A 10 year old's view of the retirement home

I'm staying with my Dad this week since Susan went to be with her daughter at Stanford.

....but this time I got to have a roommate for one of the nights.


It's a fun feeling....Dad with his great granddaughter Elora....3 generations having a slumber party.

It's been interesting seeing this retirement home through the eyes of a 10 year old.
We took a walk inside the complex and I pointed out so many of the lovely pictures on the walls. I said,

"As we get older some people have a hard time remembering where their room is. So they put these pictures up so they can find the picture and then find their room that way."

Elora gave me an odd look and said, "Why don't they just read their name on their door?" 

Elora may have been the only one who ordered hot chocolate in the dining room yesterday.
Makes no difference at all to her that we are in a record breaking heat wave.


She laughed and laughted when the big containers of cereal came around in the morning. 
She said it looked like cat food.

She liked the tomato dumpling soup 
and said it was the very first time she had a tuna sandwich on a croissant. 
Or a tuna sandwich at all.



While we were eating she overheard a few of the residents talking about their diabetes. 
Elora turned to me and said, 
"They have discovered that diabetes is caused by being abused as a child." 
Obviously she got her info mixed up with something else. 



My Grandma use to play games with me, too. 
What goes around comes around.



Susan is at Stanford now where her daughter had a 13 hour surgery today.
If I ever have to have a surgery like Dawnie's...

I'm going to leave messages for the doctors like she did.
We are praying for you, Dawnie.


11 comments:

Anonymous said...

She'll always remember this experience. How good for you to have her there to help and be a companion.
darlene

Karen Mortensen said...

What a great time for the 3 of you. I love the messages Dawnie left for the doctors. All the best to her.

grandmapeg said...

I'll bet Elora will remember this sleepover at the retirement center. It looks like she had lots of fun and I'm sure you did too. I hope all goes well with Susan's daughter.

Richard said...

Great post. Thank you!

Susan Anderson said...

What a great idea, leaving the doctors messages. Empowering!

I will keep Dawnie in my prayers.

=)

PS. Love that Elora!

Grandma Honey said...

That's what I thought Sue....empowering. She would be speaking for herself to the doctors even while she is asleep.

Lisa said...

I adored this post! I'm just jealous you didn't ask me to join you! Hope your dad is doing well! He'll always be a CHAMP!

James and Kresta said...

My grandparents lived in a retirement home in Nebraska for 15 years. As a young girl, I spent a lot of time there. It's some of my favorite memories. I hope you are having a wonderful time!

Grandma Honey said...

You were so lucky Kresta to get to spend all that time with grandparents, and to be around other "experts in living" in that retirement home. I think it adds such a richness to one's life, especially while growing up, I would imagine.

Heidi Garvin said...

I wonder if Elora confused "abused" and "obese," since type 2 diabetes can be associated with being overweight? How funny!

Grandma Honey said...

I hadn't thought of that Heidi. Could be! Those words sound similar, probably especially to a child.

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