Nursing Homes.....

I turned onto Passyunk Avenue toward SW Philly and began to cross
the Schukill River. Celine Dion was singing "whisper in the morning..."
I turned off the radio.

I picked up mom and drove to the nursing home to see dad. Nicky was
talkative and entertaining. He greeted all of the residents as we
traveled the maze and unlocked the gates toward my father's ward. He
looked good and was alert. He was not clean, and his gown coffee
stained. His clothes were missing. We complained. The laundry doesn't
work weekends. They must be stockpiling. Lesson 1: A nursing home is
only as good as the people who visit it, how often they go, and how
well they can bitch and complain. Lesson 2: When they tell you that the
laundry is a free service, it means that it stinks.

Back in the car we remembered my cousin Carline (Sister Anthony Marie,
SND) Who died early this year. She was 75. My mom was 4 when she was
born. I am the youngest of all of the 1st cousins on my mom's side of
the family.