I’m very grateful to Mark Danowsky, Editor of One Art, who has published a poem I wrote when I visited my mother in August. I traveled with my bad knees and my husband to see Mom and attend our high school reunion. We stayed in a guest room in the retirement community where Mom lives. And this is what happened the morning we were leaving. I hope you enjoy this narrative poem. It all happened just like this . . . .
Well, I didn’t expect that, Luanne!
Hah! It was an experience I did mot expect!!!
Congratulations. Your reward for the emergency
My reward was we took mom out for breakfast and my uncle met us. I had shrimp and grits. 🙂
🙂
Congratulations, Luanne! Your poem took me right back to my mother’s retirement community and all our visits.
Thanks, Liz. There is something so unique and special about retirement communities. But that sense of vulnerability that these residents felt that day must go on very often among the elderly living alone.
Congratulations, Luanne. Like Liz, it brought back memories of my mom’s independent living place. And that vulnerability–my mom’s apartment was on the 17th floor, and her cousin was on the 22nd.
Yeah, that makes me feel very vulnerable just thinking about it. So glad she had her cousin near her. My mom also has her cousin in her community. Thanks, Merril!
You’re welcome, Luanne.
I’m glad your mom has her cousin, too.
Loved the story, Luanne. Can’t imagine how they would let the power go out.
That is what I thought. It was so scary for everyone. People are on oxygen and need electricity for it. People like the diabetic woman who need food don’t tend to have it although they have kitchens because they get their meals downstairs and they can’t even microwave, etc., with no power. And the going up and down. At first nobody knew there was a generator operating on elevator. Nobody went around apartment to apartment, letting anyone know anything or seeing if they needed anything. It was helpful we were there because of the gardener. He made a lot of people feel better. Thanks, John!
Seems pretty dangerous.
Interesting looking from the outside. We are in an independent living complex with aged care attached. Your mum’s seem half-way in between, because with us, the aged care has nurses on site (never enough) and those of us independent are active enough to deal with this situation. But even we have had times that blessed generator doesn’t cut in as planned!
You evoked the confusion and vulnerability excellently, and I loved the way you brought yourself into it.
Congratulations on yet another publication. You’re on fire, girl!
It’s scary the power went out in a senior home. Lots of things can happen. I hope your knee is okay, Luanne.
Yep, that would be me, too! It’s wonderful. I hope you had a great time and reunion.
My mother lived briefly in a place like the one you describe. One elevator, too. This made me smile.
What an experience! And I had no idea that some of these facilities had guest rooms … although that does make sense. Kudos to the Gardener for bounding up and down the stairs and assessing the situation!