A HUG A DAY-read

Today I realized just how wonderful it is to initiate a hug!

I went to visit my mother and it was one of her better days. She felt good and was coherent……….her memory is still bad but at least she was in a good mood. So I took her out for a walk and then we went for a drive. We went to a bakery and bought some honey cake, cheese bagels and a challah for Friday night. I left the honey cake at the foster home. I figured it would be a treat for the tenants…..different from the dry cookies they give them.

Then I took my mother home. When we got there I had her sit at a table. I went to make her a cup of tea. Another women went over to her and told her not to sit in her chair. Well I went over and told her that it wasn’t nice—-that my mother was only sitting there for awhile. Anyhow my mother and I sat down at another table.

The other woman started to talk to me. Apparently she is having trouble sleeping because someone in the next room is snoring so she can’t sleep. She said that she was very nervous. I spoke to her for awhile and before I left I asked her if I could give her a hug. She accepted and we shared a wonderful hug. I teased her and said that would be $1. When I asked her if she wanted another one she was thrilled. I told her that I expect 2 US dollars.

It takes so little to make an elderly person happy. So often they are alone or left with nothing to do but sit and wait. The homes provide activities but for about two hours a day. It is a very long day for them! I feel so bad for my mother so have hired someone to go in four times a week. So at least she has company every day.