And that is why my dad is living with me.
So he can take my arm instead of using a cane as we walk into his favorite restaurant.
So we can have time to sit on the porch rockers and just talk about what’s growing and what needs to be planted.
So he doesn’t have to worry about doing errands that I can take care of early in the AM while he sleeps in.
There isn’t a day that the counting of blessings isn’t multiplied because of the time we are able to spend together.
If all were so blessed.
In this sewer that is our culture, it is still possible to pick our moments and to connect with a better reality.
Yesterday I encountered my elderly neighbor who was very excited. She had found a little bird who had fallen from its nest and she picked it up. The little bird’s parents immediately appeared and flew about her in anxiety until they saw that she had returned the little creature to the nest.
It had made my neighbor’s day, and mine too.
Many elderly people don’t get out much, so any outing, even to the store, is a social event.
I have learned that impatient people (me) need to avoid getting behind an elderly person at the checkout.
If you bank online, there is little need to ever see a teller.
Great title. Great song.
We all have things to do.
Mr. Adams was probably correct in his assessment of the situation, but sometimes old people just like to gab.
It’s what they do.
Me? - I bank online...saves a lot of time.
Reminds me of the young man in line waving to the teller.
This may sound dumb; but my dogs were allowed to visit the old lady next door to sit on her porch while she gently stroked them and cooed to them. She died not long after. Her daughter told me the dogs visit was the best therapy for her and her days brightened as I brought them around. Of course, the dogs were happy too.
One day, the newspaper wasn't on her porch, and as she leaned down to retrieve it, she began falling, almost as if in slow motion. By this time, I was eight months pregnant, and lived catty-corner across the street, and began yelling for my dad. I slowed her fall, but even so, her son was "distressed" enough to put her in a nursing home. We pleaded with him, and promised to keep an eye on her, but he wouldn't budge.
On the day she went to the nursing home, she cried, and called out my name and said, "Please, don't let the take me." I felt so guilty and worthless. Her son and his wife showed no emotion. Every time we would visit, she would cry, and ask us to take her home. She died at the age of 101, never coming to terms with her environment. This haunts me to this day, as well as my family who loved her so much.
Her son died before she did, but she never knew, and never talked about him. Her funeral was paid for by the state, and the only people there were my family and a couple folks from the old neighborhood. She was such a good woman, only to be rejected because she 'lived too long'.
An elderly woman was slowly ordering a meal, asking many questions of the very patient young women working the counter
Then when she gave her money and got her change, she insisted she had given the clerk a $20, when the clerk knew
it was a $10 but had already put it in the cash drawer.
When the clerk's patient response did not ease the old woman's insistence, she gave her change for a $20 and said “Don't worry about it, honey” - then looked at me and smiled
In these contentious social times, the race of the old woman and all the KFC store clerks were quite different
but all the KFC staffers showed deference patience and good humor with the old woman
and then there was impatient me standing behind her in line looking at my watch
Even as I left I wished I had just paid for her meal, now I really do!
If an elderly person stops the line to have a several minute conversation with the cashier, I'm sorry, but that is not OK. Its rude and has nothing to do with age. And I know a number of "elderly" people in their 70s and 80s who think the same way. They don't go to the supermarket on "senior day" because of it. People in their 70s and 80s are not doddering old fools who have to be coddled and allowed to do what they want -- we can have sympathy for someone who takes more time to pay or who has a question about a product, but not someone who wants to hold up a line to have a conversation because the cashier reminds them of their grandson.
My Dad when he fully retired would make an adventure out of going to walmart, he would check every aisle. He would say how busy he was. I noticed that what should take a few minutes he will make it an all day project to give him something to do.
So I have projects going on, and do not go to the store for the “adventure” of it. When I start doing that I will have to reassess my life.
And then there is the person in line in front of you at the store that after the cashier has rung up everything, the person then starts to look for the payment method usually digging through their purse (but I have seen guys do something like this also).
Tears in my eyes...
I witnessed a bit of a twist on the story once. In the express line at the grocery store an elderly woman was trying to check out. As she fumbled with her purse it became clear that she didn’t really have all her mental faculties and also didn’t even have enough cash or other method to pay. Perhaps she’d forgotten her money. As the line lengthened some in line started craning their necks to see what the hold up was. (normal behavior)
The CASHIER (a young woman) allowed herself to get flustered and became short with the poor woman and started chiding her for not having enough money, not being prepared etc. This just caused the poor old soul to become even more flustered.
A young man in line behind the elderly woman quietly hushed the cashier and paid for the woman’s groceries out of his own pocket. It was one of the most generous, kindest gestures I’ve ever seen. And I’m always glad that I didn’t get exasperated at all.
It's hard to know. It's just possible that the woman has plenty of people she speaks to regularly. Perhaps she's the overly chatty type. Also, it could be she is not a bit lonely but prefers being out and about by herself. Her infirmity is no doubt a challenge for her, but all have challenges and she may be glad that she can still meet the challenge of doing things on her own.
Mind you, I am not someone who would want to be heartless toward one who is truly in need. It's just that it's impossible to know a strangers' situation. Often it's far from what it appears on the surface.