Tuesday 24 May

This is a little new to me as mum has nominated me to start the blog for Tuesday while she is in moving morning mode. So yesterday was going to be a " lay day " to Dgive gramps a little more time to build up his strength for the move. 

Early in the morning while non is watching her non mass ( the t v is gone ) , mum and I headed out for our daily ritual of latte (for me) and a " Mexican mocha " for mum at Antigua, our favourite coffee shop/restaurant down on Grand ave. usually mum does her blog there over coffee and we also pick up some fruit to take back for the day. That's when we get the oranges etc. to cut up for non and gramps. 

Then it was time to wait for Lindy to come by and we were going to meet Mike up there to take another load of small furniture up to Atria. First we hauled out another small table which we think will be suitable for the small fridge and micro which she wants for the room.

 When gramps got up, the first thing he asked about was the Giants game. They played last night but we had already taken the t v up to Atria. It was another Giant win, which we had checked on line, so he was happy about that. But his focus today was to stay warm and rest and not do too much too soon.

Overall, that was/is a good strategy as he is definitely still in recovery mode and needs to continue to take it easy for at least another month. 

So Lindy and mum and I took a load and since it all didn't fit in Lindy's Murano, I took gramps' Ford Focus with a few more things. Also, mum got a chance to go up anD check out how things were fitting in to their rooms. Surprisingly, when we first looked at the empty rooms,with bathroom in between, the Atria people said that  " it will look bigger with the furniture in it ". We thought it was " a line " that they all say but actually it DOES look roomier with the furniture in.

Of course, there will be changes made in what we have brought - that is inevitable - and we will shuttle whatever back and forth. At this point, I think that non will eventually want her sewing machine,which-should   be okay, but they DO have limited space so maybe some shifting will be required. 

Once again, Lindy spoke positively about the place but the proof will come to them as they spend more time themselves there. Some of the " safety features " are pretty impressive up there. Both non and gramps will have a button that they wear all the time which they can press whenever and wherever  they might need help. If they fall etc. in their room staff will respond to the button. I think it is actually good for about 5 miles away. 

Of course, we will be bringing gramp's oxygen machine with him and a few other necessary items like a wedge for his bed to help him stay a little upright when he is sleeping. There are also a couple of " walkers " - one with wheels and a seat - in the basement and I think the " new one " which mum and I put together will be going up. At this point, gramps and non don't seem to be using it around the house, but their room at Atria is a fair walk from the lift and it could come in handy for either of them. 

Later, we came back to the house and gramps decided to take a nap.....going with the lay day instructions...while mum continued to sort through the so many things that need sorting. 

Later, Lindy came by in the arvo to take Noni to the viewing (think Grandma Moser) in advance of the rosary  for one of her friends Maria Patari who died a few days ago. After the mortuary, Lindy and non were stopping to bring back Chinese for dinner. It is significant that there is not a lot of cooking going on here in the house. Non will probably appreciate having their meals laid on at Atria. 

After dinner, Lindy went home and fairly soon after that, non and gramps got into going to bed mode. 

One other thing happened during dinner, non produced some fortune cookies and you can see one of the fortunes was pretty appropriate. That is in the pictures with me and 

Lindy holding it up. 

Mom here, had to say a bit more about the fortunes as although Dad has done a great job the significance of the fortunes deserves more words. Although gramps is a fussy eater, he has always had a thing about taking the family out for Chinese. This has become a tradition  although the favoured Chinese restaurant has changed over the years. The current fVourite is close to the Martinellis so this is where they went to pick up a few dishes. One of the dishes is spicy beans, another is honey chicken and then chow me in So City style is always included. At the finish the fortune cookies are always given great attention.  Gramps really likes them so he took 2. Our dad opened up his first and was a bit stunned by the fortune as it was so relevant to the moment. He and Linda were looking at one another meaningfully so Gramps wanted to know what it said. I brought it over and he was quiet for a moment and then said "very true". Then gramps opened up his two fortunes and especially the second one was also a bit too relevant to the moment. A lighter note was delivered by the introduction of Nonis old dusters, which I had washed. These were a standby of our mothers and grandmothers in South City and if you were old enough you could wear them out in public and no one would blink.You will see I am wearing one in one of the photos. She is taking one to Atria. Speak out if you want to see photos of the other available dusters.