Tuesday, November 25

Today I knew which entrance to use when visiting Mother in Oregon House at Landis Homes.

I didn’t need the ambulance to show me which door to enter. 🙂

We like the sign that the nurses made for her – attached to the wardrobe in her room.

Cerwin’s brother, Elvin, and sister Velda were in her room when I arrived at 2 PM – as well as Ann Shertzer (pastor’s wife from Erb Mennonite church).

It is a delight to visit with Ann. She is a great encourager to Mother. (Actually, I think they encourage each other.)

After the others left, I thought Mother looked tired, so I asked if she wanted to sleep, or go for a walk and look up her brother Amos. She quickly replied, “Let’s go find Amos’ room.”

A walk for her still means me pushing her in a wheelchair.

I asked her nurse to point me in the direction of Aspen – and we were on our way. After one wrong turn, (we ended up in a dead end hall) we found Aspen and Uncle Amos’ room. It was fun watching them visit – a 97-year-old sister and an 85-year-old brother.

As we were leaving, her rehab therapist found us (she knew where we were) and said she was ready for mother’s afternoon therapy. It was interesting to watch Mother go through the routine.

When finished, it was about half-an-hour until supper, so I asked Mother if she needed to rest, or wanted to stay in her wheelchair. She preferred the wheelchair. As we approached her room, I heard Christmas music coming from a computer at a resident’s table, and asked Mother if she would like to stay there. She loved that idea, and just as I pushed her in place, a nurse pushed Mother’s friend Winifred in beside her. They were next door neighbors in Harvest View when they were both in independent living.

Winifred had a stroke recently – I think since Mother’s fall – and now they are next door neighbors again. As I watched them together, it felt like Mother was “home” again.

This was my view on the way home.

Enjoy.

Now, we wait for tomorrow’s predicted snow.