Mom and Me

Butter...

I don't know but, when Mom was growing up, getting "real butter" must have been expensive?  Whenever the local HyVee store has butter on sale I am sent to get a couple of pounds.

I'm not sure why.  Mom doesn't cook or bake anymore but when she did she was very clear that her dairy cookies were made with "real butter".  She would say, "As they are made with real butter."

I dunno....

All I can figure is that for a union organizer home in the 1930's "real butter" was hard to come by.  Today...not so much, but I'm glad to get it for her...no matter what she has planned for it.

And...so it goes. 

Mom & Her Kringle...

When I was a boy I remember the times we would travel from Detroit to  Racine, Wisconsin to gather at the ancestral home of my parents.  They both...smoked...so the drive during the winter months was, shall we say "foggy".  In the summer, because Mom thought air-conditioning was a waste of energy, the drive was hot and windy.

One of the treats we would get from my Danish grandmother was...kringle.  It came from Larsen's or Hansen's bakery in West Racine.

Last week I was in Grinnell visiting with my friend Dave Jones the president of the Grinnell State Bank and noticed this sign.  I asked Dave about the place and he said, "Gosh, that has been here for years.  I remember going there as a kid a loading up on all sorts of goodies." 

We walked over to the Danish Maid Bakery where I met Suzi Hansen and I told her my Racine story. She said, "That is where we're from.  My husband's grandfather started Hansen's Bakery in Racine."  Imagine my shock.  We talked about "the old days" and she shared with me the framed license her husband's grandfather got from the the State of Wisconsin to open the bakery in 1919.  The address was 1312 Washington Avenue very near to where my Mother once lived.

I tried to buy the last almond kringle she had but Suzi insisted that it was a gift for Mom.

When I got back to Des Moines, kringle in hand, and shared the story with Mom her eyes lit up and she said, "My, what a small world.  I remember them well. But, what in the world are they doing in Grinnell, Iowa?  That doesn't sound very Danish to me."

And...so it goes.

Mom's Laundry...

I get to do Mom's laundry.  Oh, and does she worry about it:

"Looks like you've got some laundry in the basket..."

"Oh that?  Don't bother there isn't enough to do."

"Sure there is." 

"I don't think so.  And, besides, you don't have the time."

"It's OK."

"Say, bring me some of those blue pants?"

"I thought you didn't like those...they are too...drab."

"They are but they take so little work to keep clean."

"Mom, not to worry.  It's not like I'm doing laundry on a washboard."

"Don't get smart with me Mister.  Besides, I never did laundry on a washboard.  A wringer washer yes.  Now those where the days....."

And...so it goes.

Scott Smith & Mom

My cell phone rang and the ID said it was Mom calling...after 6:30PM.  That's scary.  I answered saying, "Hi!  You OK?"

"Of course I am.  I just wanted to call and let you know I'm at a concert."

A concert?

"Yes, a piano player named Scott Smith is here at Edgewater and he's going to play some of the old tunes from The War Years."

The next day we're sitting in the garden and she says, "I had the best time and even sang with Scott." (Notice she is on a first name basis...)

Sang?

"Yes, he asked me to sing along and I did 'Walking Through the Alphabet with You'."

I don't know that song.

"I used to sing it in Chicago with the band:  A you're adorable, B you are beautiful C you're cutie on my arm...."

I'm glad you had a good time.

"Oh I did and sitting right behind me was a fellow who was celebrating his 90th birthday."

Bet you sang Happy Birthday.

"We did but, wow he sure looked his age!"

And...so it goes.

Doing The Laundry

The great folks at the Wesley Retirement System property Edgewater would do Mom's laundry but I decided it was something that I could do myself.  It's a personal effort and I know what to use and what to avoid. (Mom has some sensitive skin...)

Each day I collect her clothing and do the laundry every-other-day.

"Did you iron my pants?", asked Mom.

Yes and on hangers.  See.

"You didn't use an electric iron did you?"

Uhm...sure.

"You shouldn't do that."

Why?

"It wastes electricty.  All you have to do is keep the pants slightly damp and then spread them out on a table and 'hand-iron' them. When they dry they will be just fine."

That's OK.  I don't mind.  Oh, by the way MidAmerican Energy called me.  They wanted to know why you've used so little energy.

"Oh?  I was wondering if they might wonder what's up.  I haven't been home for nearly two months.  What did they think I was doing?  It's good they are on top of it."

Yes it is.

"They will never call you about your house."

Why?

"You don't 'hand-iron' enough."

And...so it goes

"It's a deal, right June?"

This is Ginger one of Mom's nurses in the skilled care unit of Edgewater.  She and Mom enjoy each other and joke around. It was also Ginger who worked hard to help out with the recent hospitalization.  But, she is dead serious when it comes to safety.

The skilled care unit is centered around therapy.  Getting the resident to an optimum level so they can go home.  Usually a day or two prior to discharge the resident is put on "independent status" meaning they can move about in their rooms without assistance.  Mom likes that part.

However, she's not at that level and needs to call for assistance when moving around.  She didn't do that yesterday.  "I'm quite capable of getting up out of my chair and going to the bathroom", she said.

Yes Mom, but the rules are that you must have somebody with you.  It's for your protection.

"We'll that's silly.  Besides, there are people here more sick than I am."

That might be true but...you know the rules.

Ten minutes later, while I was visiting with the Amber, the social worker, Mom decided she needed to go to the bathroom...on her own.

Ginger wasn't funny any longer.  "June, you must call us if you are going to get up.  If you don't we're going to have to move you closer to the center of the area so we can watch you."

"I don't really want to move", said Mom.

"Well, then use your call button.  You do that and we've got a deal.  It's a deal, right June?"

"OK."

Ginger walked out and Mom says, "They don't mess around do they?"

And...so it goes.

Thank You All..

Mom is settling into the ebb and flo of living at Edgewater in their Skilled Nursing Facility, which by the way is beautiful. 

"I was fearing doing physical therapy", she said. "When I had that back trouble several years ago in Michigan they threw me around like a rag-doll. Here they are so careful."

Well, they are trained to work with older folks and understand that it takes a longer period of time to respond.

"True and I can tell I'm getting stronger each day."

I've been worried about potential memory loss but today:

"Say, I don't remember if I ever said thank you to Georgie for the beautiful way in which she painted that old table."

Oh, I think you thanked her.

"No, I'm not sure.  When you all where here for my birthday gathering there was so much going on that I'm sure I failed to say something."

A quick call to my Bride who said, "No, she didn't but tell her she did I don't want to make her worry."

Mom, Georgie said you did.

"Give me that phone!  Georgie, I am quite sure I did not properly thank you for painting this table and I want to make sure that I do so...thank you very much it is beautiful."

By the way...she is also very happy with the many cards and notes you've sent to her for her 93rd Birthday.  The card from President Obama and Rep. Tom Latham (R-IA) were also surprises.  She was amazed that she received cards from all over the country and well wishes from around the world on Facebook.  "Thank you all.  It was such a pleasant surprise and I am truly grateful."

And...so it goes.

A Second Birthday Party...

Mom had her "Official Birthday" on Sunday but, because she didn't have her hair done until Tuesday photos and video were "Verboten".  So we had a Second Birthday Party at Edgewater in one of the private three-season areas.  Thought you might like to see:

 

Thank you again for the many folks from around the country who sent Mom a card or wished her well on Facebook and Twitter.  That was really very nice and she was/is grateful.  

And...so it goes. 

Got A Card?

Today we moved Mom from Mercy West Lakes to Edgewater also in West Des Moines.  This is a photo of Scott from Wesley Wheels who was her driver.  She'll be there for several weeks doing rehab for compression fractures of her back.  As Ginger, the perky nurse who checked Mom in said, "We have a very disciplined physical therapy department and they will get to work on you starting tomorrow."

"That doesn't sound like it's so pleasant."

It's for your own good.  We need to be aggressive in helping you get stronger so you can get out of here.

Mom perked up at that, "Well, as long as they don't throw me around like a rag doll!"

For those of you who follow Mom & Me and want to do something fun...here's a little suggestion.

Mom turns 93 next week.  I share these posts with her and she gets a kick out of what people say on Facebook and Twitter.  You may not know her...but in a way...you do.

SO...if you want to send her a birthday card that would be so cool.  We'll share every one with her and she'll wonder where in the heck these all came from.  And, if you just want to write her...that's cool too.  Don't go to the expense of a card.  If you want to participate here is the address:

                        June Strong

                        8331 Colby Parkway, #119

                        Urbandale, Iowa  50322

No gifts just a simple card or note and let her know where you are from.  She will be amazed.

One more thing:  Before I left this evening she said, "I feel so much more relaxed here.  The hospital was nice but these people are so kind.  I hope they are paying them enough."

And...so it goes.

Waiting...

Today we are waiting go transfer Mom to Edgewater for skilled care and rehab.  We thought that was going to take place this morning but we've been pushed back a bit.

Mom is getting anxious

"Hurry up and wait!"

I know.  How are you feeling?

"They have been wonderful here at Mercy but in and out.  I've had people in and out of this room since six o'clock this morning.  Not sure what they are all doing but they have been busy."

But, how are you feeling?

"I'm getting tired of not being able to do what I want to do. This sitting around or laying around and waiting bugs me."

I understand

"And another thing.  They give me way too much food.  It's good but they keep on shoving stuff at me.  If this keeps up they'll need a winch to get me out of here!"

And...so it goes.

(Photo: Mom - Fall 2011 in her apartment.)