Mom was in rare form this past weekend. I was away in Pennsylvania the weekend before, so I was able to be with her on Saturday and Sunday evening.
On Saturday, she was so alert and social. In her own way, she was engaging with other residents and staff members. I had not seen this side of her for a number of weeks.
Those social skills require great amounts of energy, so she was tired on Sunday when I arrived.
In between one of her 'power save' settings, she opened her eyes and noticed the blazer I was wearing. She asked me directly, "So, what second-hand shop is that blazer from?" Ouch! But, she called it. She remembered that I frequent thrift and consignment shops looking for deals! The blazer is an Eddie Bauer merino wool riding jacket in a periwinkle color. I might add it looks great with my silver hair! And, I DID find it at the Derry Thrift Shop for $5.
Mom did not say if she liked the blazer or not. I think she grew up believing she could not give you a direct compliment because then you would develop a big ego. She has never been fond of 'second-hand' anything - buying antiques is buying 'used' furniture - so I have never pushed her on the value of Thrift Shops. She is unaware of the consumerism that makes it possible to find never-worn items with original price tags at thrift and consignment shops in the area.
I will continue to do my bargain hunting in the spirit of 'reduce - reuse - recycle.' And I will continue to search for the compliment!
Monday, November 5, 2012
Sunday, September 30, 2012
When the Weather Outside is Frightful, Bring on the Hot Fudge Sauce!
Saturday was a very sleepy day for Mom. The weather outside was dark and dreary, and she took advantage of that by snoozing or going into 'power save' mode.
I fed her dinner slowly as I had to keep nudging her to stay awake. Once the main meal was consumed, the nurse's aide offered 'us' dessert. Tonight's special was chocolate or vanilla pudding. I said that from memory I thought she did not like chocolate pudding. The aide said that she has always accepted it at other meals.
Mom opened her eyes and started to explain why she did not like chocolate pudding! For someone who considers dessert the main course of the meal, it turns out that she can be quite particular when it comes to chocolate. She explained to me that she would not turn down a dessert with hot fudge sauce. She described how the hot fudge chocolate is rich, thick, and warm. So, vanilla pudding with some strawberry ice cream replaced the chocolate pudding as hot fudge sauce was not on the menu!
Her senses were certainly stimulated by memories of many hot fudge sundaes! Comfort food for a cold and sleepy day.
I fed her dinner slowly as I had to keep nudging her to stay awake. Once the main meal was consumed, the nurse's aide offered 'us' dessert. Tonight's special was chocolate or vanilla pudding. I said that from memory I thought she did not like chocolate pudding. The aide said that she has always accepted it at other meals.
Mom opened her eyes and started to explain why she did not like chocolate pudding! For someone who considers dessert the main course of the meal, it turns out that she can be quite particular when it comes to chocolate. She explained to me that she would not turn down a dessert with hot fudge sauce. She described how the hot fudge chocolate is rich, thick, and warm. So, vanilla pudding with some strawberry ice cream replaced the chocolate pudding as hot fudge sauce was not on the menu!
Her senses were certainly stimulated by memories of many hot fudge sundaes! Comfort food for a cold and sleepy day.
Monday, August 6, 2012
Tonsorial Attention...Part 2
http://www.merriam-webster.com/word-of-the-day/2012/08/01/
- tonsorial
- \tahn-SOR-ee-ul\
- DEFINITION
adjective
: of or relating to a barber or the work of a barber
- EXAMPLES
"Rookie Adam Henrique is trying to spark the Devils with a tonsorial
adjustment. Henrique has shaved off his beard, leaving him with a
bristly mustache for Game 4." —From an Associated Press article
appearing in the Wall Street Journal, June 5, 2012
"We found the office closed; but, in the verandah of the dwelling-house, was a lady performing a tonsorial operation on the head of a prim-looking, elderly European, in a low, white cravat…." — From Herman Melville's 1847 novel Omoo: A Narrative of Adventures in the South Seas
"We found the office closed; but, in the verandah of the dwelling-house, was a lady performing a tonsorial operation on the head of a prim-looking, elderly European, in a low, white cravat…." — From Herman Melville's 1847 novel Omoo: A Narrative of Adventures in the South Seas
- DID YOU KNOW?
"Tonsorial"
is a fancy word that describes the work of those who give shaves and
haircuts. (It can apply more broadly to hairdressers as well.) It
derives from the Latin verb "tondēre," meaning "to shear, clip or crop."
(Another descendant, "tonsor," is an archaic word for a barber.) You
might be more familiar with the related noun "tonsure," which refers to
the shaven crown or patch worn by monks and other clerics, or the
religious rite of clipping the head of one being admitted as a cleric.
The verb "tonsure" means "to shave the head of."
Saturday, June 23, 2012
Friday, June 22, 2012
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
In need of some tonsorial attention
One of the amazing things about Mom is her vocabulary. She had one-year of business school training after high school, and she did not seem to be an avid reader. So, I would always be impressed when she would use some word that I had never heard of before. Now, she was someone who always won at Scrabble, so maybe that should have been my clue!
In addition to knowing unique words, she often knew the derivation. I remember how she would sprinkle words during the simple mealtime conversations at Granite Ledges Assisted Living. Not sure if she did that to impress her tablemate, Tellis, who had a Ph.D and patents! One dinner conversation we were trying to come up with the word for a special serving-size dish. I could not remember it at the time, but I did say I thought it came from a French word. She chimed right in and said it was a 'ramekin.' Wow!
More recently, I noticed that her hair was getting very long, and I said she needed a haircut. She replied that she was "in need of some tonsorial attention." I said, "What?" She said, you know tonsorial, pertaining to barbers and the like. I told her that I had never heard that word before. I kept thinking tonsils. I made sure I looked it up when I arrived home. Sure enough there it was: "Of or relating to hairdressing; of or relating to barbers and barbering." Amazing.
In addition to knowing unique words, she often knew the derivation. I remember how she would sprinkle words during the simple mealtime conversations at Granite Ledges Assisted Living. Not sure if she did that to impress her tablemate, Tellis, who had a Ph.D and patents! One dinner conversation we were trying to come up with the word for a special serving-size dish. I could not remember it at the time, but I did say I thought it came from a French word. She chimed right in and said it was a 'ramekin.' Wow!
More recently, I noticed that her hair was getting very long, and I said she needed a haircut. She replied that she was "in need of some tonsorial attention." I said, "What?" She said, you know tonsorial, pertaining to barbers and the like. I told her that I had never heard that word before. I kept thinking tonsils. I made sure I looked it up when I arrived home. Sure enough there it was: "Of or relating to hairdressing; of or relating to barbers and barbering." Amazing.
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