lots of thoughts
My sister-in-law stayed here last night before she had to appear in court this morning. We can walk to the courthouse from here, so it was easier than driving down to pick her up and driving right back downtown this morning in traffic. It was weird to have my routine disrupted. Maybe if we lived in a larger space with more doors it wouldn't have been as bad.
After walking back from the courthouse, I headed to my grandma's. As most of you know, Grandma is 86 and having some health problems. A few months ago she made the choice to start in-home hospice care. While I have been between shows, I have been going down to her condo 2-3 times per week and making her lunch, doing dishes and laundry, and helping her as needed. She is in a wheelchair and it is getting more difficult for her to maneuver these days. I don't usually go on Tuesdays because Dad does - Tuesday is grocery shopping day, and the day the hospice nurse comes over.
Grandma and I have always had a challenging relationship, but I am her only grandchild who still lives in town. She is very independent, not terribly demonstrative, and has always been quick to criticize. It's actually been kind of nice to be helping her because as she is coming to terms with needing assistance, she is a bit nicer about it.
Our "normal" schedule is lunch about noon, chat for a few, then help Grandma into bed for a nap while I clean up. Dad seems to think she is a picky eater, but really the issue is that she has been a picky preparer since she had a stroke about 15 years ago. She made food that she could prepare easily, not because those dishes were her favorites, but because she could make them. I try to make a variety of dishes, but they are all pescetarian since I don't know how to cook meat. Garlic disagrees with her, so it's been challenging at times to make things that are tasty and flavorful without it, but I have managed. Not only has Grandma told several other people that she enjoys my cooking, she even told me!
That was very satisfying for me after so many years. This is my last week "officially" helping out Grandma as I am back on contract starting next Monday. It's going to be an interesting adjustment for me to be working full time after so long! It will be nice to have an actual routine again, though.
After walking back from the courthouse, I headed to my grandma's. As most of you know, Grandma is 86 and having some health problems. A few months ago she made the choice to start in-home hospice care. While I have been between shows, I have been going down to her condo 2-3 times per week and making her lunch, doing dishes and laundry, and helping her as needed. She is in a wheelchair and it is getting more difficult for her to maneuver these days. I don't usually go on Tuesdays because Dad does - Tuesday is grocery shopping day, and the day the hospice nurse comes over.
Grandma and I have always had a challenging relationship, but I am her only grandchild who still lives in town. She is very independent, not terribly demonstrative, and has always been quick to criticize. It's actually been kind of nice to be helping her because as she is coming to terms with needing assistance, she is a bit nicer about it.
Our "normal" schedule is lunch about noon, chat for a few, then help Grandma into bed for a nap while I clean up. Dad seems to think she is a picky eater, but really the issue is that she has been a picky preparer since she had a stroke about 15 years ago. She made food that she could prepare easily, not because those dishes were her favorites, but because she could make them. I try to make a variety of dishes, but they are all pescetarian since I don't know how to cook meat. Garlic disagrees with her, so it's been challenging at times to make things that are tasty and flavorful without it, but I have managed. Not only has Grandma told several other people that she enjoys my cooking, she even told me!
That was very satisfying for me after so many years. This is my last week "officially" helping out Grandma as I am back on contract starting next Monday. It's going to be an interesting adjustment for me to be working full time after so long! It will be nice to have an actual routine again, though.