Kindnesss at any age

 

I learned something this week that can be   useful to we stroke survivors – never underestimate the kindness of strangers.  Bob and I went to Best Buy to purchase a portable docking station so I can listen to music all over the house and outside while swimming. While there I had to go to the bathroom and the door was fairly heavy could push it open but not hold it open.  A young boy was standing right by the door and I asked him if he could hold the door open for me.  He did.  He was really handsome and about 7 years old.  When I exited the same boy wasstill  there waiting for me.  His mother said: 
“he wanted to wait.” He instinctively knew I would need help again and waited for me.  I was overwhelmed at his kindness at such a young age and exclaimed to him and his mother.  At times I don’t want the help but when it comes I am always glad to accept it.      

 

Las Vegas Part 2

5 of the 6 sisters met in Vegas two weeks ago. Counting our parents and our only brother, we are 9 and rarely are all together.  We chose Vegas because my sister, Susie, has a home that could accommodate all of us together in one place. She and her husband are recently retired and both kids are gone.  So before they decide to downsize we thought it best to try and trash her place, plus it was Bobbys idea.

Susie arranged all the airport transportation and orchestrated the agenda for the entire stay beautifully.  Upon arrival we sat by her pool, had a Cinco de Mayo buffet the first night we went to my sister, Rebecca’s daughter’s house for dinner.

It was Ashleys first dinner party as an adult and first in her new home.  She was a little nervous so she called in reinforcements from her cousin, Alexa who flew down from Colorado for the weekend.  The 5 of us can be overwhelming to say the least. The dinner was wonderful and the after dinner plan was to gamble at the nearby casino.  However some of us were on Eastern Time zones so we were too tired and we were concerned about crowds due to Cinco de Mayo.  We went home and crashed.  Sunday morning we woke up to a  champagne brunch a la TJ, my brother-in-law. 

We were served waffles, fresh fruit, an egg/mushroom casserole, and bacon. we had every long leisurely breakfast.  Afterwards we went on a record-breaking 5 mile walking tour of the strip we borrowed a wheelchair from one of the casinos.  I wanted to alternate walk/ride but could not get permission from the troops because of the crowds. Along the tour we stopped and gambled, visited the Chihuly museum  and The Cosmopolitan hotel has the world’s largest chandelier(see below). Every trip has to have some drama.  For us it was thewheelchair on the people mover.  We were supposed to end our tour at my favorite mall - the Fashion Show for some Vegas bling but everyone was so tired we decided to go the the restaurant early and have a beer. Why were we tired? The people mover! Turns out it had a downhill component. We never saw it coming. Four women  standing, one in a wheelchair and all hanging on for dear life!

The next day was free flowing and several of us exercised at Susie's health club and then to the strip again for some more gambling for Mary. On Monday night, Susie arranged for front row seats at a show called “Legends in Concert. The legends featured Elvis, Lady Gaga, Celine Dion and Michael Jackson.   we said our goodbyes Monday night and Susie and I flew back to Texas with Mary on Tuesday but not before Mary got one last gambling fix.  See above for major glee.   Im just glad we capped her spending.

Life sure doesn't end with a stroke.

Vegas Part 1- A sister tribute

Five of the six sisters met in Las Vegas last weekend.  At the end of 2011, my baby sister, Theresa, suggested we all get together in2012; unfortunately she couldn’t make it.  This is part one of three blogs that cover our trip from May 5^th – May 8^th.  Our oldest sister Mary is the subject of the first blog.  She is 60, blind, and developmentally challenged.  My sister Marty flew from Bethesda to Houston to pick her up and fly to Las Vegas.  While in Vegas I have never witnessed such kindness as I did from my other three sisters in making Mary feel completely comfortable with her new surroundings.  It started with Susie giving Mary the tour of her home so if Mary was by herself she would know exactly how to get to her room, the kitchen, etc. You only have to show her once and it is embedded in her memory.   The first night we went to our niece’s house for dinner and she was immediately given a similar tour in yet another new surrounding.  All I can say is she is a quick study.  The first full day in Las Vegas we did a casino tour that entailed walking four miles to get from one part of the strip to our dinner destination.  Along the way we stopped and gambled twice Mary brought her own hard-earned money to bet the slot machines.  We would set her up in a chair where she could easily access the slot to input the money. The machine’s money slot was neon blue and fairly easy for her to see.  At first we had to tell her exactly when to either push the button to spin the wheel or crank the lever.  (The machines had both options).  After about 20 minutes, Mary was no longer waiting for us to tell her when to bet. At Harrah’s Casino she sat down, input down one dollar, placed a bet, and won $33 in about a minute. At the airport going home, she played the slots and was up to $80. I can’t help wondering if we didn’t have to catch our flight home, if she would still be winning at that machine. By the way, of the five of us, Mary is the only one who won anything.   

My major observation was experiencing such pride in my sisters and the care and tenderness they showed over the weekend taking care of Mary. It was like they became her eyes.  The second revelation was just observing Mary’s independence and there is no limit to what she can learn and do.  Related this to my own experience after a stroke--I also have no limits.