All is well

"January 11, 2002:  Called Marie Parker.  The 9th was her 97th birthday.
January 12, 2002:  Mitch and Anna here in evening -- watched cartoons on TV.
January 13, 2002:  Called Greta in a.m.  Nancy came for dinner.  I took a shower.
January 14, 2002:  Bill here in p.m.  We played Rummikub.  Jenny and Patty went shopping after Patty went to the dentist."

I should have started a label for Rummikub.  It sure gets mentioned frequently on here.

As some will already know and recall, there was (probably still is) a perk at The Pioneer House for those wishing to participate.  Folks were given a little cardboard tag on a string.  The idea was that they would put it outside their door hanging on the doorknob once they were up in the morning every day.  Someone volunteered to go around and check for tags at some point in the day.  This was a way to be sure the occupant was okay and did not need help or medical attention.  I believe the occupant was to move the tag back in at some point and that was likely checked too, otherwise the tag would be there morning after morning and not accomplish its purpose. 

When we were clearing out Grandma's unit after she died, I took the tag without really having a concrete reason for doing so.  Well, now it has become my "everything is okay" talisman.  Not that things are awful and I need the assurance; it's just a nice thought that includes Grandma with it.

I noticed some time ago that the tag was missing.  I knew it wasn't stolen and that a tornado hadn't blown through, so it would turn up in time.  And yesterday it did.  It fell down behind my desktop at work and was on the floor behind a box.  But, now it is back where it belongs as my little all-is-well reminder.  Photographic evidence above.

Heard a good joke lately, anyone?

"January 8, 2002:  Nancy called in the evening.  Allen Anderson -- her boss -- had died in the morning.
January 9, 2002:  Mary came at noon.  She ate her lunch while I showered.  Went to Book Club in evening.  Brought a book back to read.
January 10, 2002:  Mary and kids took me to get a permanent at 6:00 p.m.  That was a real rip-off.  A gift certificate from Nancy for $20 paid for the haircut and I had to pay an additional $55.00!!!"

Not to downplay Grandma's troubles with her permanent, but I must make mention of Allen.  Since Rick and I were a one-car household for awhile, and because Nancy and I worked in the same building downtown, Nancy picked me up each morning and was my ride to and from work.  Since she has a better work ethic than myself, I would leave work promptly at 5:00 and take the stairs to the 9th floor.  Inevitably, Nancy would be finishing up this or that and so I often got a chance to yak at Allen.  What a super nice guy who would frequently have a joke to tell.  And if no joke was available, there was usually something funny that had happened on the job recently, or he had a tale to tell of one kind or another.  A shame he died as young as he did.

I don't know for sure, but I think it's possible Mom and Nancy were sharing a joke here in 1981.  What I find not so amusing is that I am considerably older right now than they are in the photo.  I have no idea why that is disturbing to me . . .  Oh, and look . . . Nancy is smoking.  Looks strange to see her doing that.

Alarm bells again

"January 6, 2002:  Greta called in p.m.  Mary came early and changed dressing.  Nancy came at noon.  We had dinner and then she vacuumed while I showered.  We played some Rummikub.
January 7, 2002:  Fire alarm rang this morning -- down the steps again.  Some clothes in the dryer had caught fire -- a lot of smoke.  When the smoke alarm goes off it automatically sets the bell ringing, calls 9-1-1 and shuts off the elevators.  I took the band-aid off my face -- it had healed nicely.  I called Arlene R. in p.m."

Maybe this was the firemen assist trip down the stairs.  Not that it matters one way or the other.  I notice Grandma was writing something every day; she wasn't doing that in the last journal.  I wonder why.  Maybe with everything all scaled down she was more organized.  Maybe by the time I am nearly 90, I will be organized, too.  It's a goal I am going to shoot for.

For no particular reason, here is Grandma Anna and I on my confirmation day.  I loved that dress.  Also love the Dorothy Hamill haircut!  (And you, too, Grandma Anna . . . )

Booted out for a spell

"January 3, 2002:  Nancy took me to the dermatologist -- appointment was 8:30.  He removed the wart-like growth from the left side of my face.  Myrtle called in evening.
January 4, 2002:  Maryan C. came and changed the dressing on my face.  About 2:30 or 3:00 the fire alarm went off.  Went down the stairs to the first floor.  Maryan C. helped me.  Could go back to rooms at 4;30.  Several opinions as to where the fire was -- could have been from a short in a door bell.
January 5, 2002:  Mary brought the kids over early.  Mitch and Anna brought balloons to play with so we didn't watch cartoons on TV.  Mary changed dressing on my face."

Grandma talks about Maryan helping her.  I know one time, at least, the firemen helped her.  I think she got a kick out of that.  And who wouldn't, really.

This is Grandma Anna but it doesn't look like her to me based on other photos.  I hope that dress was some dark color other than black -- does anyone know what color it was?

Blank

"December 31, 2001:  Mary painted the door.  To the party room here at Pioneer House for a pot luck supper at 5:00.  Had a good time, played card Bingo.
January 1, 2002:  Loafed around all day.
January 2, 2002:  Nancy came for supper.  She took care of washing clothes and we played Rummikub.  Greta called -- Charlotte Wylie died Monday.

Drawing a blank here as to what to add.  It's a bit late and I just got back from eating out with Anna and Tasha at The Parthenon -- way too much food so I brought the rest home and have my lunch figured out for tomorrow.  My point being, between the hour and the full tummy, my brain has disengaged somewhat.

Speaking of disengaged, blowing out eggs will make you think your brain is completely disengaged from your head.  That's why my belt is hanging loose there; I expelled all the air from my lungs and beyond and still didn't budge that egg.  Well, that's how it seemed anyway.  We did get them done somehow -- I don't know who did the most blowing but it was quite the experience as I remember.  I also am not sure why I needed empty eggs and what I/we did with them.

Left-over painting

"December 27, 2001:  Took a walk up and down the hallway.  Mary took me to the hairdresser.
December 28, 2001:  Nancy here for my shower.  Took a walk up and down the hallway.
December 29, 2001:  Nancy brought groceries in p.m.  Mitch and Anna here in evening.
December 30, 2001:  Talked to Greta.  Mary came in p.m. and put primer on door to the hall closet."

Oh, yeah.  I forgot about a bit of the painting that didn't get done prior to Grandma moving in.  Nice to know I got it taken care of before she was there a year or better.

Here's a very nice photo of Nancy.  I don't know that she likes it, but I think she looks very sweet.

Surely, she's not anti-social

"December 24, 2001:  Christmas Eve.  Nancy, Tom, Merilyn and Linda (a special friend of Merilyn's) here for chili supper and gift exchange.  Played Rummikub (Linda and Merilyn played Rummy.)
December 25, 2001:  Nancy and I to Tom and Merilyn's for dinner.  Linda was there, too.  She played Solitaire on the computer while the rest played Rummikub.
December 26, 2001:  Tired all day -- just sat around and watched TV."

I don't remember Linda but from the sparse reporting, it appears she didn't want to play well with others.  I'm kidding -- if she was a friend of Merilyn's, I'm sure she was good people.  Maybe Rummikub was a bit intimidating given the world class status of the other players.

I miss church and chili on Christmas Eve.  May have to get that tradition up and running with some regularity again.

For not particular reason, here's a goofy picture.  Everyone seems to be having a top-drawer kind of time.  Except maybe Bill there on the television.  He looks fairly serious.  Omigosh, there's the fish lamp!  I think.