As promised, I am not moving backwards, no more nattering on about my back condition or anything remotely related to the spinal column. Today it’s all about Francine and how our 94 year-old spent the summer.
How Our 94 Year-Old Spent The Summer
She’s had her ups and downs, truth be told. A few months ago, just days after moving into her new flat, she scraped her shin up pretty badly. I was there and can attest to the fact that 94 year-old skin is like crepe paper. I’ll spare you the gruesome details, but a minor brush against a truck’s runner board that would leave you and I with perhaps a slight graze, had HUGE consequences for our gal. A quick trip to the local Emerge saw her all glued back together. The lovely doctor treated her with just the right amount of humor and respect. He explained that sutures would NOT be efficient and that the skin would be better served by the use of surgical glue. Who knew? Of course, he was so taken with Francine’s amazing fortitude and attitude that he loaded us down with enough bandages and surgical netting for ten patients. Bless him.
Now, eagle-eyed readers will note that I mentioned she’s moved. Yes, Francine has left the building. The folks at the apartment building that she lived in for the past eleven years will miss her dearly. However, under her own steam, she decided that the time had come to move into assisted living. This decision was spurred on by a phone call from her place of choice. A two bedroom had become available. There are only a handful of these in the building and so she snapped it up. Of course, she needs that second bedroom for her art studio. No, the rest of the family has said nothing about the fact that she’s chosen to sleep in the weensy spare bedroom and allowing the paintbrushes, paint pots and canvasses to reside in the master suite. I mean you never know when they’ll need to pop into the en suite bathroom, right?
In true Francine fashion, she’s finding her way in her new reality. She’s set up a meeting with the rest of the residents to discuss the possibility of setting up a newspaper. No surprise there, right? She’s got into a regular bridge foursome and is also managing to navigate the social niceties of the dining room.
I should mention that this isn’t her first rodeo in the land of the care home. She had a brief couple of months in another one when my father was ill and needed full-time care. This is how she sums up this new experience in comparison with the old: “Kelly, that one was where you went to die, here you go to live.” Pretty good, right?
So while she spent the summer swathed in bandages, she’s doing very well on the whole, thank you. Bandages are off and the scar tissue is airing.
My daughter and I were treated to a special dinner with her last night. It was “Fly Me To the Moon” night and we found ourselves with an airline ticket, seated in “first class” and treated to champagne and the delight of a five-piece band. Francine’s only regret was that there wasn’t room for dancing. However, she did manage to get out of me that yes, I am still swatting away on the book and I will provide her with some pages. Soon. Apparently she didn’t want to set off my back pain by asking. Bless her.
If you’d care to pass on your birthday greetings to her, I know she’d be tickled pink. Our Francine turns 95 in a just a few weeks.
Pssst – notice anything different about the look of Just TypiKel? Please say you do. I spent the good part of my day beautifying it. And man alive, I have to say, that’s something I couldn’t do a few years ago. Looks like we’re all evolving. Who knew?
26 Responses
Happy Forthcoming Birthday Frankie
Love you dearly
Thanks, Marie! I’ll be sure to pass on your very good wishes to her tomorrow. She’ll be tickled pink.
Happy Birthday to your amazing mother. She’ll be the same age as my beloved sister would have been, so give her a hug from her psuedo-little sister.
Aw, thank you, Yvonne. I will pass on your very kind wishes to Mom as well as the hug. Sending you a hug in return.
Your blog is fantastic, changes and all. I adore learning of your mother’s progress through life, but I am also hoping to read more about this pesky back problem!
Thanks, Susan! So great that you popped by for a peruse. It’s been quite the ride with my pesky back problem. Do have a read of the 3 posts I did on it, if you can. I was “that” woman on the flight to Frankfurt. Hopping up every 20 minutes and going for a stroll.
Happy Birthday to the amazing Gaga! So Inspirational to hear your stories and see your work! ??❤️
Thanks, Marie! I’ll pass on your kind words to “the amazing Gaga!” Am seeing her this afternoon.
Oh Kelly, you never fail to disappoint, another fantastic story with the devine Ms. Frankie as the subject. Once again she inspires with her wonderful spirit of life. Would love for her to meet a couple we met on our travels this summer. At the tender age of 86 & 84 the have been married fir 18 months – they all have the same zest for life. To that end, Ms. Frankie here’s to very special you and your upcoming 95th birthday ?????.
Wow – that is amazing about the 86 and 84 year-olds. Love that. They must have such spirit and I can well imagine your conversations!Thank you so much for your kind words and lovely emojis, Janice. I’m seeing Mom today at a baby shower and will be sure to pass on your good wishes.
I did notice the new look! Very nice. And a happy birthday to Francine, the feistiest 95 yo I ‘know.’ I love her insight and ability to make changes with such positivity at this stage of her life. And I’m thinking of getting some of that surgical glue to keep on hand for my own scrapes. Why waste money on an emergency room visit when you can glue yourself up right at home, right? Love your writing, Kelly. Can’t wait for the book.
Yes, the surgical glue is a wonder. Stock up on that puppy, Molly. Thank you for your kind words! I’m driving Mom to a baby shower this aft and will share your thoughts with her. I know she’ll be tickled pink. We’ve finally got rain here in this parched part of the world and Mom has asked me to pick her up early so that my daughter “can reach up and close the windows.” Bless her – she’s still acclimatizing to the world of “assisted living …”
I don’t know many almost-95 year olds that have transitioned into assisted living as suavely as your mother seems to have. I hope she has a great birthday!
It has been exhausting for her, Kathy, but she’s determined to make the best of it. And thank you for your birthday wishes. I’ll pass them on!
Hi Kelly, I finally rejoined on to the blog, and was able to catch up on your always wonderful and highly amusing tales ! So happy that you, and your Mum are both healing from your injuries, and looking forward to hearing about many more adventures !!
I appreciate the effort of you to rejoin, Jane. Thank you. Not the same without you here but NO pressure! Hope it wasn’t too onerous. Please know I’m thinking of you and wishing you all the very best over the next week. May you not have to ping pong back and forth too much …
Loved this! What spunk your mum has! She is making the most of this life and the gifts she’s been given. Her sleeping in the small room while her paintbrushes get the master suite had me rolling. That’s hysterical. So wonderful she in a good place where she is choosing to be!
Thank you. She’s quite the spunky gal, Julie. It’ll be interesting to get her report regarding the reaction to her newsletter suggestion. Of course, as the new girl and at 95, she is setting up a newsletter so everyone can “feel involved and a part of the community.”
Happy, happy birthday Francine! That beer and batch of wings look appetizing.
I do notice the fresh look. Good on ya if you did it! I haven’t touched my own blog in years after I burned out a while back. But everything seems brighter and easier to read here. Plus that lovely profile pic!
My Grandma had a rockin’ experience in a retirement community. When we would join her for dinner at 4:30, where everyone older than 80 asked for a half portion, she would fill us in on all the gossip about those seated around her. She worked at the front desk after all and had all the deets. Who knew retirement living was so juicy and scandalous?
Yes to the requests for half portions and 4:30 dining! So true. My son was home recently for a week and he and I enjoyed an “early” meal in the dining room with Francine. He was starving and, needless to say, went home hungry even after eating most of his grandmother’s meal plus his own. He also commented that he felt as if he was back in high school as every one turned to gawk when we walked in.
Reading about your mum brings tears to my eyes and a smile to my face. What a saucy, fabulous woman. And I love that she has saucy, fabulous writer you to appreciate her awesomeness and share it with the rest of us. I aim to be Francine when I grow up. (Can’t imagine either of my daughters being as cool as you though. Zoiks.)
Lovely housecleaning on the blog (I need to do the same!) and happy 95th to your mum. Here’s hoping the hot waiter in the dining hall brings her a cake. 😉
Oh I don’t know, Jen, your girls look as is they’ve plenty of character, especially in those second days of school shots. So adorable. And thank you for your kind words. I’ll pass them on to Francine. I grinned over the hot waiter comment as of course they ALL know her name and sneak her extra desserts.
Happy birthday to your mom! Grandpa Ed just turned 99, and he told me he damn well better make it to 100 since he’s come this far!
Thanks, Lana. And huge, huge best wishes to Grandpa Ed. He simply must make it to 100! Wow – I’ll tell Mom that he’s alive and well. She’ll be delighted. One of her best friends just turned 101.
Happy, happy #95 to your mom , Kelly! And yes, I did notice you’ve done some redecorating, and I love the new profile pic of you. Quirk magnet – that’s a fabulous thing to be!
Thanks, Dana. I’ll pass on your kind wishes to Mom ! She’s the Queen of the Quirk Magnets …