The quieter you become the more you can hear ~ Ram Dass



Monday, January 7, 2013

Mrs. Dunkin #36

This is a continuing story.  To see the rest click here.  



36



The next morning when I got up I was feeling good.  I got up, got a shower and Kate brought in my pills.



“How are you feeling this morning, Annie?”



“I feel great.  Do you think it would be okay if I went down for breakfast?”

“If you feel up to it, I know the ladies missed you.”

“I’ve missed them too.”

“I’ll have Jane come in while you’re gone and sanitize your room real well.”

“Okay” I said.  I took my pills and went to the day-room. 

“Hi Ladies.”

“Hi Annie” they said.

“We’re glad you’re doing better.  We asked about you every day.  Boy that must have been some flu you had” Clara said.

“You’re telling me.  At first I thought I hogged up too much on Christmas unfortunately that wasn’t the case.  I don’t think I’ve ever had such a bad flu in my whole life.”

The breakfast trays came and we started to eat when I heard “Hi Mom” and I turned around to see Sue standing there. 

“Hi Honey, Ladies this is my daughter-in-law, Sue, she’s in training to be the new receptionist.”

“Hi Sue” they all said.

“Hi everyone, I’m glad to see you’re feeling better.”

“Me too, did you have a good New Year’s at Julie’s?”

“Yes we did.  I can’t stay, I have to go train but I wanted to come by to see how you were doing.”

“Okay have a good day” and Sue left. 

“That’s nice that your daughter-in-law will be working here” Mildred said.

“Wonderful, indeed” I said.  So what’s been happening since I’ve been missing in action.”

“Not much” Gladys said.

“Yeah, right after Christmas it gets pretty boring around here” Nancy said.

“You can say that again” Audrey exclaimed.  “We’re in for the long dreary winter now that there are no holidays for a while.”

“I’m surprised the club doesn’t think of things to do during the down time.  Speaking of the club, I wonder why I haven’t heard anything about it.”

“That happens this time of year; they don’t really meet during the holidays.  They should be up and running in a couple of weeks” Clara said. 

We finished up eating and there was going to be an art class.  

 “I think I’m going to see if my room’s cleaned yet and lay down for a little bit.  I still feel a little weak.”

“Okay hopefully, we’ll see you later” Gladys said.

I went to my room and Jane was still in there.  “I’m sorry I thought you might be done.”

“I was just finishing up, you can come in.”

“How were your holidays dear?”

“They were nice although I think I probably gained five pounds” and we laughed.

“I probably would have too but with the flu I had, I think I probably lost it.”

“I know how you spent New Year’s but how was your Christmas?”

“It was wonderful.  This was the first year we had it at my daughter’s home.  I thought I would miss not having it but I really didn’t.”

“A lot of people would be sad.”

“I was a little sad but it was good to hand the reins over to my daughter. It showed my daughter that she could do it.”

“You have such a positive attitude Annie.”

“I have my down moments but I’m not going to live forever and I’ve got to make the most of my time.”

“Here, here” Jane said.  “I wish I could stay longer but I’ve got other rooms to do.  It was nice talking to you. Bye”

“Bye Jane.”

I sat in my rocker and turned the TV on.  I flipped through the channels and there wasn’t anything interesting to watch so I turned the TV off.  I looked at the door and I saw Maggie coming into my room.

“Hey there girl” and she jumped on my lap.  “I haven’t seen you for quite a while.”  As I petted her I could hear her purring.  She sat on my lap for about a half hour and then jumped up and went out the door. 

“Was that a cat I saw” Sue asked as she came into my room.

“Yep, that cat lives here.”

“How fun” she said laughing. “I’m on a little break.  I found out I’m only going to be training until 2:00 the first couple of weeks.”

“How’s it going?”

“It’s a little overwhelming but by the time the other receptionist leaves I should know everything.  I think I’m going to like it here.”

“I’m so happy for you.”

Sue’s cell phone started to ring and she said “Hello?”

“Hi honey.  It’s going fine.  I’m with mom right now.  She seems to be doing better.  Do you want to talk to her?  Okay, I’ll tell her.  I love you too, bye.  That was Jerry as you could probably tell.  He was going to a meeting but he wanted to check how we were both doing that’s why he didn’t talk to you.  He’s been very worried about you.  I better get back to the desk.  I’ll see you tomorrow."

“Okay by dear.” I had wanted to ask Sue if they made a decision about the house but decided to wait.  I don’t want to pressure them.  If I know my son like I think I do, he’ll realize this will be good for them.

 



Sunday, January 6, 2013

Gratitude Sunday #1

Linda at Al a Carte is doing a gratitude Sunday.    Check out what other people are grateful for here:  http://ljm-alacarte.blogspot.com/2013/01/gratitude-sunday-1.html   Do you have something you are grateful for?  Join in....

I'm grateful that our son is coming home from out of town for a visit Monday.

Although we visited him in October it will be nice for him to be home.  His girlfriend is vegan, so I'll be able to fill him up with food he doesn't normally get ;-).

We'll be having the in-law Christmas Saturday, he'll be able to see my mom, and also friends.

It's been about two years since he's been able to come home.  I can hardly wait, I'm so excited and very grateful that he could clear it at work to be able to come.

Saturday, January 5, 2013

Saturday Centus #141

Number of words: 100 words  
Style of writing: First Person
Additional Pictures: Any 









I’m sitting on the park bench.  I just can’t get the children and the tragedy out of my head.  It’s been consuming me. 


I notice a mother hand her little boy a ball.  He holds it in his palm stilling it.

“Hey lady” I hear as the boy slowly walks towards me.  “You want to see the world?”

“That’s pretty neat” I say.

“Mommy says I’m going to learn all about it when I go to school soon.”

I glance at the mom and both of us have tears in our eyes.  “Yes you will” I say.   

Check out other Saturday Centus's at 



 

Friday, January 4, 2013

Mary #42

This is a continuing story.  If you want to read from the beginning, please go to my side bar to the labels and click on story-Mary or click here.



42



“Hello?”



“Hi Mary.”



“Jimmy it’s so weird that you called.  I was just going to call you.”

“Is something wrong with Elizabeth?”

“I don’t think so she’s up taking a nap but I’m going to be getting her up real quick to take her medication.”

“Good, make sure she stays on top of that especially the anti-nauseous meds.  Donna thought she didn’t have to the first time and she wretched all night.  Finally it started working.  She never did that again.”

“Yeah I’m going to.”

“How did she do during the treatment?”

“She was pretty good.  There were a couple of teary moments but we kept ourselves busy and then she fell asleep.”

“I was thinking about stopping by tomorrow to see her, if you think that’s okay.” 

“Sure that would be fine.  In fact there’s something I want to talk to you about and Johnny too.  Could you call him and see if he could come with you?”

“Yeah, I can call Johnny and see what time would be good for him.  Sounds mysterious this thing you want to talk about, am I going to like it?”

“I hope so.  We do have to go for some kind of shot for Elizabeth but I’m sure it will probably be in the morning.”

“Okay, I’ll call Johnny and get back to you.”

“Okay, talk to you in a few.”

Mary went upstairs and knocked on the door and she heard Elizabeth stirring.  She opened the door and said “You want to come down and take your medicine or should I bring it up for you?”

“No, I’ll come down” and she got out of bed and followed Mary downstairs and into the kitchen.

Elizabeth got a glass of water and Mary handed her the pill container.  She looked at the instructions on the bottle, took one out and gulped it down. 

Mary’s phone started to ring “Hello… 2:00...  Let me ask Elizabeth” she took the phone away from her ear and said “Do you want to go for your shot in the morning?  Jimmy wants to stop by around 2:00 tomorrow to visit.” 

“Yes that’s good.”

“Okay Jimmy we’ll see you two tomorrow” and she hung up the phone.

“I guess Donna must be coming too, huh?”

“No, Johnny is coming with him.”

Elizabeth squealed with delight. 

“I told you I was going to do it.  Now how about something to eat, I don’t think you’ve had anything today that I can remember.”

“I’m not really hungry.”

“How about if I make you some toast with peanut butter and jelly on it.”

“Okay” and she sat and watched Mary make the sandwich as she pet Lulu who had jumped on her lap.

“I’ve invited Sadie to come for Thanksgiving” Mary said as she gave Elizabeth the sandwich.

“That will be nice.  I really would like to meet her.  I should be back in my home by then.  You two will be able to have your girl time together.”

“You don’t have to worry about that.  You can stay as long as you want whether she’s here or not.”

“I know but I have a perfectly good home of my own.  I did pretty well when I stayed there last night.  It’s probably better sooner than later that I get used to being there by myself.”

“You’re probably right.”

She had eaten most of the sandwich and then pushed it away and said “I think I’m going to bed.”

“I wrote a schedule of your medications and put them on the fridge so we won’t forget.”

Elizabeth got up and took it off the fridge and said “I’ll take this upstairs with me for now.  Good night and thanks for today.”

“No thanks needed.  I think I’m going to watch some TV and then sleep on the sofa.  If you need anything just holler” and Elizabeth headed upstairs.

Mary washed the few dishes that were there.  Then she got out the broom and swept the kitchen floor. She went upstairs to the bathroom, brushed her teeth and washed her face.  She put her pajamas on and came downstairs and lit a fire.  She closed the curtains and turned all the light off and lay on the sofa to watch TV.  It wasn’t long before she felt drowsy.  She turned the TV off.  She looked at the fire and thought about how she was going to tell Jimmy and Johnny about the B&B.




 

Wednesday, January 2, 2013

Tuesday, January 1, 2013

Happy 2013

Another fresh new year is here . . .
 
Another year to live!
 
To banish worry, doubt, and fear
 
To love and laugh and give!

This bright new year is given me
 
To live each day with zest . . .
 
To daily grow and try to be
 
My highest and my best!
 
I have the opportunity
 
Once more to right some wrongs,
 
To pray for peace, to plant a tree,
 
And sing more joyful songs!
 
- William Arthur Ward