Grandma Jean

I went with Mom, Emily, and Hanna to visit Grandma Jean at Bethany Village. I got all choked up going into her little room. I told my mom, "It's so strange seeing Grandma's whole life condensed down to this room. All of her earthy possessions are in this room." I had to leave the room for a few minutes to get myself under control before going back into Grandma's room to visit. 

Grandma Jean is in good spirits.  

Her short term memory is pretty much gone, but her long term memory is great. 

 Anyway, I'm glad that I had my camera with me to distract me from being sad.  

I took some 4 generation pictures for Emily.  

Hanna's middle name is Jean after my Grandma Jean (and my mom's middle name is Jean.) 

When we were getting ready to leave, it was Grandma's lunch time.  

Mom convinced me to go and take pictures of the nurses 

in the kitchen and some group and individual shots of the residents eating their lunch.  

I went a few more times to visit Grandma.  Emily bought her some pretty orange carnations and I bought her some Mini Reese's Peanut Butter Cups.  (We're both big fans of chocolate and peanut butter.)  Ryan came with us that visit and had Grandma show us her album that her son, Karl made for her.  It was filled to the brim with black and white photos of Grandma Jean and Grandpa Jerry and their five children, and their ancestors.  I hated saying good-bye to my sweet Grandma Jean on Tuesday before I left for the airport.  I brought back one of her picture albums that I labeled for her.  I wrote her a note and put both things on her pillow since she wasn't in her room.  Then I asked a nurse where Jean was.  She told me she was in the basement playing shuffleboard.  So, I took the elevator down to the basement and helped Grandma out into the hallway.  We said in some chairs and I told her that I was leaving and should be back in a couple of years.  That just made her cry.  I told her that i just hated that I had to leave and that I would just love to stay.  Anyway, I told her that I brought her something and that it was up on her room.  We went up to the second floor.  Grandma used her walker to get to her room.  I helped her sit in her nice lazy boy chair and I showed her the album and made sure that she knew who I was and who my kids were.  A nurse came in to take Grandma's dinner order, and I knew it was time to say good-bye.  I gave Grandma a hug, a kiss on the cheek, and told her that I loved her.  She said, "Love you too.  Have a good life."  I said, "You too." and I waved and left the room.  I sure hope it's not the last time I see her.