Great Easter, Interesting Dream
Easter was a whirlwind of activfity and connections, so much that the psychic overflow inevitably wound up populating a very complex dreamscape this morning. Earlier in the day, St. Michael's had been packed to the rafters. I was exactly on time which meant that I was, in effect late because everyone knows you have to show up early to get a good seat on Easter. I sat in the Little Chapel where there seemed to be plenty of room for some strange reason. I realized, too late toward the end of the service that it had been occupied mainly by parents holding seats for children in Sunday School and of course the children started trickling in, they had to squeeze in wherever they could.
But, it was Easter and everyone was in good voice and good cheer. The Peace must have lasted about ten minutes. I left after Communion and on my way out passed my old freiend, Wolftrap, in a makeshift standing-room-only area with daughters in tow. He touched me on the arm and said "it's good to see you." and i squeezed his arm back.
I took an Easter basket out to the nursing home. They don't really sell them pre-packaged the way they did when I was a kid, but come in components that you sort of have to put together yourself. I had a little trouble remembering what actually went into one and guessing what Mom would be able to eat without choking.
The temperature in New York City hit 80 by the time I arrived. I couldn't see the thermometer ooutside the bank building (which, incidentally gives the wrong time) but, it was obviously warmer than the 70 degerees predicted on the radio that morning. Signing in, I realized Big Brother was already there and predictably I found them in the day room. Almost immediately I said, "It's beaming outside, what are we doing indoors?" and I set about finding an extra blanket which I wound up snatching from Mom's bed.
I' bought the old Panama hat I'd one at a silent auction at tthe Audobon Society many years ago with Laura Gonzalez and Pale Male. I placed it on Mom's head in the elevator going down to the patio. It made her look like Bolivian hemp farmer but everyone saiid she looked cute.
Once outside, we wheeled her to the furthest part of the patio. She had some difficulty understanding the words, "Easter" but sensed our urgency in placing her hand in the basket. "What is it you want me to do?" she asked as I placed one of the king-sized plastic eggs in her hand. "Is this an apple?" she asked. And, indeed, it was about the size and consistency of an apple. I was afraid she was going to take a bite out of it so I opened it for her and tried to guide her fingers toward the marshmellow chick inside.
None of it had any traction until I reached to the bottom of the plastic grass and took a piece of milk chocolate in the shape of a rabbit and ploaced it in her hand. She gripped it limply and Big Brother took it away. I wasn't sure where he was going with it until he started brushing Mom's lips with it. Mom pursed her lips demurely. I honestly believe, at first, she thought it was lip stick. But, then it began to dawn on her that it tasted pretty good and when Big Brother placed it back in her hand she was able to guide it back toward her lips and take a bite out of it. She did this several times.
Big Brother left soon after Mom ate the chocolate bunny and though he complains that she never says anything when he is there, I'm beginning to think it's because he doesn't stick with it long enough. After about an hour, during which there was a pretty loud entertainment interlude hosted by someone who eiher volunteered or was paid for the occasion, I finally repeated "Happy Easter" to Mom again. After several times and a little better enunciation of each word, she finally said, "OH, today is Easter Sunday." "Yes, Ma'am." "Happy Easter to you, too."
After that, I felt my job was done. We just sat in that corner of the patio, in the sun. Every so often Mom's hand would flutter toward the top of the Pananma hat and mold it to her head a little more closely. It was the closest thing to a church-lady hat that I could find, but she seemed to like it. After the second hour, I asked whether she was ready to go back inside. "When you're ready", she said.
By the third hour, when I was sure the temperature had dropped and she would be ready to go, I asked her whether she was "too cool?"
"Yes, I'm cool." and just as I was bout to gather her things, she added, "But, I'd like to stay where I am, if i could." "Yes, Ma'am."
"Would you stay with me?"
"Yes, Ma'am".
By 4:30 I was beginning to worry that they would start dinner without her, so I asked whether she was hungry.
"I can wait."
But, it was Easter and everyone was in good voice and good cheer. The Peace must have lasted about ten minutes. I left after Communion and on my way out passed my old freiend, Wolftrap, in a makeshift standing-room-only area with daughters in tow. He touched me on the arm and said "it's good to see you." and i squeezed his arm back.
I took an Easter basket out to the nursing home. They don't really sell them pre-packaged the way they did when I was a kid, but come in components that you sort of have to put together yourself. I had a little trouble remembering what actually went into one and guessing what Mom would be able to eat without choking.
The temperature in New York City hit 80 by the time I arrived. I couldn't see the thermometer ooutside the bank building (which, incidentally gives the wrong time) but, it was obviously warmer than the 70 degerees predicted on the radio that morning. Signing in, I realized Big Brother was already there and predictably I found them in the day room. Almost immediately I said, "It's beaming outside, what are we doing indoors?" and I set about finding an extra blanket which I wound up snatching from Mom's bed.
I' bought the old Panama hat I'd one at a silent auction at tthe Audobon Society many years ago with Laura Gonzalez and Pale Male. I placed it on Mom's head in the elevator going down to the patio. It made her look like Bolivian hemp farmer but everyone saiid she looked cute.
Once outside, we wheeled her to the furthest part of the patio. She had some difficulty understanding the words, "Easter" but sensed our urgency in placing her hand in the basket. "What is it you want me to do?" she asked as I placed one of the king-sized plastic eggs in her hand. "Is this an apple?" she asked. And, indeed, it was about the size and consistency of an apple. I was afraid she was going to take a bite out of it so I opened it for her and tried to guide her fingers toward the marshmellow chick inside.
None of it had any traction until I reached to the bottom of the plastic grass and took a piece of milk chocolate in the shape of a rabbit and ploaced it in her hand. She gripped it limply and Big Brother took it away. I wasn't sure where he was going with it until he started brushing Mom's lips with it. Mom pursed her lips demurely. I honestly believe, at first, she thought it was lip stick. But, then it began to dawn on her that it tasted pretty good and when Big Brother placed it back in her hand she was able to guide it back toward her lips and take a bite out of it. She did this several times.
Big Brother left soon after Mom ate the chocolate bunny and though he complains that she never says anything when he is there, I'm beginning to think it's because he doesn't stick with it long enough. After about an hour, during which there was a pretty loud entertainment interlude hosted by someone who eiher volunteered or was paid for the occasion, I finally repeated "Happy Easter" to Mom again. After several times and a little better enunciation of each word, she finally said, "OH, today is Easter Sunday." "Yes, Ma'am." "Happy Easter to you, too."
After that, I felt my job was done. We just sat in that corner of the patio, in the sun. Every so often Mom's hand would flutter toward the top of the Pananma hat and mold it to her head a little more closely. It was the closest thing to a church-lady hat that I could find, but she seemed to like it. After the second hour, I asked whether she was ready to go back inside. "When you're ready", she said.
By the third hour, when I was sure the temperature had dropped and she would be ready to go, I asked her whether she was "too cool?"
"Yes, I'm cool." and just as I was bout to gather her things, she added, "But, I'd like to stay where I am, if i could." "Yes, Ma'am."
"Would you stay with me?"
"Yes, Ma'am".
By 4:30 I was beginning to worry that they would start dinner without her, so I asked whether she was hungry.
"I can wait."