Delightful Surprise

On Sunday, we decided to make an impromptu trip to visit my sweet Grandma Elaine. So impromptu in fact, that I didn't bring my camera or my iphone, so the only photo we have is this one from Kevin's blackberry. It had been a few weeks since we had been down to visit. She was playing Bingo when we arrived and exclaimed, "What a delightful surprise!" Of course, it would have been a surprise to her if we would have planned this visit weeks ago and called her before we left the house for my dear, sweet grandmother struggles with dementia. She lives in a facility that specializes in memory care but her decline has continued to be significant within the past few years.

Naturally, Grandma's change has been hard on my whole family. My grandma and I became very close my first few years of college as she is wonderful confidante, provides great advice, laughs a lot and shares in my love of sweets. With all that has changed, visits with her always make me emotional. I know, logically, that the day will come when she will forget who I am in addition to forgetting all of the special memories we share, but my heart can never be prepared.

Right now, some days are better than others for Grandma Elaine and luckily we hit a good day this visit. Grandma needed lots of reminders about the girls names and ages, but enjoyed them both the same. She especially seemed to LOVE snuggling with Janie. For over an hour they just made faces and giggled with one another and it felt so good to see my grandma in her youthful, silly and radiantly happy form. In these moments she is the closest to the way I will choose to remember my grandmother. She has the best laugh, the funniest expressions & sayings, and of course, the most loving heart. Spending time with the girls seems to be a little window to all that specialness - my delightful surprise!

Clara's surprise was a little less delightful. Apparently, another resident at the facility believed Clara to be someone she knew named "Caitlin." The first time she came up to her in Kevin's lap, said "Oh, Caitlin" and kissed her cheek, but the next time she went right for her lips. Kevin stopped it and explained that Clara was not this Caitlin, but after a few more minutes, of course, she was back... toothless grin and all. Hopefully Clara will forget all about this before our next visit.

One last tidbit to share: At a point when Clara and Kevin were playing across the room from us, and had been there for a while so I wasn't sure whether Grandma was aware of who she was, she pointed at Clara and said, "Erin, she looks a lot like you when you were little." And then she gave me the best smile. Saying my name, remembering that Clara was my child, having a memory of me as a child and providing me with this nice compliment just made my day!