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HeroicStories #809: Homeward Bound
Reaching more than 37,001 subscribers in 118 countries, this is...
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HeroicStories #809: 25 August 2010 www.HeroicStories.com
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--+-- This Story First Published as #515: 20 May 2004 --+--
Homeward Bound Story Editor:
by Tim Miller Joyce Schowalter
Texas, USA
In 1993 my sisters moved my mother to an assisted-living center. Mom was
in fairly good health, but taking care of her big house, lawn and
shoveling snowy sidewalks was a bit much for her 69-year-old body.
After weeks of research, my sisters found the perfect place, just a few
miles from mom's home. "The Point" was set up like a resort hotel, with
a common dining area, many activity rooms, a gym, walking trails, etc.
Great effort had been taken to ensure it didn't *look* like a nursing
home.
The top floor was for fully functional retirees down-sizing from their
present homes. The middle floor was for people needing occasional
assistance, and the lower floor had hospital beds in apartments with
full-time nursing care. People could move in, then obtain different
levels of assistance as needed -- without leaving the familiar setting
of home and friends. They also allowed small pets, with pet-walking
assistance available.
My mother visited different places with my sisters, and liked this one
best. However, despite *wanting* to move, she worried about the moving
ordeal, and decided to wait another year. We knew she needed to move
sooner, though, because she was experiencing ever more frequent asthma
attacks requiring lengthier hospital stays.
During one such hospital visit my sisters decided to act. I will be
forever grateful to my two sisters, who saw my Mother's need for
enhanced safety and support in her life, and did what needed to be done.
Moreover, they acted with incredible style and grace to help our mother
through the difficult transition from independent to assisted living.
While my mother recovered in the hospital, my sisters moved her living
room, dining room, kitchen, and two bedrooms into a vacant apartment at
The Point. They took photographs of every wall and piece of furniture so
that after they reassembled her rooms in the new apartment, they could
put everything on the walls and in the curio cabinets exactly how mother
had it. Even the kitchen drawers and cupboards were put back as they
were, with coupons, utensils, and a half-eaten bag of cookies on the
counter.
Coincidentally, this occurred days before my birthday. My mother had
asked me to fly home for my birthday, and my reservations were made. I
flew in anyway, assuring my mother that I would stay until she was well
enough to leave the hospital.
When my sisters and I picked up my mother from the hospital, we drove to
The Point to "show Tim how nice the apartments are". I hadn't seen it,
so this seemed reasonable. However, when we opened the door to a
supposedly vacant apartment, my mother found her *home* faithfully
re-created inside.
As she stood there slack-jawed taking in the moment, I habitually
stepped into the kitchen and helped myself to some cookies and a glass
of milk.
All my mother could do was stand there, cry, and say, "Oh my! I'm home.
I'm already home".
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Pakistani flood victims need shelter -- now.
Help provide it via a wonderful charity: Disaster Aid
A ten-person tent, emergency supplies, and hope.
Small donations add up. Please give:
http://www.disasteraid.ca/
----------==========----------o----------==========----------
Our last issue, #808, featured Mary Young's story, "Positive
Reverberations... For Decades." Mary related how a positive comment her
friend had made to her years earlier had continued to inspire her
through the years.
Janet in Wisconsin wrote: "This story reminded me of my neighbor, Liz.
Though I've 'only' been living next to her 15 years, somehow over those
years she's found time to give me many compliments. When I first moved
in she introduced me to several other neighbors, which was so nice.
Moreover, she's listened to me when times have been rough, and confirmed
that some tough decisions I've had to make would prove to be the right
decision. It's amazing what the words of one kind person can do to make
our lives better."
Ken in Arizona: "Couldn't help writing in to say that a guy would
probably never write this story, but not because we don't have good
friends who stand by us in a way that works for guys. We're maybe more
likely to just pick up a hammer to help with the next project. And we
may not talk that much, but somehow the message of approving of our
friends gets across."
We're lucky to have two more helpful suggestions from readers, inspired
by HeroicStories #807: "Unexpected Return". That story related the
surprising return of a US Marine's cell phone that he'd lost in an
airport. (Full story on our archives:
http://heroicstories.com/archives.html .)
Jackie in the USA wrote: "Many cell phone companies now offer a backup
program into which their clients can enroll at no additional charge. If
a phone is lost, stolen or damaged, or if a person decides to upgrade,
s/he can easily restore saved contacts to a new phone." Good point,
Jackie. I theoretically maintain my "privacy" by not using that service,
but for many people, I'm sure it's helpful.
Reader Louise in West Virginia wrote: "A few years back, HeroicStories
comments section described the use of 'ICE', 'In Case of Emergency' for
cell phones. Briefly, you should add an entry for your closest relative
or friend to the cell phone's numbers, and name it 'ICE'. Medical
personnel like EMTs, ambulance attendants, and emergency room personnel
are instructed to check all cell phones and other devices for an ICE
listing. They can then call the number to contact someone close to the
owner. In this case, it would made it easier to return the phone."
Good point, Louise, and I also put my name with another phone number
inside the phone case, visible with the battery removed. Someone
interested in returning it could find that information.
Nancy in California sent a wonderful comment about the positive effects
of HeroicStories on her life. "I had lunch today with my college
roommate and her partner. I had not seen her for a long time and we
chatted merrily. The waitress tipped my water glass over when putting
our meals down. It was just water but cold! It ran all over the table
and my friend's partner. The waitress was distressed but my initial
reaction was one to reassure her that it was no big deal. (Maybe I
should have thought twice before saying it since it was not MY lap that
got wet and cold!). A few other things went wrong, but at the end of the
meal the waitress said we were the nicest patrons there. I guess being
nice to her made her feel good about us. We all won! I'm not sure if I
would have been so understanding without all the wonderful stories I
have read over the yeas in HeroicStories so I thank you again! I have
found that being nice to others comes back to me a thousandfold."
What do you think, readers? Would it be fun to have a week where we as a
group tried being a little nicer than usual?
Joyce Schowalter, Publisher
Co-Conspirators to Make the World a Better Place
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