'I'm sorry I did make it yesterday, Mom. Missy was competing and we didn't get home until late.'
She stayed pleasant - "How did she do?"
'She won.'
"Oh really?? She did?? First place?! Good for her! I knew she could do it!" She immediately looked at the other ladies at the table and proudly said "My granddaughter won first place in gymnastics. She was the best out of all of them" I don't think any of them heard her, or understood or cared....but I don't think that mattered to her, and she was certainly beaming with pride. I know the feeling and was happy to share it with her.
We chatted for awhile until her lunch was served. Nothing eventful. She asked if I had taken my Christmas decorations down, and we talked about the snow that was coming. We played the age game again, she started with trying to remember how old Kenny is, and then we talked about her birthday next week. She was genuinely excited when I told her Paula and George were coming to visit, and she asked if Kenny was too. I told her I would need to check his referee schedule...but we should try to take her out somewhere for dinner next weekend when we're all together.
The only really 'odd' things she said today were about planning all the things she was going to cook when she got out of there.
'Out of here where, Mom?'
"Well, I guess once you find me a place."
'This is your place, Mom.' "I know. I know. I just meant a different place." 'I know, Mom.'
She still doesn't feel at home, and it saddens me to think that she probably never will. How can you make friends in a place where the people you talk to may not even remember who you are an hour later? If nothing else, my relationship with her is definitely helping me work on 'staying in the moment'.
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