We had a holiday dinner last week at our community center for about 25 of our neighbors and friends. It was really wonderful. We cooked the turkeys and everyone brought a dish and their own drinks. It is an array of retired people from all over the world. Men and women from 50 to 99 who love life and whose life experiences and stories cover and sooth me like a salve.
One of our friends is married to a woman who contracted polio one year before the Salk vaccine was developed. Her legs are like rubber bands and she uses lofstrand crutches to walk. She is one of the most intelligent, beautiful and independent humans I’ve known in my life. She was a registered nurse and raised three children after she was crippled with polio. She swims with us at night and hasn’t been to the pool much since the weather has turned cooler here in Florida.
When they arrived at the dinner, I was greeting people at the door and her husband came and gave me a hug and introduced me to his wife like we’d never met before. She smiled and her entire face lit-up as she looked into my eyes, said hello and told me about the dessert she brought. I looked at her husband and he gave me a knowing look and I knew she had no idea who I was. Her husband told me a few months ago that her memory was failing and he laughed about a few “old people” moments she had experienced lately.
It was obvious in just a few minutes of showing them to their seats and getting them settled in and starting them talking to other guests that she has full blown dementia. It breaks my heart to think how strong she has been for her 77 years and how she has never allowed any physical challenges to stand in her way and to watch her ask four times in five minutes if she’d brought her famous Texas sheet cake.
I cried that night in the bathroom at the dinner. When I came back into the room, I looked and there she sat smiling from ear-to-ear, laughing at something someone had said. I hope she’s had a good life. I know she’s made mine better in just the few months I’ve known her.
@lillycoyote, what part of Florida and is he still going to do hair?