Nana has officially been at her new home for 30 days, so today was Review Day. This has been a month of ups and downs, so I felt like a Mom going to her child's teacher conference. Did she follow directions? Did she play well with others?
The first few weeks of moving in, I heard from the facility every day. Nana had a cold; she was incontinent. She needed more pajamas....she wasn't sleeping... wasn't quite as strong as they thought when they interviewed her... her suite mate was moving out because she was bothered by Nana rifling through her drawers at 2am... Uh oh. Despite their many reassurances that she was doing fine, I worried.
But during the last week, I hadn't received any phone calls. Did this mean that she was starting to adapt to her new routine? Fingers and toes crossed; all the saints were summoned-- "Please help Mom adjust..."
Prayers answered. Yes, she is a little further along in her Alzheimers than they first expected; but she is making friends, joining in on all activities, and getting along well with her new roommate. The staff is enjoying her quick wit and her easygoing spirit.
After the meeting, I walked into the activity room and I received a big smile of recognition. I sat at her feet and stayed for the lesson on Ireland. Nana was very engaged, and didn't ask to leave with me. At the end of her "class", I told her that it was time for me to get going-- Eddie was returning home from college tomorrow, and I needed to clean the house and go grocery shopping. "Oh, don't bother cleaning the house. Just pick up lots of food-- he will be hungry!" Ha-- she was right about that :)
As for the lesson on Ireland, I had two favorite parts. The first was when the activities director said, "Patience is a virtue." Mom quickly added, "And virtue is a grace. Put them both together and you get a pretty face." :)
The second was when the Irish gentleman in a kelly green sweater sang "Danny Boy" in a shaky yet beautiful voice. He told me that he has been a singer all his life, but his Dad taught him that "Danny Boy" is not sung with the voice-- it must be sung with the soul.
Peter, you still have plenty of soul. And Mom, your face is beautiful.
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