Another Chocolate Shake

Just returned from a ride with mom. First stop was Checkers (again) to get her a chocolate milk shake. She was most appreciative and said it was the best thing she has ever had. Although I made sure she had been toileted before we left her place, shortly into our ride she said she had to go. That meant the ride would be over and we had barely started. I asked her if she could wait a little bit and she agreed. I decided to do some of my errands while giving her a view of the outside world. She must have forgotten about the bathroom as it was never mentioned again. She sat in the car while I popped into various places. Got the tee time for Wednesday, went to the bank and post office. Then I remembered the old Mitch Miller tape we had in the car and turned it on. She immediately began singing all of the old-time songs with gusto...even leading the band with her arms. She was so happy and surprised that we suddenly had this music. "Where did it come from?" After telling her it was a tape I put in just for her to enjoy, she said it must be her birthday present. She was having such a good time I just drove around and around the nearby back roads and empty parking lots, both of us singing at the top of our lungs. I didn't want to get too far away from her residence in case she remembered that she had to go.

Mom kept trying to explain something to me and I did my usual guessing, almost always wrong. She kept talking about "she". "Does she ever see all of this? Does she come here?" I finally guessed right that "she" was my sister. Mom said, "I'll bet you know her real well and like her." After reassuring her that indeed I did, she remarked in an unusual moment of clarity, "I think I got gypped. No sister or brother for me and that was a mistake."

The caregiver suggested I return her near 4:00 in time for her medicines. That is a busy, busy time though and nobody let us in for about 15 more minutes. So, we sat in the car and sang some more until the aid came and got her out of the car. She went off happily, still humming one of the tunes and said it was the most wonderful time. Who knows what we will get tomorrow? At least today was a good one and for that I'm grateful.