Mom’s (Kobie’s Mom) maid didn’t pitch today as a result of the strikes (as if that will help anyone), so I had to go care for Ouma.
Ouma had a birthday yesterday and she is a gorgeous Lady of 80 something years young. She has Alzheimers though and it tears my heart out to see the nothingness in her eyes sometimes.
She gets extremely upset with herself for being so “swak” as she calls it, but she insisted on getting out of bed and joining me in the lounge. I made us some tea and pies (with a little something sweet as well as she totally Loves it) and we had a little bit of a chat. We had our tea and then it was off to have a nice bath. The joy on her face on seeing the bubbles was so sincere and it reminded me that little things in life are also important. Needless to say, she’s still a girl as she lay in the bath for about an hour. So, if any man thinks that our bathroom rituals will be less time consuming in the future – ha ha – NOT.
We watched a bit of TV and I answered the same questions about five times, but it was nice spending some time with her. We had a good laugh as we watched Split Ends and she couldn’t understand that people will “teken prentjies” all over themselves and think it looks good (Ouma doesn’t know about my “prentjie” on my shoulder and I’m not telling either).
After our second cup of coffee she got really tired and I put her to bed. She thanked me about 15 times for coming and that in itself is more gratifying than anything else in life. She lay there all fragile and it was like laying a baby down for an afternoon nap.
I enjoyed spending time with Ouma today as it reminded me that even the tiny, smallest, “insignificant” things are important in the long run and the other “bigger”, “more important” things just fade away in comparison.
You wrote this beautifully.
My granny also has Alzheimers and that empty shell feeling is really really really hard to deal with. My Ouma has become worse since Oupa died in December.
Btw, I am watching Split Ends right now.
Reading this made me realise what I miss not having a Ouma anymore. Can still remember the times she use to come and visit us during school holidays. Sitting on the stoep drinking coffee and playing cards.