Never underestimate the amount of fun you can have on an outing with some "seniors". Bundles two elderly lady friends into the car and off to town to the hairdresser and grocery shopping as their usual chauffeurs are on holiday. Left one in the capable hands of the hairdresser who we knew would be kind enough to help Dora across the bust street after her appointment, as her eyesight is very poor. From there, she can make it the block and a half to go and visit her husband in the nursing home. Meanwhile I head further on into town with Thelma, who once you get there, takes off on her errands with no assistance, a pretty sprightly 91 year old.
We chat at great length over lunch, have a laugh, go back to pick up Dora, and decide to do it again next week, much to their delight. The five hour round trip which took me away from the mundane routine of paper shuffling and computer gazing, was I think more rewarding for me than it was for them.
Elderly people can be so easily overlooked. They fade into the background, too often relegated to "past their use by date". But go out of your way to spend time with them and I guarantee you will be enriched by the encounter. They are guardians of a wealth of history and experience, they are gracious and so appreciative of the smallest courtesies afforded them. Wouldn't hurt us to take a leaf out of their book
No comments:
Post a Comment