My Funny Eldercare Story, and It Isn't All About Stress!

It's just you and Fred

My husband went to pick up my 87-year-old mother and bring her to our
home for Sunday dinner as he does every week. As they came in the front
door, I hugged my mom as I always do. As I stood there taking an extra
long hug (I do this all the time now because . . . well, I don't know if I
will get the chance again), I saw my husband in extreme animation
pointing to his eyebrows and then pointing to mother. It certainly
appeared to be code for "Holy crap, your mom has too much makeup on."

As I broke the embrace to look at her, how surprised was I to see Estee Lauder Cherry Red eyebrows. With the grace of God, I was able to control myself from dissolving into laughter. I said, "Mother did you mistake your lip-lining pencil for your eyebrow pencil?" Rather bewildered, she looked at me and said, "I don't think so. Why?"

I decided at that point to take her into the bathroom so she could see for herself. Upon seeing herself in the mirror, she laughed and said, "You know, I thought my eyebrows looked a little different tonight." A little different? I suggested, if she wanted, I would be happy to get her my eyebrow powder, so she could apply new eyebrows. Continuing to look in the mirror, she replied, "Naaah, it doesn't look that bad, and it's just you and Fred."

Well, suffice it to say we had a lovely dinner replete with good food, drink, and conversation. When Fred came back from taking her home, we sat and laughed until our sides ached.

Now for anyone reading this entry who thinks we were laughing at an old and dotty dame, calm down. Mother is as sharp as any pencil in the pile. What was soooo funny was her nonchalant "Naaah, it's just you and Fred."

When she passes on and friends and family are gathered together to cry about her death and laugh in celebration of her life, I will share this story. I hope that I won't have to share it too soon.

By Patricia Grace
Aging with Grace Blog