The Professor went off to the hospital more than a month ago, and then to a rehab center.
He was my first friend here at The Manor and sat at the same table at lunch and dinner. I really missed him while he was gone.
Then yesterday, out of the blue, The Professor returned. He arrived at lunch time, so we could see his van pull up outside the dining room windows, and another resident and I rushed out to greet him outside the front door.
He wheeled himself into the dining room and did a circle of "our" end of the room, collecting kisses, handshakes, and pats on the back. He was obviously happy to be home, and I was delighted to have him here. I think I've mentioned before that he tells stories of all types and sings snatches of of old ballads at the table.
He was so happy to be home that I missed the underlying fragility at first, but it is there. He hasn't been coming down for every meal, so I suspect he is having trays in his room part of the time.
Manor Trivia
I don't want to imply that The Professor's return was trivia, it was not, but some of these other things are just small bits of news about life in assisted living.
On Sunday, the Manor put on a lemonade sale out front, and also a plant sale --mostly or all tomato plants. When I woke up, it was raining, so I figured these events were canceled, but they put up tarps and carried on.
I bought a yellow cherry tomato, which is on the ledge outside my room. I also have two pots of strawberries with both flowers and small green fruits. These I dug up from my garden at the house. (Still no formal foreclosure notice on the door there.)
If we get some heat, I'll be able to pick tomatoes and strawberries just by opening the window.
Lilacs
Last week, one of our residents (I don't know who) went off for a walk around the neighborhood and came back with a huge bouquet of white lilacs, picked from someone's yard. She left these at the front desk to be put in a vase.
I don't know about you, but I found this sad.
Very Trivial, and Not So Trivial
I have an appointment to get my hair cut this afternoon--that's the highlight of my day. (Negativity alert.)
Actually, that's not the highlight, I received an e-mail this morning from the volunteer coordinator at the women's shelter I mentioned the other day, and they have accepted me as a volunteer.
So I'm busy making notes to help me outline the writing class I offered to teach. I think the shelter wants to see a draft proposal of some kind, so I'm doing that first. I may be asking for input, especially from those of you who don't consider yourselves writers.
Read more: Assisted Living
© Jeanne Sather 2012.