Browjan's Blog: The Long Good-Bye

Strawberry Shortcake for Breakfast!

Grandma Jan had a really good time today.

Due to illness, I hadn’t been able to see her for a week.  Our last visit was a bit depressing. All language seemed to be gone. An occasional yes or no was all she could muster. So it came as  a nice surprise and blessing  today when she was able to string several words together and even make a bit of sense.

We decided to take her to Cracker Barrel because she likes the pecan pancakes. She was very excited as we left the “Seasons” area of the retirement home.

“Don’t make the thing there,” she warned us as we approached the password protected exit. Obviously, she’s tried that  a few times on her own and set off the alarm.

“Wow, Grandma said a whole sentence,” remarked my husband Mike not in sarcasm but in disbelief and joy. It is amazing the things you take for granted–like communication– and really appreciate if you happen to get them back even if for a short time.

For Grandma, leaving the “Seasons” ward and venturing out into the regular area of the retirement home was a treat in itself.

“It’s so beauty,” she said stopping to look at the picture on the wall. It was a pretty painting of  a garden scene that I hadn’t ever bothered to notice before. “It’s just very”, she exclaimed.

Pointing out the window, she remarked, “And they did that!”

“That” was a nice garden area that Lowe’s Home Improvement had recently donated to the retirement home.They did a great job, but I hurried past it on the way in and hadn’t stopped to notice. Now, we lingered and noticed the new bird feeder and bright white rattan furniture. The whole garden was ablaze with pink and blue perennials. It was spectacular to see.

Eventually, we made it out to the car, but at a Grandma Jan pace and in Grandma Jan time. The wonderful thing about losing your sense of time and space is you never have to hurry or worry about being late. You just go one step at a time.

On the drive over to Cracker Barrel, Grandma Jan sat contentedly in the back seat. Road construction slowed our pace, but she didn’t mind a bit. Workers halted traffic as giant yellow CAT tractor  leveled the dirt for a new freeway on-ramp.

“I’ll do it one day,” Grandma said, “But it will cost you a hundred bucks.”

A sudden image of Grandma donning construction hat and climbing on board the gigantic earth mover for a hundred dollars made us all laugh.

Eventually, we got there. Mike dropped us off in front of the restaurant, which sounds fast and easy, but we are on Grandma Jan time. Getting out of the car is a painstakingly long process. After undoing her seat belt, you have to get her to move her legs so that her feet come out the door. Grandma doesn’t want to move her legs.

“Come on, Grandma, let’s move your legs so we can get out of the car,” I pulled gently on her feet.

“Ohhhhhhhh, no. No. He isn’t there yet,” she exclaimed digging her heels into the back of the seat.

“That’s OK, he’s going to park the car, we need to get out so we can go in and have pecan pancakes. But first you need to move your legs out.”

“No, I think that is over there,” she replied rolling her legs further in to the car.

Eventually, with a lot of prodding and pulling and impatient “Come on, Mom’s!” from my husband, we manage to pry Grandma from the car.

“Oh the beauty, the flavor!” she exclaimed heading for the main entrance.

If you have ever been to Cracker Barrel, you will understand this next part. The part where you get Grandma from the front door through all the rows of bird things and flower things and CD’s of Dolly Parton and Montgomery Gentry to the place where you actually eat. We would have made it all the way if it hadn’t been for the battery operated hamster in a wheel. Grandma stopped.

“What the manner is he?” she exclaimed in delight.

The Cracker Barrel lady was happy to tell Grandma all about it, and so we all stopped and admired the rotating rodent together. Then, when Grandma was ready, we moved on.

Our table was near the entrance to the seating area, so that was a blessing. We situated Grandma on the inside with me on the outside so I can help her with her food. We were certain she would want the pecan pancakes, so no menu was necessary. But then Grandma spied the table advertisement card for strawberry shortcake.

“Oh, oh, that!” she said grabbing the card.

“Don’t you want pecan pancakes, Mom?” asked Mike. “You always get the pancakes.”

“Well this is.” she said emphatically pointing to the picture. “This IS!”

And so it was. Mom had strawberry shortcake with vanilla ice cream and lots of whip cream, and she ate every bite as I spoon fed it to her. Once, I started to feed her a bite without any shortcake and she stopped me.

“Need that,” she said pointing to the cake.

It made me happy to oblige her. Grandma Jan was having a really good time.  And, nothing was going to stop it!

Not even when we headed past the rotating hamster, the singing rabbit and the display of china cups and on out to the parking lot where suddenly the string came undone on her lavender pants causing them to fall down around her ankles. Grandma stopped. She didn’t mind one bit who saw her.

“That just is,” she remarked wisely.

And that really is how it is when Grandma Jan is having a really good time.

He has made everything beautiful in its time. Ecclesiastes 3:11