My Mom and "The Home"....an update

Finding your footing again after a great loss in one's life is extremely difficult.

While Mom still has some bad days when she finds herself teary and missing my father's presence so very much, she seems to have found her 'niche' in "The Home" (as we affectionately call her new place at the Independent Living complex).

She has made the very small apartment warm and inviting filling it with her favorite colors of turquoise, aqua and beige.

It has taken a while, but family pictures are slowly finding their way back on to her shelves...including a handsome framed photo of my dad that sits on the dresser in her bedroom.

She has learned some of the ins and outs of "The Home" such as: getting to dinner early enough so that the kitchen doesn't run out of your favorite things; getting to know the handyman so that you can call on him when you are needing his assistance; if you ask nicely enough, you can usually garner a few extra cookies to take up to your room after lunch or dinner; ordering dinner over the phone and taking it back to the room is a great option when you have had a late lunch and can't fathom the idea of eating at 5 o'clock; and, finally, when the fire alarm goes off one really doesn't have to trudge down the six flights of stairs as long as the ninety-seven year old lady across the hall doesn't smell smoke! (true story...it happened the other night!)

Only a few weeks had passed and Mom was immediately recruited to be a member of the Home's infamous "Welcoming Committee"! She had hardly been "welcomed" herself when she had this honor bestowed upon her. : ) Now, she finds herself running to meetings every few days. She mentioned that the group consists of all women and one man. She also told me that the women all talk over one another and that the gentleman doesn't get to say much....I can only imagine. I have a feeling that she will be heading this committee some day in the near future!!

She has befriended the ladies in her knitting club that she joined recently...and they help each other with dropped stitches, etc. I know that she is enjoying this group as she has been knitting a blanket for her newest greatgrandchild-to-be....due in September.

The other day Mom had to go downstairs and pick out and order her new red hat because she was invited to join the "Red Hat Society". Seeing her adorned in a large, red hat is something that I can't wait to see....Of course, she told me yesterday that "red is really not a good color for her."!!! Too funny.

Who knows?

Maybe she can change this to the "Turquoise Hat Society" someday.

You know, it wouldn't surprise me a bit!

You go girl! : )