Although most of what my mother says is at best confusing she has occasionally said something that made me laugh despite myself. The one that sticks out was her request to "make sure we save the pee in the containers on the porch because the Morons are coming by later to get it." I still smile a little every time I think about it.
The next day, she asked me, in a stern voice, if I’d done background checks on him. When I asked her why, she said they had announced over the tannoy (which doesn’t exist), that he was apprearing in court on Tuesday because he’d been caught tying two women to his bed.
I have no idea where that came from.
Thaks all for sharing. Kind of made my day.
The food at my mother’s nursing home was usually very good, but what with having to deal with a number of residents who had to be assisted as they dined, the SERVICE of + or - 45 meals could sometimes become a little problematic.
I typically would arrive at least 1/2 an hour before dinner was served, and help distribute aprons or other little chores to help out the hard working CNAs.
By the time this event occurred, I knew almost every resident in the dining room, and if someone needed packets of artificial sweetener or extra napkins or spoons to self feed rather than forks, I knew it.
This particular evening found dinner time partly staffed with fill-in CNAs, and most of the more experienced staff was at the tables helping patients.
Typically, the aides would pick up the individually prepared trays from a serving bar, and hand carry them to individual diners, then check a slip on the tray to be sure that the foods to be served matched the “code” that indicated each patient’s dietary needs.
As the trays were being distributed, one of the aides noticed that there was a mismatch on Mr. Sims’ tray. Since she was all the way across the room from the serving bar, she stood up and waved her hand towards the serving staff, and called. “Mr. Sims got ‘coarse chopped’. He should have purée.”
Although the serving staff could SEE the table aide, they couldn’t hear her. A server cupped his hand behind his ear, and she repeated “purée”.
Serving aide still didn’t know what table aide was saying.
Table aide stood up and called loudly “PURÉE. Mr Sims NEEDS PUREÉ!!!
Suddenly the whole room seemed to drop their eating utensils and react to this unexpected addition to their dinner entertainment.
A strong clear voice rose from the other side of the room...
“HOORAY”, called a strong, authoritarian female voice from diagonally across from Mother’s table, and as I looked in that direction, I realized in amazement that it had come from Mrs. Sturdevandt, who as long as I’d been coming to the NH, had never uttered a sound.
Almost simultaneously Mr. Brundage, a small man beset by terrible arthritis, somehow pulled himself to attention and yelled “Parade!”
The hapless table aide, still attempting to perform the assignment she’d been given, continued to wave at the dietary aide and yell “Purée, PURÉE, P-U-R-É-E!!!
The assembled throng went wild, some yelling “hooray”, some calling “parade”, the tumult growing louder and louder until one of the more abled wheelchair residents pulled himself away from his table and encouraged his fellow residents to join him in the parade.
Although only a few were independently abled, some did, and the parade had at least 3 or 4 participants until calm was restored.
The onlookers cheered the parade volunteers on. The incident was over almost as quickly as it had started, residents returned to their places, puréed food delivered. I noticed a few rosier cheeks, a few more twinkling eyes, a little more attention to surroundings.
After over ten years, the memories of the Purée Parade linger fondly.
I loved the Parade story the best - I can just picture this in my mind!! So far I don't have anything particularly funny to add, but the timing of this thread was great. We finally, after a year and a half plus got mom's condo ready for sale. Since it was the only 55+ on the market, it was VERY popular for showings and open houses - we got offers MORE than asking price within days, despite realtor telling us August is a slow month (sure, for regular housing, people are on vacation, getting kids ready for school and/or college, etc, but this would be retired or soon to be retired people!)
All that was great, however getting from the offer to finally the P&S was a joke - I had to keep correcting THEIR mistakes (one would have resulted in the realtor losing a portion of his %age!!!) The first few things to do were not so bad, but this week - dealing with all the crap sucked up my entire week!
Anyway, thanks for the chuckles everyone! I needed that!
There are still some connections there, they just need more time to happen! As it progresses, that will become more difficult. Our mother doesn't say much about dad (she keeps pictures around), but has recently become focused on her mother. Mom hit 95 last month, and her mother has been gone about 40 years! So far we have gotten away with excuses ('too late to go now, too far as well, maybe tomorrow'), or changing the subject... The next excuses in line that will be used is she is on vacation with Canadian relatives (summer) or gone to FL (winter.) We'll visit when she gets back... We'll see what she says... maybe it will be something worth posting here!
hahahahaha!!!
Me: *blank stare
My dad: “The only reason I don’t have it is because I didn’t take the driving test”
Me: *blank stare, blink
My dad: “yea, forget I just said that”
Waking her up:
Me: Mom it’s time to get up for lunch.
Mom: Are you my Mom?
Me: No, you’re my Mom.
Mom repeating: So, you’re my Mom.
Me: No, you’re MY Mom.
Mom: So, you're MY Mom.
Me, changing tactic: I’m your daughter.
Mom (figures it out): Oh Jeannie, I don’t know if I’m on foot or horseback.
At lunch:
Me: I eat really fast.
Mom: I eat halfassed.
Mom: Where is Uncle Archie? (Her brother who passed away 50 years ago)
Me: Uncle Archie isn’t with us any longer, but his picture is right here on your wall over your bed, so he can watch out for you and make sure you’re being good.
Mom: Like Santa?
Me: You’re doing really great Mom!
Mom: Then you’re easily impressed.
At restaurant, she would repeatedly ask if we ordered yet. Yes mom, would you like some bread? Oh I don't like bread. Did we order yet? Yes mom, would you like some bread? Oh I don't eat bread. Did we order yet? Yes mom, do you want a piece of bread? Well, no, there isn't any left!
We asked for more... and she ate a slice... Whaaaa?
I still like the "electric chair for MIL" the best...
When I was a child visiting grandma she frequently asked me to “fetch” something “over yonder” - waving her arm in a vague direction.
I got “fetch” but I never could figure out where the h3ll “yonder” was.
“So, my sister is stuck on the roof.”