1.
Physical Experience
·
Television sounded loudly with CNN as to
help the listener feel she was not alone. No other sound was heard through the
house
·
White furniture meticulously placed
·
No dish was out of place, no clutter throughout
the home. Everything was cleaned and organized
·
Large bed, fluffy blanket and pillows, and one
old withered woman tucked inside
·
Old lady clothes
·
Death
·
Helping those who can’t help themselves
2.
Scenes
·
I would visit Betty three times a week to give
her a shower
·
Her wrinkled, aged body was warped and misshapen
from arthritis
·
Her face would light up every time she saw me.
She couldn’t say much, but her eyes expressed her gratitude.
·
Immense joy as I would pick her up and put her arthritic
body in a warm bubble bath
·
I would try my hardest to put her hair in
curlers and help her look like she did when she was younger. Although I was
inexperienced and it often didn’t look very good, she loved being dressed up
·
Giving Betty her last bath, doing her hair, and
dressing her nicely knowing that as I placed her back in bed knowing that in a
short few hours she would die.
·
Her dead body lying in the same position I
placed her earlier that morning. Family members mourning her death but
rejoicing in her life
3.
Speech
·
One word answers
·
“thanks for nothing”
·
Communication through her eyes
4.
Emotions in the moment
·
Joy
·
Sadness
·
Thankfulness
·
Friendship
5.
People of consequence
·
The old woman I cared for as a CAN, her name is
Betty. She was the sweetest woman I have ever met.
·
Betty’s three children. They were so grateful for the help I offered. Caring for someone who is passing is a difficult task.
·
The little yippity dog. The perfect guard dog, she yipped at everything and reminded me of an over sized rat
I love all the description you have in your post about caring for Betty. I especially love this part, "Her face would light up every time she saw me. She couldn’t say much, but her eyes expressed her gratitude." Facial expressions are so priceless when talking to people. You can usually tell how someone is feeling based on their facial expressions. Like you said in your sentence, her eyes expressed how she was feeling.
ReplyDeleteYou seem very invested in this physical experience. I can picture it, but more as a scene than as a physical experience. What did it feel like to be there? Were there smells? Tastes? Textures? I would like to hear more about that one.
ReplyDelete