This time we were off to visit GumGum, my 88 year old grandmother. GumGum has recently moved from her long time residence in a small unit of a retirement complex and into a small room of a full time care rest home. She's not really enjoying the change of lifestyle. When we piled into her little room she was glad to see us, and the 5 of us sprawled out over the floor, on her bed, and in her wheelchair for a nice long visit.
The girls had drawn pictures for GumGum, which she spent the time to focus on, pointing out all the details. She loved Kate's letter she had written for her and read it aloud, commenting throughout. She admired Luke's Spider-man toy and flipped through his new colouring book, encouraging him to add his stickers.
And GumGum found the loom band craze fascinating: "well I never, how clever...and that's just those little rubber bands?!". She watched jaimee whip a bracelet up for her and wore it with great pride, so jaimee made her a fancier one on the loom. "Gosh that looks fiddly" GumGum told her as she watched with interest. "Oh good, and I won't have to take them off to shower will I?!" She giggled. 
But underneath all the photo sharing and newsy updates we came with, I felt a bit sad for GumGum. She shared that her last friend had died, and she was lonely. She didn't know anyone in the home, and "what was the point in getting up and dressed". She felt tired all the time, couldn't keep up with what I was saying, didn't feel like eating and couldn't move anywhere alone anymore. GumGum was smiling for our photo, but she said she "didn't feel like that inside."
"Oh GumGum, we all do love you"I told her with a hug and a smile and hoped she could see this during our long visit. It's not a cheap visit with petrol prices, and it's not easy to find a Saturday all 5 of us are free, but i dearly wish I could see you more. I'm so thankful GumGum has 3 loving generations right in masterton who do give her such great love and time. I CAN write more though, and will. Maybe a cheerful letter will put a smile inside you and remind you that your Hastings family love you too.
On the way home, we picked up grandma from aunty Cheryl's in Palmerston North, staying for a yummy roast dinner and a catch up with martys sister. Cousins united, with giggles and cuddles and a lot of fun! What a great end to a special family day.
Beautiful blog Nix. You're spot on, GG is tired and pretty over it I think. Yes she does have 3 generations of people to visit her - but most of them rarely do. It used to make me sad to see her all alone in her unit, but it's even worse now she isn't mobile.
ReplyDeleteIt's so lovely that you visited it, it would've made her week. Not the easiest visit to make I'm terms of cost and organisation, but for GG it's priceless.
er, she's just turned 88...!
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