Nursing Homes ~~~~ not just for the old ~~~~

I wrote this about this time last year. This is for anyone who needs a boost, a pick-me-up, feel good story. Go out and hug your moms and dads, your grandpas and grandmas...someday you will wish you still had them around.
Big hugs and love 2 U! Teri

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I remembered how special I used to feel when I worked at a nursing home. I just thought I would share the story with ya'll.

I used to work as a nurse's aide when I was about 17-21 off and on. My mom was a nurse at a nursing home. I would go and play dominoes with the old men. Mr. Cheatwood would let me beat him every once in awhile. He was A CHAMP. lol

I would dress them, fuss over them, read to them, play pretend with them, listen to their stories and ... just plain ol' love them. So many of them just needed an extra hug and I love you. Too many of them had no one to care or bother caring for them.

I took care of a girl's grandma who I had grown up around. Renae was in and out of jail many times, and it pissed me off that when her Grandma needed her the most she was never around. Pauline always tried to do the best with Renae. She gave Renae the best: clothes, shoes, toys, etc....I was jealous of that. Pauline worked two jobs just so Renae could have the best of the best. But Renae never appreciated it. She stayed in trouble, stealing, and got into drugs. Her dad died at about 38 from alcoholism. Renae went to jail again. Pauline may have taken care of her, but I was the one who took care of and loved Pauline.

I was giving Pauline a bath in the whirlpool tub and she said, "Gosh, Teresa (my given name), I bet you never thought you'd be bathing me!" I laughed as I put some Mr. Bubble in the bath water...not the thing to do in a whirlpool tub!!!! When I turned on the jets, BUBBLES WENT EVERYWHERE!!!

Pauline was hooting and throwing her arms up in the air hollaring, "WEEEEEEEEEEEEEE,
WEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!" The bubbles were creeping over the tub like lava from a volcano! They were at least two feet deep crawling across the floor.

While I was mortified, Pauline was elated! Squeeling and laughing and loving every minute! She looked like a naked picked chicken flapping her arms and tossing the bubbles up high into the air! Squeeling with every arm load!

We had a time ...she had a bigger time . ..I had a mess...but she thought it was the grandest thing! It took me hours to clean that up, but it was worth every ounce of her laughter!

Some days later I went with her to her little mobile home where she was going to divide things among her family. I remember telling my daddy the next day how sad it was that people were snatching
and grabbing stuff and talking like she was already dead and buried.

She asked me, "Honey, isn't there anything here you might want to remember me by?" I almost cried. I didn't need something tangible to "remember her by." She wouldn't rest until I had "picked out something to keep" from her.

I saw a little milk glass lantern (oil lamp) pointing to it. She smiled and handed it to me. I still have it today, but I remember the way she smiled mostly as I told her thank you. I still see her smiling, every time I look at that lantern. What better metaphor: She was a lantern in my life. Her light still shines in me.

I'll always remember you.
The way your voice
fell into the silence
breaking into
laughter.

I'll always see you.
Loving, giving all
you had even
to those who
didn't care
at all.

I'll always love you.
Your smile, your hugs,
your peacefulness,
your friendship,
always.

Always

Teri LaFaye
©2007
August 11, 2007