Oh, it's Amanda!

Recently, my friend Martha went to the hospital. I found out when I went to visit her in her room at the nursing home. The nurse told me that she had been taken to the hospital but no one would give me anymore information than that. After a week of calling her friends and family, I finally found a sister that told me she would be released the next day. I baked some chocolate chip cookies and took them to her. While I sat next to her on her bed, she told me of her stay in the hospital and how she missed her room in assisted living (she is now in healthcare). I offered her a cookie and as she took the first bite, she said, "Oh, it's Amanda!" She is mostly deaf and blind so she had not realized who she was talking to. Only after her first bite did she realize who it was. She had cholocate all over lips and asked for a cold drink of water after she finished the cookie. She always hugs me goodbye and kisses me on the cheek as she tells me she loves me. I miss my grandparents the most when I visit Martha.

Sleep talking

My life has undoubtedly been touched by so many good people and good things. I want to document these good people for my own sake.

I visit several elderly women in a nursing home who have limited mobility, vision, memory, etc. I started in October last year and I feel that my life has been enriched immeasurably since then. Last week, (I never use real names) I visited Mary in her room. We were talking and it appeared that she had just woken up from a nap. Her eyes were red around the rims and she seemed slightly disoriented. As we were talking about her upcoming birthday, she pointed to her walker and asked if that was my car. At first, I thought maybe I had not heard her correctly. I said, "You mean your walker?" She emphatically pointed to it again, and said, "No, the car, c-a-r. Is that your car?" I replied, "No, I think it might be yours actually." Her reply was tart, "I haven't had a car in years."

Then silence...I wonder if she is still asleep and I am in her dreams. As I stand to leave, she pulls on my sleeve and tells me to stay just a bit longer. "Okay, I can do that." Then she points to the middle of the room, and says "Are those your children?" I try not laugh. She brings me so much joy and I can't wait to talk to her again.