Chapter 3 - A smile or two
She was 91, in a hospital dying, losing her mind a little every day yet when she was on, she was really on and she was very funny.
I'm helping her stand up one morning so I can pull up her clean hospital pants. She presses against me a little too hard and I start teetering backwards. I catch my balance , but her pants have now completely fallen around her ankles. She's holding onto me like we're doing the tango. I laughed and said " Hey lady, wanna dance?" Her eyes lit up and she said YES! and so we did.
We danced the tango in a hospital room with her pants around her ankles and we laughed .
I arrive at dinner and the nurse informs me she hasn't eaten all day. She's lethargic and agitated.
I went in and asked her. Pick anything to eat. Anything at all and I'll get it for you. She says she wants a hamburger. A what? A hamburger. A WHAT? She has been eating soup, jello and rice pudding. I can't remember in years the last time she ate a hamburger but I went down the street to a little french fry and burger joint and bought a burger. I brought it back to the room
and sat it in front of her. She looks at me, grins, removes her false teeth and actually takes a BITE. Not just one bite but many bites. I couldnt stop laughing. This started a new tradition.
Every day when I left I would ask... Pick something to eat..and I would bring it the next day.
She had many odd choices. Crap I have NEVER in my 36 years seen her consume. We had Dr Pepper, Oh Henry Chocolate bars, Girl Guide cookies, Cheese strings...
When I was a kid, my grandparents threw a fancy party and invited all their friends. During this party the topic of death, wills and possessions came up and I very loudly asked my grandmother if I could have her umbrella when she died. There was a collective gasp in the room and then silence. Apparently, an inappropriate question but my grandmother suddenly burst into laughter. She assured me that the umbrella would someday be mine. Fast forward to 3 weeks ago. My grandmother has no idea where she is or what she's doing there or what year it is for that matter, but she tugs on my arm that day and when I lean in close she says; I saved the umbrella for you. Today, it sits on my dresser
I'm helping her stand up one morning so I can pull up her clean hospital pants. She presses against me a little too hard and I start teetering backwards. I catch my balance , but her pants have now completely fallen around her ankles. She's holding onto me like we're doing the tango. I laughed and said " Hey lady, wanna dance?" Her eyes lit up and she said YES! and so we did.
We danced the tango in a hospital room with her pants around her ankles and we laughed .
I arrive at dinner and the nurse informs me she hasn't eaten all day. She's lethargic and agitated.
I went in and asked her. Pick anything to eat. Anything at all and I'll get it for you. She says she wants a hamburger. A what? A hamburger. A WHAT? She has been eating soup, jello and rice pudding. I can't remember in years the last time she ate a hamburger but I went down the street to a little french fry and burger joint and bought a burger. I brought it back to the room
and sat it in front of her. She looks at me, grins, removes her false teeth and actually takes a BITE. Not just one bite but many bites. I couldnt stop laughing. This started a new tradition.
Every day when I left I would ask... Pick something to eat..and I would bring it the next day.
She had many odd choices. Crap I have NEVER in my 36 years seen her consume. We had Dr Pepper, Oh Henry Chocolate bars, Girl Guide cookies, Cheese strings...
When I was a kid, my grandparents threw a fancy party and invited all their friends. During this party the topic of death, wills and possessions came up and I very loudly asked my grandmother if I could have her umbrella when she died. There was a collective gasp in the room and then silence. Apparently, an inappropriate question but my grandmother suddenly burst into laughter. She assured me that the umbrella would someday be mine. Fast forward to 3 weeks ago. My grandmother has no idea where she is or what she's doing there or what year it is for that matter, but she tugs on my arm that day and when I lean in close she says; I saved the umbrella for you. Today, it sits on my dresser
posted by Sandi at 9:13 PM
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