I'd been wondering what happened here since Dad and Susan left over a year ago....
So yesterday I went to find out.
But mostly I wanted to see Annette...
I enjoyed getting updates about her children:
Paulette, Jeanette, and Annette Jr.
and her sons, Peter, Paul, and John.
And this is what I learned about the residents:
1. She said 75 year old identical twins, Julie and Joan, are living in Dad and Susan's old apartment.
They dress alike everyday and their 102 year old mother lives with them there.
2. Last we knew there was a big romance between Richard and Margarite. So I asked if they were
still an item. She said Richard sadly passed away, and then Margarite moved in with her son.
3. Barbara W is 94 and she still swims but she can't drive.
4. Norma who had polio as a child, can no longer throw the dice during bingo.
5. My high school's coach from the 1970s is still living there.
He had a girlfriend but she broke her back and is now living in another facility.
But the Coach visits her often.
6. Donna moved to Oklahoma and lives on Indian property and just pays $200. for rent.
7. I asked about another woman and I can't remember her name but Annette's reply was:"She's on
oxygen and has one foot on a banana peel." I have never heard that expression!
6. Brenda died last November at the age of 94. She fell in her room but no one knew until Annette
noticed she didn't show up for lunch that day. Annette insisted someone check on her. She was found
and they were able to they to call an ambulance. Unfortunately she died shortly after that.
Brenda's family was so appreciative to Annette for helping her!
7. Dana, the happy activities lady is retiring on Monday and moving to Hawaii!
There was more, but that's all I could get notes on.
Such challenges these people are all going through.
Yet I see lots of smiles,
and look what one lady put on her walker!
The place is full to capacity and there is a waiting list to move in.
Not that I want to move in.
There must be something that happens courageously between my
age and the age of these residents,
because I'm very much lacking in that kind of strength.
I was sitting by this woman, I later discovered was Doreen
Garn, and for some reason she asked for my maiden name.
When I said it was Rozier she said she knew my mom!
She said she use to have color classes my mom would attend back in the 1970s.
I do remember when Mom went through her color coordinating phase.
Annette was full of questions about my Dad and Susan.
She kept saying, "I am watching a miracle. This is a miracle right here."
She also said to everyone at the table,
"Susan is so devoted to Jill's father.
She takes such good care of him!"
Amen to that!
After lunch Annette invited me up to her apartment on the 3rd floor.
I like her view
The grass has to be dead,
but the trees are still hanging in there. Sort of.
We actually got some rain while I was there.
Annette proudly showed me her doll house.
She's been working on it since 1988.
Nearly 3 hours later I left wondering how these older ones
get through their days.
Years ago I asked a very wise older friend of mine, Bonnie Van
Wagenen, what the point of suffering was at the end of our lives.
I remember her saying it is to help us be more willing
to leave this life, and go on to better.
I need to get tougher.