While I was visiting my Mom at her skilled care home today Eleanor, the Activities Director, pulled me aside and asked if I was planning to attend their Valentines Dance this evening. I really had hoped that I wouldn't 'have' to, and Mom is usually very good about saying that she doesn't want me and C to come to such events. Eleanor said that she thought I'd enjoy it, as Mom was going to be crowned Queen! Oh Boy!!! So of course I wanted to be there and share in this momentous occasion! The place was all decked out: there was a fabulous (and I really do mean fabulous) man singing those great old love songs, the staff was dancing with the residents (even those in wheelchairs, like my Mom), and there were lots of yummy refreshments. It brought tears to my eyes to watch these folks, so many pretty much locked inside themselves, smiling and even singing along. It was a great experience and I'm so glad that I went!
This is Josh, the Maintenance Man, dancing with one gal who was all decked out!
Eleanor is in the center, dancing with an elderly gent whom I'd never before seen out of his wheelchair.
And here's my Mom, as they were presenting her with her bouquet and crown:
James, one of my Mom's best buds, was crowned the King, and the happy couple was wheeled around the dance floor to "Let Me Call You Sweetheart".
I remember my Dad singing that to my Mom many, many years ago, and I wondered if she remembered it too!
Do you remember when the Beatles came out with "When I'm 64" and we all that we'd never get that old? Well, honey lamb, if you aren't there yet, you're fast approaching! And 64 isn't old anymore!! My Mom will be 92 in May, and she's lovin' every minute of life in her skilled care home! You Go Girl!!!!
(I found out later that the staff elected the Queen and King, based on their willingness to help others and reach out to their neighbors. Mom and James keep their crown for 4 months and then must choose their replacements. Such politics!)
YES WE CAN!!!
Good Friday? Well, it is more than good for me...it was more like WONDERFUL!
Mickey and Wanda, our lady painters, arrived midmorning to paint our kitchen ceiling. Thanks be to God! Now the rest of our lights can be hung, and the can lights can go up into their little sockets.
Our daughter Kristin drove from Atlanta and she, C, and I took my Mom out to lunch at Red Lobster, Mom's favorite local restaurant. We had a great time, and she ate her fair share of lobster, shrimp and scallops!
Kristin headed back to Atlanta, and we packed our bags and left for the condo. It was a gorgeous afternoon and I kind of hated to leave home, but the city was calling.
I am finally getting a little more at ease going out onto our 14th floor balcony. Here is the view straight down:
Do the chaises remind you of piano keys? They do me! The pool is actually on the 7th floor, but the street that you see to the right is 14 floors below our little balcony.
Back inside, Barker has settled down for a bit of a nap.
And the moon rising was pretty incredible!
This morning's sunrise wasn't too shabby either:
We had a fun day: I spent some time knitting at Knitch, one of my new favorite haunts, the cableguy showed up and got us all hooked up, and C and I had a nice early dinner at Ted's Montana Grill downtown before taking in "Pure Confidence" at the Theatrical Outfit. Our tickets had originally been for last weekend, but with the tornado striking that part of downtown, last Saturday night's performance was cancelled and we had to reschedule. It was our first trip downtown since the tornado, and both C and I were horrified at the destruction just a few miles from our condo. So many windows were blown out of the Westin Hotel and other buildings in the area, the roof of the Tabernacle (where we saw Norah Jones in concert just last summer) is gone, and much damage to Grady Hospital, just to name a few things that we saw. Our waiter at Ted's said that he was tending bar when the storm hit, and the next thing he knew glass was flying everywhere. He ended up huddled with patrons and employees alike in the booths in the back of the restaurant. It is a wonder that no lives were lost.
C brought me this lovely orchid plant this afternoon, and it brought back memories of the orchid corsages that my Dad used to bring my Mom to adorn her Easter attire.
HAPPY EASTER
PEACE
James, one of my Mom's best buds, was crowned the King, and the happy couple was wheeled around the dance floor to "Let Me Call You Sweetheart".
I remember my Dad singing that to my Mom many, many years ago, and I wondered if she remembered it too!
