..... it is Sunday (yesterday) and I want to bring Lydia with me. It has been a stressful weekend and I need to spend time with her. She tags along and walks beside me as we search for my Dad. It is only 11:30 but he has gone back to bed and is trying to take a nap. He says he is tired of waiting for lunch. I note all the other residents have seated themselves and are also waiting to each lunch. It will be an hour before they place the first bowl of soup in front of them. We wait outside of Dad's room while he puts on his pants. He calls to us through the door that he is putting on his shoes. Lydia is quick to bend over and tie his shoes. Dad grins and tousles her hair.
Today Dad recognizes her and smiles into her upturned face. She will take him by the hand and lead him down the hallway, past the waiting residents and along to the sunroom at the end of the hall. Dad stops along the way and looks at the pictures hung on each wall. He tells me that they are pictures of Tim and him and points to them.... he is far away and pulling at long ago memories. I nod and agree and we move along to the sunroom. Lydia wants to engage in play and goes to the games shelves back down the hall while I move a chair into place near the glass topped table. Lydia has found some primary puzzles. Within a few minutes, she informs Grandpa that he sucks at puzzles and informs him that it is now time to play Bingo. Bob the Banker shuffles in with a grin and waits for us to say hello before he sinks into a chair opposite me. Lydia gives Bob a card and deals out one to Dad and myself and proceeds to spin the ball. I am now looking at everyone's cards. A few minutes later, it is lunchtime.
Bob is off and racing down the hall as fast as one can when you shuffle. Dad is being pulled along behind Miss Lydia and I take up the rear with a hand full of game pieces. We sit with the residents who love the attention and chat with Lydia. Donna is sweet but today she is off and wants to run away. I give her a big hug and smile as I steer her back to her seat. Marie is dripping soup into her lap and Joyce is her sharp witted self... which lasts a minute before she pipes up with a hi.... and followed by a 'I know who you are'!! She is distracted by lunch and the room is quiet. Marie doesn't want to eat today and is asking for my help. She has forgotten to put her napkin on her lap and is dripping most of her soup in her lap. She often walks around wearing sweaters that advertise boldly what her plate held the meal before.
These are the golden years???? Lydia is sweet with her Grandpa and the other residents and lets me know that she thinks the ladies are all so pretty. She is right. We kiss and hug my Dad, say bye to the other residents and then we are off to shop for Daddy's birthday gift. Lydia loves to shop and who can blame her!!
Happy Birthday Max,
I love you now and always.
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