outside. She was excited and quickly said yes! When I motioned for James to come along with us, he got right up! However, when we walked through the dining hall to the entrance for the enclosed courtyard, he decided to plop himself down at this table in his regular seat. I redirected him and said, "Come on, James, let's go outside!" He hesitated but followed as I pushed Etta's wheelchair. When we got to the door, he completely flipped out! He protested, "No, No, we can't go out there! Don't do it. No don't do it. Please don't take her. She will fall. Don't go!" Calmly, I told James it was ok to go outside. I opened the door as wide as I could and stepped aside so he could survey the environment. This helped some, but he was not about to take another step closer. He then asked Etta, "Promise you'll come right back?" After she assured him that she would, he took a seat at a table inside where he could see her. After a bit, he returned to the lobby area where he won the nurses over for a midmorning ice cream snack. In the meantime, Etta and I enjoyed sitting outside. I cleaned and filed her nails before giving her several color options in polish. She got her nails painted and then we even added little nail gem embellishments. She LOVED LOVED LOVED this! She said, "With my eyebrows done and these nails, I feel so good!" How priceless is that? During our conversation, I asked her what her plans were for the day. She said, "Oh James and I are going to head over to the Plaza and just check things out." Etta was referring to Southside Plaza, a shopping center with Montgomery Wards and a cafeteria restaurant that they used to frequent some 20 or 30 years ago. This "plaza" existed long before Cloverleaf mall. I'm glad she still has those "good times" as a couple "running around town" even if only in memories.
After I chatted with the charge nurse and got the latest updates, I asked Etta if she wanted to go outside. She was excited and quickly said yes! When I motioned for James to come along with us, he got right up! However, when we walked through the dining hall to the entrance for the enclosed courtyard, he decided to plop himself down at this table in his regular seat. I redirected him and said, "Come on, James, let's go outside!" He hesitated but followed as I pushed Etta's wheelchair. When we got to the door, he completely flipped out! He protested, "No, No, we can't go out there! Don't do it. No don't do it. Please don't take her. She will fall. Don't go!" Calmly, I told James it was ok to go outside. I opened the door as wide as I could and stepped aside so he could survey the environment. This helped some, but he was not about to take another step closer. He then asked Etta, "Promise you'll come right back?" After she assured him that she would, he took a seat at a table inside where he could see her. After a bit, he returned to the lobby area where he won the nurses over for a midmorning ice cream snack. In the meantime, Etta and I enjoyed sitting outside. I cleaned and filed her nails before giving her several color options in polish. She got her nails painted and then we even added little nail gem embellishments. She LOVED LOVED LOVED this! She said, "With my eyebrows done and these nails, I feel so good!" How priceless is that? During our conversation, I asked her what her plans were for the day. She said, "Oh James and I are going to head over to the Plaza and just check things out." Etta was referring to Southside Plaza, a shopping center with Montgomery Wards and a cafeteria restaurant that they used to frequent some 20 or 30 years ago. This "plaza" existed long before Cloverleaf mall. I'm glad she still has those "good times" as a couple "running around town" even if only in memories.