A guest post from Ada Gerard, gotoyourcorners.blogspot.com/
Sitting in the living room at Gary’s Memory Care center, I overhear some hilarious conversations. The residents talk with each other, and neither of them know what the other is talking about.
For example: One female resident picked up her purse to go to her room for the night. She stopped by our table and said goodnight to another female resident. Let’s call them Martha and Irene.
Martha: “Good night my friend. We had a good day.”
Irene: “Yes, we did. Did they make you work as hard as I did?”
Martha: “Yes, but let’s look at the bright side. We must have done good work because we still have jobs and they are letting us stay here tonight.”
Irene: “Yep. What did they make you do?”
Martha: “I had to put together that engine out of the car that broke down.”
Irene: “They are tricking us. I put together the same engine. Have a good night. I love you.”
Martha: “I love you too and I’m glad you are my friend.”
Irene: “I love you, too. Now go to sleep. I’ll check on you later.”
I am quite positive neither of them recall this conversation but it is amazing to me that they pick up on each other’s memories. Martha probably worked in a factory during the war (WW2) and really did put together engines. Irene, on the other hand, was probably raising children and knew nothing of the industrial life but knows of strife and labor. As a witness, it was fascinating and amusing.
Meanwhile, Gary sits next to me, listening to this whole conversation. For those who have read my blog, he is a repeater. He repeats two to three times various things he hears. If it’s the answer to a question or an original thought, he says it once.
So his words after hearing this conversation were, “Look at the bright side. We have jobs. Look at the bright side. We have jobs. Look at the bright side. We have jobs.”
And then, “I love you too and I’m glad you are my friend.” As he looked at me, he only said this once. He told me he loved me and that I was his friend.
Then he followed with, “I love you darlin'”. It was an original thought.
I left the facility and indulged in a manicure and pedicure. I fell asleep during the leg massage, and awoke to the reality that my caregiver duties are really not over. I merely changed positions on the caregiving team.
Thank you to our guest blogger Ada Gerard, gotoyourcorners.blogspot.com
@queenjanedaly