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.