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| Funny/by A Place For Mom Senior Living |
My mom was on her best behavior, as she was navigating her way through assisted living. Her insecurities flared up whenever a new person peered out of the doorway. She was the freshman in the land of scrutinizing seniors. A lone redhead in a sea of blue haired ladies. My mother thought it would be easier to keep to herself. I pleaded with her to have dinner with everyone, but she was determined to keep to herself. When I asked her why she wouldn't join the others she replied, "Because they're a bunch of old people."
Soon after, she began receiving dinner invitations from the other residents, and joined the "in-crowd." She enjoyed hanging out with the gals, but didn't share their views on the male residents. While most women would jump at the chance for companionship, my mom would rather roll her walker over most of the men she's met. "I would never go out with him. Do you know what he has the nerve to do? He saturates his food with pepper before he even tastes it. I don't know how his wife puts up with it."
I couldn't believe my ears, "You never mentioned he was married."
To which my mom replied, "What does that have to do with anything?" Of course, my mom was only kidding. He preferred salt.
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This brings me to the IWSG. Part of the story was factual, yet it was mixed with a dash of fiction. If I tried to categorize it, I would call it faction, or would fictual be more accurate? Needless to say, my mom started out as an insecure newbie, until she became more comfortable in her new surroundings. The same can be said for many of us before we joined Alex J. Cavanaugh's, Insecure Writer's Support Group. Alex and the gang are always there to provide endless support, and pour pepper on our wounds when we need it the most.
Hi Julie - your Mum and your stories .. that's a great one - good for a laugh all round. You and your mother have amazing senses of humour .. hope the pepper isn't making you sneeze too much.
ReplyDeleteYou're so right about insecurity ... we need to ease ourselves into new 'adventures' .. lovely start to the A ..cheers Hilary
I enjoy your mother's stories loved the senior assisted texting code.
DeleteHave a good day.
I prefer fictual :) Love the story about your mom, a perfect start to a long month. Happy AotZ
ReplyDeleteHello,
ReplyDeleteI'm definitely more for fictual. And I know a few men who saturate their food with whatever condiments are at hand before they've tasted a mouthful. Don't know how their wives put up with them either :)
First time at your blog, second year at the A-Z.
Best wishes,
Nilanjana.
Madly-in-Verse
A dash of fiction, you say? Don't tell me the man wasn't really married. That would really take the fizz out of the story. I so like the idea of your mum being chased by married men!
ReplyDeleteeating habits trump married lol
ReplyDeleteGreat story. And yes, Alex does a great job making everyone feel part of the group.
ReplyDeleteRed hair among the blues- I know that has to be factual.
ReplyDeleteI am amazed at all the baggage we accumulate through life. Over peppered eating habits is surely the least.
ReplyDeleteI was brought up with salt and pepper on the table as a matter of course and put on *everything* before eating. My wife's put a stop to that!
ReplyDeleteI've often noticed that too -- those places are just like going back to high school. NOOOOOOOO!
ReplyDeleteYou made me laugh as your mom reminds me of my own mom. She never wanted to socialize with older people for that exact reason. She also never wanted another man because she "darned enough socks in her lifetime". She would complain of being lonely, didn't care for women since all they wanted to talk about were their grandkids and cooking. She preferred to talk to men but they always would want something more. I told her to find a good older gay man-best of both worlds:)
ReplyDeleteGreat story either way, fictual or faction. :) I relate as one of those seniors but I'm caring for hubby at home. He's nervous about moving into a care facility with (Heaven forbid) strangers! This wonderful man who always enjoyed people so much is now withdrawing from life due to dementia. To him, our home his only familiar and safe place. But when he interacts socially, he usually ends up enjoying the result.
ReplyDeleteI think sometime we writers tend to stay in our "safe place" in telling our stories when we would do a much better job of stepping outside our comfort zone and stretching our creativity beyond our usual limits. Characters and a plot larger than life will excite readers and have them coming back for more. Not always easy to do but the results can be satisfying.
Loralee - I'm so sorry about your husband. It's true about wanting to stay in a "safe place" when it comes to both our stories, and our personal lives. When I looked up your blog, I only found an article from last December, so I'm not sure I went to the right place. Please let me know where to find you. Thanks Loralee!
DeleteJulie
My family is looking forward to the day I go to assisted living.
ReplyDeleteMe, too, in a way.
The one nearby has fish sticks and jello every Friday.
Those texting codes. LOL!
ReplyDeleteI love those texting codes! Too funny, and true. My dad hated going into the "home" at first, but then made it work for him. His favorite thing to do was to have us bring him brownies or some other treat that he would give to the staff. They were always appreciative that he thought of them and liked to show it. BTW, I love the cover of your book. Great post and good luck with the A to Z! Lisa, co-host AtoZ2015, @ lisabuiecollard.com
ReplyDeleteI never have got the hang of Texting, I was brought up where a phone was a phone.
ReplyDeletePassing as one of Mr B's Ambassadors on my way slowly towards the high numbers on the list.
Rob Z Tobor
I tend to pour salt on my food, only after I take the first bite. Need to per doctor's order (yep, some of us need more salt than others). But dousing food with pepper before tasting it is unacceptable. ;)
ReplyDeleteI would really like to meet your mother. She sounds like a hoot.
ReplyDeleteMy wife salts everything before she tastes it.
I'd love to have dinner with you mom any day!
ReplyDeleteThanks to all of you for your wonderful comments! In an effort to try to visit your blogs today, I won't be responding to individual comments. Thanks again, and best of luck to everyone doing A to Z!
ReplyDeleteJulie
this fictual genre is a hit. I chuckled and can imagine your mother traversing the new territory. Gotta get a playground pass
ReplyDeleteYour mom sounds delightful and she's a model to the rest of us to truly make the best of things, no matter what. I Love her humor, and yours too. Yes, it's hard being a newbie. I dread it, no matter what it is, but I've discovered that stepping out of our comfort zone has surprising results. We discover new strengths and that there are a lot of people out there just like us. Neat opening post to the A-Z!!
ReplyDeleteCute way to start this challenge!
ReplyDeleteDunno about your mom, but my hubby saturates his food with pepper. Nice start to the challenge Julie
ReplyDeleteSome things never change even when you are 80!!
ReplyDeleteHappy A to Zing
I love your mom stories.
ReplyDeleteShe sounds like a very funny lady. I’m also doing the A to Z challenge, Organize Home Life on http://AMomsPointOfView.com
ReplyDeleteGo IWSG, thank you Alex! Your mom sounds great. Best of Luck,
ReplyDeleteJuneta @ Writer's Gambit
Go IWSG, thank you Alex! Your mom sounds great. Best of Luck,
ReplyDeleteJuneta @ Writer's Gambit
I hope your Mom's "What does that have to do with it?" was nonfictional. I like to think she's that spunky and rebellious, Julie. Love the alliterative title of this amusing piece. Have fun with the Challenge.
ReplyDeleteChag Pesach. (Can you believe it's almost here? I'll be chopping apples for charoset over the next few days.)
GEM JULIE ~
ReplyDeleteHa! That was funny!
First off, I think my favorite 'Senior Citizen Texting Code' (because it literally DID make me laugh out loud) was GGPBL: Gotta Go Pacemaker Battery Low.
>>... "Because they're a bunch of old people."
:-) I love her ageist attitude!
I feel the same way about old people. Don't wanna be near 'em because their "oldness" and grey hair might rub off on me.
And yet... and yet... well, you know I moved out of Airheadzona to a new state (and even a new city, too). Well, this new home I'm renting has this bathtub that seems kind of slippery, and the bottom of it seems... too rounded, or something. I feel like I need to be real careful stepping out of it or I could slip and fall. (I swear it's THE BATHTUB and NOT me! ...I think.)
So, earlier today (and I'm not kidding), I was in a grocery store and went to look for some of those non-slip rubberized bathtub appliques that I could stick on the bottom of the bathtub. And while I was looking, it dawned on me: this is the beginning of the geriatric phase of my life.
You know that when you feel you need bathtub appliques so you don't fall stepping out of the tub, it's a slippery slope downhill to the nursing home. I suppose the next sign will be when I start hiking the waistband of my pants and shorts up over my belly button.
I didn't find any bathtub appliques, but when I do buy some, I am absolutely REFUSING to get pink ones in the shape of daisies! I'm gonna see if I can find black ones shaped like daggers or machine guns.
~ D-FensDogG
'Loyal American Underground'
I just wanted to thank everyone again for your wonderful comments! I showed them to my mom today and she said, "I feel like I should change my name to Donna Rickles!" Needless to say, she couldn't stop smiling. Wishing you all a happy holiday, and I know I'll sleep better if Stephen M gets a Life Alert pendant!
ReplyDeleteJulie
Too funny.
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely fictual tale!
ReplyDeleteYou should call it fictual faction!
ReplyDeleteI love your stories!
Your mom is priceless!