Do you believe in Fairies?

Today, I went with the Southgate residents to see Peter Pan at the Hanover Theater.  And as a sidenote, I must mention that at 59 years old, Cathy Rigby is still an incredible Peter Pan!
  I got to Southgate early to make sure that Nana had some lunch, and we boarded the bus shortly after we ate.  As we entered the bus, there was a full chorus of "Hi Jane!" Ever the prom queen, she smiled and waved to everyone.
  As we entered the theater, Nana grabbed my hand and said, "This way I can make sure I don't get lost." Great idea! We took our seats, and Nana looked around.  She started telling people about the wonderful history of the Hanover Theatre, and pointed out the seats that she sat in last time she was here. (She had never been there before.. As for the history, that was also a figment of her imagination.)  As she sat in the theatre, she quietly listened to the conversations around her.  The people behind us were discussing the weather. " We just had rain last nite," he said, to which Nana piped up, "My name is Jane! Are you talking about me?" Oy. 
  Once the show started, we settled in and Nana seemed to really enjoy the show. She enjoyed all the singing, and she loved the dancing. "You would have been dancing up there if you had the chance, right?," she said to me.  She was right.  As for Nana, given the chance, she probably would have chosen to fly on the wires instead :).
   At intermission, she was ready to leave, but since we came on the bus, she decided to stay.  I took her to the bathroom, which was packed with children and grandparents.  She went in one stall, I went in the other.  I watched her shoes, just to make sure she didn't disappear on me. Sure enough, she popped up and went right out the door of the bathroom, forgetting to stop and wash her hands. I bolted out of the stall, scaring a poor kindergardner, and reached her in the hallway. "Oh, Hi! I was just looking for you!"  I gave her a squirt of Purell and we headed back to our seats.  During the second set, I knew that she was still watching because when Peter Pan asked if we believed in fairies, she clapped enthusiastically.  We watched the rest of the production, and Nana turned and said, "I'm glad we stayed. This was really good." 
    We returned to Southgate, and Nana planned to take a nap, once she visited with her friend Effie.  As I was leaving, she gave me a big hug and kiss.  "I am so lucky that I have you."  I feel the same way, Mom.
 

I owe Nancy C an apology.... once I stop giggling...

Nana is, unfortunately, becoming more confused. She has taken to dropping in on neighbors, and she has become obsessed with picking up notes and papers.  This morning, Jane C told me a funny story. 
  Jane's parents live next door to Nana.  Nana likes to wander in and say hello occasionally (often she is unaware that she is in the wrong apartment...) It seems that she brought home a note with some phone numbers on it, thinking that it was hers.  Jane has a sister named Nancy, and her name and number were on this note.
   The next nite, Nancy C received a phone call.  At 2am.
  "Hi Nancy!"
  "Who is this?"
  "It's your mother!"  Nancy recognized my mother's voice, and was kind enough to tell her that she had reached the wrong Nancy....
   Thank you for your patience, Nancy C.  May I show the same patience if a little old lady calls me at 2am...

Field Trip

Often, my mother's assisted living facility books tickets to shows around the Boston area, providing a bus to get there and back. Nana is OK to go, as long as she has a "companion", so I volunteered to go along.  I was hoping for the Foliage tour and lunch in New Hampshire; but her first choice was the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Watch out Yo Yo Ma, here we come!
  We were due to leave at 8:45 am, and headed out with seven other orchestra fans. Traffic was particularly heavy, due to the weather.  "Boy, this traffic is awful. I would hate to drive in this every day."  I agreed.  Five minutes later: "Boy, this traffic is awful.  I would hate to drive in this every day."  Oy. This is going to be a long trip. 
     Twenty minutes later, she begins looking around frantically, patting all her pockets.  "I've lost my wallet!"
     " I have it, Mom.  It's in my purse."
    "Oh, thank goodness." 
      90 minutes and two wrong turns later, we arrived at Symphony Hall... thirty minutes late.  Seats were limited, and by this time, there were only single seats spread out around the hall.  Nana grabbed my hand, and we both looked desperately at the man who would be seating us.  After a few phone calls, we were sent upstairs to find seats together.  At first, Nana sat at a seat two down from the doorway, and I stood out of the way outside but in sight.  Within minutes, I see the woman sitting next to Nana is laughing, and Nana is smiling.  Two seats opened up, and Nana moved next to me after saying goodbye to everyone in her row.
    Nana really enjoyed the music.  She listened  with rapt attention for the first fifteen minutes, and then started looking around frantically.  "I have your wallet," I said.  "Oh, thank goodness!"  Back to the music.
  Rustle, rustle.  Nana is looking again.  I lean over and whisper, "I have your wallet."  She breaks out in giggles.  "Oh, that's right!"  I am reminded of the many times growing up, when one of us would get the giggles in church... "Shhhh...", I said with a smile.  She smiled back and put a finger to her lips.  She listened to the rest of the concert without breaking concentration.
   We drove back to her home, and she became more confused as the day wore on.  She asked me if I needed lunch, and asked if she could offer to buy everyone lunch back at her home.  She then worried that "all of my brothers must be hungry" since we weren't at home to feed them.  (Um, I have one brother, he lives in Wisconsin, and he is very capable of making himself a sandwich...) I tried my best to keep her oriented through lunch, and she did a pretty good job.
    Was this a long day?  Yeah, I could definitely use a nap.  Travelling at Nana speed is a challenge, like a marathon.  Move steadily, and keep your patience. If you go off track, take a few breaths and get back in the race.