Gertie (not Gravel)

Gertrude was an excellent teacher in her day. Now, her mind mostly gone, she wanders the halls trying to find her way. If she sees an activity going on, Gertie asks why no one told her. She complains regularly saying "No one ever tells me anything." At times, she tries to join the group on the bus for various Monday through Friday outings. For her own safety, she is denied.

She shows up from time to time at the almost-normal dining room on the ground floor. She is then escorted to the semi-normal dining room on another floor. Her words are not taught in the English department. Randomly, she will pick up her lightweight walker and throw it at whomever has offended her. Brought back the memory of my high school Spanish teacher who would throw a chalk eraser at someone who irritated her.

The family has been discussing moving her to an assisted-living center. Gertie's daughter and Gertie got on the elevator this week. Making inane conversation, I asked, "Are you going to a ball game or something."

Gertie broke into song and we joined in as she sang every word of "Take Me Out The Ball Game". For that brief shining moment, her mind had returned.

AsA
"A true friend is someone who thinks you are a good egg even though he knows you are slightly cracked."