this moving and pushing a walker back and forth, making sure Bonnie is ok and packing and unpacking and all the details that moving involve compounded by doing everything with a walker instead of a car.
I had friends and family help out and I'm almost done packing at the old apt....down to 5 hours of stuff left. Still have to do all the calls too ...that involve moving( like tomorrow - calling telus to give them hell for charging me for the next month when I had called twice to cancel.
Also they want me to lug all the shiny boxes and little black things and the remotes to the post office of course! A piece of cake when have a walker!
SO that I 'm getting my friend Amanda to help me with that on Thursday and a few other scary things I can't handle on my own.
My friend Helen is here right now with Bonnie and she is doing so many things to help me including driving me to Ladner to get a microwave I need to take to PR.
In the meantime I have to eat my words from my last blog -- I was really having a hard time my first here was frightening and lonely. I kept seeing Bonnie in the shadows .
Well assisted living as it turns out is like staying at a hotel - they make my meals, my bed and check on me every morning and night . The aides and nurses are really kind and I like 99% of the people here.
I must be getting used to the food because I east every scrap -always hungry too with the HD.
It's almost like a hotel except they don't chocolates on the bed !
The other night I was sick I walked down to where the nurse is and had a chat with her - I really feel safe here.
I sit at a table with 3 other women well it turns out they are sweet ladies - they are they look me in the eye and have love in theirs like mums to me . My mum has been gone 32 years now and these women say to things like 'make sure you take a taxi it's too cold out .' They're all hard of hearing and some have altered taste buds so some of the conversations are like this ' what is the soup like ... I don't know what I'm doing later ...no the soup ...oh it tastes like beets well it's actually dessert it's strawberries...' and so on I make sure if they care to tell them what they're actually eating .
The fellows at the next table are the loud ones I warned them I have supersonic hearing and can hear everything- they said 'well be better tone this down' but they forget.
The old lady next door to me is 97 and has been teaching Tai Chi for 30 years - she is amazing no walker - great posture and she;s teaching me in the hall every morning .
Now this week moving to PR for 2 weeks with the Bonnie til Keith gets up here....that's why I'm frantically packing in my old place .
Josie has arranged for movers and is staying at my old apt while they get my furniture loaded up on a truck and I 'll Bonnie for a few hours here til they are ready to drive to PR that's when she and I will be in this lovely cosy home the painters are painting like crazy right now Josie also arranged.
My goal after Keith gets up here( can't wait Keith for you to see the house ) is to stay healthy til there's a cure.
In the meantime I don't have to stress about getting groceries in my walker - Keith will be living in our place with the Bonnie, I;ll be living here in assisted living . I do understand now why my Dr and Josie recommended it - it's good for someone like me who really does need help but not so much and I feel this huge wave of support from the people who live and work here.
So far Lynnie - you did a great job of packing thank you much. Down to last 20 boxes and I always get panicky when I think I can't finish but I always do.
Helen is taking me to PR tomorrow to get do some errands with me and I want to show her a few things she's never been to PR I think she'll like it.
Jenny is settling into her new little apt and posted a sweet youtube video of her deaf cat knocking things over and Jenny is giggling in the background she has no idea how that does my heart good to hear her voice. I am very proud of my girls and love them and my grandchildren very much.
Can't wait for the first time we hook up in PR - I can stay there very limited time because Assisted living guidelines but I love that place so much it does my heart good.
Oh and in my usual black humour I said to Keith last night..I haven't changed much,;' hahahaha right
Even the fellow at London drug s today said he noticed a diff after only a few months.
SO folks even tho I';m on a slippery slope lets hope theres lots of laughter and love and music and kindness and ice cream and my cat ..
The women who work and lived here have certainly made that difference...
It's all been amazing really
that's all for now I am so danged tired
kath
Mum
Wednesday 28 March 2012
Saturday 3 March 2012
honey I wish I wasn't home
well I didn't know I could cry so hard and my first night here. After a long day having to get up at 7 to pack some last minute things I moved into here.
Josie had been here since 9 for me setting up my furniture and making my bed all nice and cosy and so on putting my (way too m any ) clothes in the closet.
I had my first lunch here, sitting with a few 90 year olds. Canned veggies and white pasta . The women were nice but still not what I thought I'd be lunching at the age of 61 and yes I am the youngest mostly women in their 80's and nineties. Some of them even if I smile at them they ignore me and others very sweet .
I unpacked a few boxes went in to dinner(canned veggies and white rice) one of the workers was yelling at the 90 year old woman at my table .That did not sit well with me I asked her if this was how she normally operated and she said yes. Seeing as I had only been here a few hours I was tentative to say anything but next time I hear her yell at anyone I'll give her hell.
I went to my room and realized there was no Bonnie to curl up with I started crying and called jenny and Josie they both called the nurse to come and check on me . Gee even the nurse can't help my sad heart.
I had to get up early yesterday morning for the man who was setting up the cable for my computer and tv . He was such a help and was moving some furniture around for me to make it easier. He also unwound my bag of massively knotted wires. I meant to but didn't have time he was so patient with it but understood how that really helped me as his dad has Parkinson's . I am trying to set him up with Josie so got his phone number - he seems like he has a very kind heart. He's going to help me set up my dvd and vcr when I bring them over so will make sure Josie's here :)
I am very very tired from this move still have a lot of unpacking to do . I was starting to have another meltdown last night and my friend Linda came over and talked with me gave me advice.
She's a gem.
Talking to Jenny right now -- she is dealing with a lot also - I have great faith in her wisdom on her path in life.
Feeling lousy today but still want to go see Bonnie I"ll take a bus boy do I miss driving .
When I arrived yesterday the first thing she did was jump on my walker and I pushed her up and down the hallway.
Then I curled up on the bed my cat at my feet she gave a great sigh and fell asleep.
Just had lunch with 2 of the only fellows I've seen here - and a woman who had a stroke and at least had a few laughs - turned our place mats into paper airplanes and threw them at each other.
Yep good thing I actually had a good life .
I asked the fellows could I sit with them for dinner they aren't as serious as the other women I sat with and I need all the laughs I can get .
Having pain today too but have to walk to the bus to go see Bonnie
well that;s all for now
Kath
Josie had been here since 9 for me setting up my furniture and making my bed all nice and cosy and so on putting my (way too m any ) clothes in the closet.
I had my first lunch here, sitting with a few 90 year olds. Canned veggies and white pasta . The women were nice but still not what I thought I'd be lunching at the age of 61 and yes I am the youngest mostly women in their 80's and nineties. Some of them even if I smile at them they ignore me and others very sweet .
I unpacked a few boxes went in to dinner(canned veggies and white rice) one of the workers was yelling at the 90 year old woman at my table .That did not sit well with me I asked her if this was how she normally operated and she said yes. Seeing as I had only been here a few hours I was tentative to say anything but next time I hear her yell at anyone I'll give her hell.
I went to my room and realized there was no Bonnie to curl up with I started crying and called jenny and Josie they both called the nurse to come and check on me . Gee even the nurse can't help my sad heart.
I had to get up early yesterday morning for the man who was setting up the cable for my computer and tv . He was such a help and was moving some furniture around for me to make it easier. He also unwound my bag of massively knotted wires. I meant to but didn't have time he was so patient with it but understood how that really helped me as his dad has Parkinson's . I am trying to set him up with Josie so got his phone number - he seems like he has a very kind heart. He's going to help me set up my dvd and vcr when I bring them over so will make sure Josie's here :)
I am very very tired from this move still have a lot of unpacking to do . I was starting to have another meltdown last night and my friend Linda came over and talked with me gave me advice.
She's a gem.
Talking to Jenny right now -- she is dealing with a lot also - I have great faith in her wisdom on her path in life.
Feeling lousy today but still want to go see Bonnie I"ll take a bus boy do I miss driving .
When I arrived yesterday the first thing she did was jump on my walker and I pushed her up and down the hallway.
Then I curled up on the bed my cat at my feet she gave a great sigh and fell asleep.
Just had lunch with 2 of the only fellows I've seen here - and a woman who had a stroke and at least had a few laughs - turned our place mats into paper airplanes and threw them at each other.
Yep good thing I actually had a good life .
I asked the fellows could I sit with them for dinner they aren't as serious as the other women I sat with and I need all the laughs I can get .
Having pain today too but have to walk to the bus to go see Bonnie
well that;s all for now
Kath
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