I was visiting a friend the other day. Louise is an elderly lady who doesn’t speak much anymore and spends most of her time either in bed or in a wheelchair. She still recognizes me when I see her on Wednesdays and always greets me with a big smile and an outstretched arm for a hug. It never fails to melt my heart.
I have followed Louise from her house to a retirement home to the hospital to a rehab facility to another retirement home to finally the adult home she lives in today. She shares a beautiful house with a doting family and two other residents who need care. One of the other women only speaks Russian but often laughs just because. She is a hoot. The third woman is a lady named Jean who appears at first glance to be misplaced in the home. She seems able bodied and sharp minded. But my guess is dementia is setting in. And as it turns out, she is also a little hard of hearing.
I was chatting with Louise…meaning I was telling her about our plans for Thanksgiving…when the home’s caretaker (Olga) started talking to Jean.
Olga: Jean, you need to sit down and have your breakfast. You are the only one who didn’t have breakfast today.
Jean: Why do I need a blacksmith?
Olga: No, dear. Breakfast. You need breakfast.
Jean: Oh, a mattress! OK.
I smiled and caught Olga’s eye after she got Jean situated. “That was pretty fun!” I told her. “Oh, yes, “ she smiled back. “I never know what they are going to say.”
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