Wow. Just wow. I don't know if I'm even going to be able to type this out. All is definitely not well in Pearl's world today. I stopped by just after lunch. All of the residents were at the recently cleared table. Mom was happy to see me and told me she had eaten shrimp for the first time. "All those years I never ate it because I didn't like the smell. I just covered my nose like this...and it was very good.."
So far so good. I asked her how the rest of her day had been. The look on her face changed in an instant.
"Do you mean AFTER they finally released us from captivity?" Huh?
"We have been locked up, and a man broke into my room and hid in the shower and ruined my towels. I finally escaped and all these women were so happy to see me released without harm. I told them they were not going to get my clothes! No one is ever going to see me walking around naked."
Oh my. I didn't know how to respond. She really believed what she was saying. There was a table full of other residents just listening and not saying a word. She went on and on about the capture of young Americans, how she had lived in Guam for a year (that is true)... "in captivity" until she finally escaped from the dirty tent and rescued 5 of the children. "I was only able to rescue 5. I told them, run! run for your life! They were able to get out by escaping through the holes in the forest" The other women just listened...each silent in their own little world. Mom pulled a few sheets of paper out of her pocket - the day's menu, and the move-in checklist I had left in her apartment.
"This is the application for my job interview later. I am worried that they aren't going to let me through. I go to answer their questions and the words keep flashing in and out of my mind."
I then met the activity director, Robert. He stopped by the table to inform the women that in 45 minutes they would be going down to the activity room to see "The Help" and drink hot chocolate. There were lots of bright faces, and a collective "Yay!"
Mom went off on a tangent about war movies and then whispered something under her breath. What did you say, Mom?"
"I said we'll probably get to see lots of sex scenes." Oh boy.
"I haven't checked my mail in ages. They're supposed to be sending out $50 checks to the wives of all the service men." She then asked about Missy, who she said had stopped by to visit her last night.
I don't think so, Mom. She had to work. "But the important thing is...did you finally get her back? From captivity?" Missy's fine, Mom. She started crying... "Oh thank goodness. I had seen her in prison enduring all that horrible torture."
After listening to more and more of this (10x more graphic) and being at a complete loss for words.. I finally came up with - Sounds to me like you had some scary dreams last night, Mom.
"How is Jaymz?"
He is good...I'm about to go pick him up from school.
"Oh good, good. Then are you going to bring him back here?"
No Mom. I'll be back to see you tomorrow.
"I think I'm going to go to bed early tonight. I had a rough night last night. Didn't sleep very well at all. But they didn't take my panties!! We got this furniture right here (pointing to the table) at an auction. These are army colors. In Guam Chuck was there too. He was something big...Captain Chuck....they were always going after the American soldiers, wanting to make his thing smaller, I guess. Or whatever you call it. I need to get my hair done."
Yes. I'll make you an appointment. They have a nice salon here.
"Oh yes, they do. And she has kids the same as your kids, and they lived through all that torture." huh? "If you sit here long enough, you might get something to eat."
I'll be ok, Mom. Thank you though. I took her cane back to her room, which she said she had brought out in addition to her walker as a way to protect herself. I noticed her cell phone was missing, and some cards that were not hers in one of her drawers. When I asked her about the phone, she said she probably put it in a drawer somewhere, and wrapped it up in panties. "Tightie whities!"
She began looking at a spot on the table, which she insisted was an ant. It wasn't. She also cried about how thankful she was to have her cane, which was a special gift from her grandaughter. It wasn't.... but that's ok. "I'm still using my lotion. Every day. See how much better my skin looks?"
And indeed, it looks much, much better these days, thanks to the magic lotion my sis gave her for Christmas. I don't know exactly how to process today's conversation, other than...I think moving forward, I'm only going to correct her version of events when it is negative or scary. Things that she remembers as happy or love, she should keep...whether they're true or not.
I'm hoping all this is a reaction to the change in living arrangements, and not additional deterioration.
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