The Elder Care Struggle

My aunt called asking if I would buy her some personal items, which according to her, keep disappearing. That happens a lot as our elderly are moved from one facility to another.
I told her no problem.

I went to Walmart and quickly regretted that decision. The place was a zoo.
What recession, you might ask.
I had to find my own shopping cart and it was wet because it had been out in the rain. The Walmart greeter was out to lunch or something...

Finally, I found the items my aunt needed only after a hard search.

They had a very disorganized underwear department. I couldn't find the manicure scissors she had asked for so that would mean another stop at Walgreen's on the way in. Frustration was beginning to steam up from somewhere inside me.

While I was there, I thought I would look for a toy for a five- month- old, my cousin's grandchild, but I couldn't find anything I would want or he would probably play with.

I'm going back to Potterybarn Kids tomorrow if I have time and if they're a little nicer to me.

I'm willing to give them one more chance because I think they have good quality toys; better than cheap stuff at Wild Walmart's, which in reality isn't that cheap.

Couldn't believe the price of that plastic Radio Flyer Riding Inchworm - almost $50. Mercy.

I also grabbed some miniature cupcakes from the Wild Walmart's bakery for $2.50 because I thought they were cute and kind of festive, but they got squished later in the back of the car.

When I finally made it up to the check-out that was like a stopped up drain, another Walmart associate beckoned me to come to her line. Nice, I thought, until some lady leaped in front of me.

That's happening more and more to me. I guess I'm slowing down. I used to be able to out-sprint them pretty easily.

Just as she finished, another lady tried to get in front of me, but we're in the South, and she actually asked.

Nice manners, I thought, but I didn't want to let her in front of me even though she only had one item and she just had surgery and her daughter was double parked in a no parking zone, or so she told me.

Why was it I really didn't care? I must be getting bad. More gut-wrenching guilt coming, I reckoned. No credit for actually letting her go ahead of me.

Finally after an hour and a half I walked into Richland Place, where my aunt is now.

Someone who was going in the same time I was had some adult diapers she was donating for some sort of Angel Tree. The ladies at the desk didn't seem to know anything about it, but they took the diapers anyway.

What always amazes me is the normal formality of this place, which makes it different from all the others. Maybe that's because it's the last stop for a lot of people.

There's a grand piano in front of the elevators on every floor I've been on, and this time a pretty old lady dressed in red wearing a fancy Christmas pin was playing America the Beautiful.

Must have gotten her holidays mixed up, I thought as I entered the elevator.

When I reached my aunt's room she was having a very nice lunch with my uncle even though it was now past 1 o'clock.

There was turkey and dressing and a shrimp salad and coconut cake for dessert.

My wilted and squished cupcakes from Wild Walmart didn't look so cute or appetizing any more but the tiny desserts were something extra I could give.

My aunt thanked me profusely for the simple things I had brought. She's on oxygen most of the time now and I hadn't realized how much these small items we all take for granted meant to her.

Suddenly a flood of shame hit me, and I really didn't understand why, but it's another one of many intense emotions I have that overwhelm me several times a day now. They're usually accompanied by a very hot and engulfing heat flash.

I didn't tarry because I noticed they had stopped eating and probably wouldn't eat while I lingered.

As I left I could hear the piano music floating up the elevator shaft as I punched in the special code. (They keep the elevators locked so the Alzheimer's patients can't escape.)

Now the lady in red was playing Christmas music. It sounded pretty and I tried to wave to her as I passed by but she never looked up at me.

A person in a dirty BMW was waiting for my parking space as I was pulling out. Parking spaces are at a premium at this facility. She seemed grateful too- and lucky for getting it so easily.

As I drove away into the gray rainy afternoon when everything looks bad, including those shiny expensive cars that once graced fancy showrooms, I'm marveling on the little things that mean so much to those we are trying so hard to serve.

We don't really have to do the big important colossal feats after all, and that's a relief to me. After all, we're only human and very imperfect.

But if we keep doing the seemingly small insignificant, things everyday our good deeds will be appreciated by many people as they eventually all add up in the Lord's sight.