THE BEST PART OF WAKIN' UP

I was about ten years old when I tasted coffee for the first time. My grandma was drinking it. I looked at the steaming black liquid in her cup. I had to admit that the coffee did not look very good, but if my grandma liked coffee it must taste good. 

"Can I have a cup of coffee?" I asked her. She poured a little coffee in a cup for me. It was hot. I carefully picked up the cup. I took a sip. 'Yuck," I exclaimed. "This tastes like coffee grounds."  My grandma kept a jar of those hard coffee candies on the coffee table in her living room. I liked the candy, I thought that was what coffee tasted like. Boy, was I wrong!

When I started college I'd eat my breakfast in the cafeteria. My breakfast consisted of an omelet and a cup of. hot chocolate. I learned quickly that if I wanted to fit in I had to start drinking coffee. I did, with cream. (I drink it black with sweetener now.) I have enjoyed drinking coffee ever since. I had different coffee mugs. My favorite mug was my 50th anniversary Barbie commemorative mug. I drank my coffee out of that mug from the day I got it until the day I left my house.  That mug was one of the last things my mom gave me.

Starbucks...I have no words. Their Cafe Mocha Latte and Iced Carmel Frappuccino are two of my favorites. During the holidays; I have one of their Peppermint Mochas. Starbucks had a blueberry scone that was delicious. There was nothing better than a coffee and blueberry scone from Starbucks. I used to get that often when I lived in my house. Lucky for me there was a Starbucks close by. I love the Starbucks coffee in the glass bottles too. Whenever I am given a gift card from Target those coffees are the first thing that I purchase.

Almost everyone at the nursing home drank coffee. I was in good company. When I. moved to the group home, however, I was told my housemates did not drink coffee. How was I going to survive?  I went without coffee for two days until a friend came to my rescue. She brought me a large cup of coffee. Those were the hardest two days of my life. Something was definitely missing in my life without coffee. 

I have a coffee maker now.  You can all breathe a sigh of relief. All is right in my world.

Happy National Coffee Day.

SHE'S THE REAL DEAL

One of my social workers when I was a resident at NHC, was Nancy. I have written about Nancy before. I wrote a post titled The Gift of Friendship.http://confessionsofadisableddiva.blogspot.com/2018/04/the-gift-of-friendship.html  It's a post about my four BFF's at NHC. If you have not read it hope you will. If you have, I encourage you to read it again,. It is one of my best.

In my original post, I wrote that Nancy believed in me, she encouraged and she fought for me.  Nancy encouraged, believed in, and fought for all of her residents. If she saw that a resident needed something she did her best to get it for them. She cared. Some would say too much. That may be true, but. many who work in nursing homes don't care enough. Long-Term Care needs more people Nancy.  She knew that being in a nursing home was not fun. No one asked to be there. Nancy went the extra mile. Many times doing things on her time off just to make a resident happy. It was a sad day when Nancy left NHC.

Here's the really cool thing. Even though Nancy no longer works at NHC she visits the facility regularly to see how the residents are doing. And she has not forgotten former residents like me, who have moved to other places/ She visits us too. She visited me today. It was good to see her and talk to her. She is still listening to me and encouraging me. Some things  have not changed. I hope they never do.

Thanks, Nancy. See you again soon.

HAPPY HOUR

"What are you doing here? I thought you left." I am asked that question every Friday. Every Friday I return to NHC. I asked to volunteer at NHC one day a week. The activities director told me that my job is to participate in Happy Hour each week.  My job is to have a good time.

I had no idea that I would miss living at NHC as much as I do. I even miss my physician and my therapist. I didn't know that  I would be missed by the staff. I . fought so hard to get out of the nursing home. Now, I look forward to Friday afternoons all week. I know that some of you reading this are shaking your heads in disbelief. Six months ago I would have been shaking my head too.

I began doing research for the Activities Department. I choose the cocktail that is featured all month during Happy Hour. I may not live there anymore, but I still do the research and email suggestions. My recent suggestion, a Mexican Sea Breeze, was a hit.

Each Friday offers different entertainment. My favorite Fridays are when there is a DJ. I also enjoyed the staff talent show and staff karaoke. Sterling is a frequent entertainer. He plays and sings everything from. Lionel  Richie to Frank Sinatra..Sterling gets everyone moving. The staff and residents have a good time.

When I began exploring the transition process I was told that they try to match housemates on the basis of their interests. The only thing that my housemates and I have in common is that we share the same disability. We each do our own thing. They attend day programs.  I am either writing, on Social Media,. listening to music or practicing Spanish.

There is a difference between enjoying being alone and being lonely. This is a lonely place. The staff here encourages me to go out. I am not going to go out just for the sake of going out. I need a reason. I am paying off my dental bill. I won't have any extra money for a couple of months.

Maybe I won't be happy anywhere. Maybe there is no place that's right for me. In some ways living in a group home is similar to living in a facility. The main difference is that I can go out if the van is not being used by my housemates. It's short-staffed here too.  I have been reprimanded by aides young enough to be my granddaughter. I want to thank Dawn and Ebony. They are awesome aides who get it.  Thank you for the care and compassion you've shown me. This morning my young aide told me that I needed to speak louder and clearer. I have written in previous posts on how thankful I am to be able to speak as well as I do.

I have my own room,/bathroom,  I don't wait long for assistance.and  sitting outside on the patio is nice. I should be happy. Everyone here tells me to make new friends. I am shy.  It is not that easy. Everyone needs .to feel connected. Everyone needs to feel like they belong. Happy Hour is the one time during the week that I do.

Cheers!!






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