Our trip to Indiana was spectacular!
We had a good trip down. I tried a slightly different route, and we stopped for a meal in Watseka, Illinois. We lucked out and chose an American/Mexican diner for lunch, and received exceptional service. Elegante Mother likes to drink iced black coffee. I don’t know why that seems so odd, but we tend to have a lot of difficulty getting it right. The waitress brought what we wanted in a styrofoam cup, and I asked her if she would pour the contents into a regular glass with more ice and a straw. She did….it was perfect, and she seemed to be right in tune with our needs from then on. We had a great meal, and I made sure the waitress knew it!
We arrived at Frankie’s home around four o’clock, and made our way up the hill, into the house, to sit in the family room which has windows on three sides. We were able to enjoy all the plantings, and the trees, and the deck, and most of all, the family.
Frankie’s oldest daughter was home from college, and she and Frankie were still hip deep in organizing things for the party. The graduate was making the icing for a Texas brownie, and the house smelled wonderful. After dinner we sat together for a bit, catching up, before we headed off to bed early. Frankie had one last project to finish for her daughter and was up until 2:00!
Graduation day bloomed bright and sunny. It was a perfect day. Commencement was brief and to the point, and nicely organized. One hundred and forty young men and women were recognized, and comported themselves with grace (and golf balls for the principal) as they received their diplomas. There were lots of hugs and kisses, and not a few tears. Lots of pictures, too. I hope I’ll be able to explain to Frankie, how to post some of them on her blog, Just My Opinion.
The family pulled together to prepare fruit, veggie, cheese, and salami plates, and assorted nibbles in beautiful array. I confess…..the Texas brownie drew me in several times. The open house ran from four o’clock to well past seven, even though the invitations said 4 to 6. Teachers, church friends, neighbors and schoolmates, all came to celebrate! It was lovely. Elegante Mother and I sat out on the deck and chatted with family, enjoying the perfect day. EM had not had a nap Friday OR Saturday, so while I pushed us back and forth in the glider, she had a little snooze.
When the last of the guests had left, and Frankie’s oldest daughter had said her goodbyes, we sent Frankie off to bed. She deserved some rest! We followed very shortly.
Sunday, we had breakfast together, Frankie’s famous baked French toast casserole! Frankie’s husband had to go off to work. R.L., the graduate, showed me her new computer, and showed me her play lists for her iPod. She introduced me to Michael Buble several years ago, and I, in turn, introduced Elegante Mother to him on he trip to Indiana. R.L. has ALL his CDs!
Frankie made French onion soup for us (It seems it was a French kind of day…) and it was time to go. Neither of us really wanted to leave, but it was going to be a long trip home, so Frankie helped us to pack up and we were on our way.
Elegante Mother was awake the entire way home. I could tell she was saddened when she realize that I was going to return her to her new home. It’s very difficult for me to cope with that separation. Her memory is so short these days, she can not keep in mind why she needs round the clock assistance.
The good of this trip……Mother communicated more. She was happy, and pleased to be among people she remembered and loved. She enjoyed getting out and seeing new things, and we challenged her to be more physically active.
For my part….I have some more memories to squirrel away. I’ll be able to see my Mother interacting with Frankie’s family, and sharing memories we thought she had lost. I’ll be able to remember seeing Frankie’s family together. As the girls go off to college, that will happen less frequently. R.L. is the last of EM’s grandchildren to graduate from high school. It’s a blessing that we were able to make the trip.
And…next year, two of EM’s GREAT-grandchildren graduate from college. I hope we’ll be able to build more happy memories.
The trip was wonderful. No….it was SPECTACULAR!