Nana Celebrates Birthday #95

Nana celebrated her 95th birthday on September 15th,2018. This year she couldn't celebrate at home. In July, Nana moved into Watsontown Nursing & Rehab Center. Nana's little legs no longer have the strength for her to use the walker. Plus, she needed more care than she could receive in her Houston Ridge Apartment, a place she'd called home for 25 years. 

Change is never easy and the first few weeks at the nursing home were difficult. Things are better now and Nana has her good days and bad days. Nana has faced a lot of hardships in her life so I know she'll adjust. She's one of the strongest people I know and I'm so proud of her.

Nana has a roommate, Ruth, who is a kind lady. We thought Nana's hearing was poor, but Ruth can hardly hear unless you speak directly into her ear. That's a plus in a way, as Nana likes to play her TV loud. Ruth doesn't have a TV and fills her time with mystery novels and puzzle books while Nana's favorite past-time is still reading the Sun Gazette.

Although we as a family would love her to be in her home, it's comforting to know that she's safe and has lots of 'eyes' on her. Like at home, her meals are a challenge. The Nursing Home has accommodated with mashed potatoes and gravy each meal and  provides her 'juice boxes' - her Boost Breeze supplement drink -  for her each day. 

Each year Nana's birthday is a reminder of how blessed we are to still have her in our lives. During one of my monthly visits to Nana when she was in her apartment, we would read the quotes on the daily calendar at breakfast. One of our favorites was the saying,"If you're not dead yet, you're not done yet." Nana and I had a giggle about that one. Whenever Nana says she's not having anymore birthdays - as she often does every September - I remind her about that quote.

As we celebrate another Nana birthday, I'm glad she's not done yet. 

Saying Goodbye to Nana's Grand Kitty Mitzi

On Saturday morning, February 24th, 2018, we said goodbye to our sweet kitty Mitzi. She provided us over 16 years of daily joy. Letting go of our beloved Mitzi was one of the hardest things we've ever done. 

The next hardest thing was telling Nana that Mitzi was gone. Nana and Mitzi had a special bond. It started when Nana visited us when we lived in Ruckersville, Virginia. Mitzi joined our household in January 2002 and Nana visited several times a year until we moved to Pittsburgh in 2006.

Mitzi was never a cuddly kitty. She liked her space, as does Nana. Mitzi could tell from the start that Nana wasn't going to mess with her. They had an unspoken understanding between them. Their bond was especially evident in the red wing-back chair. Mitzi loved to sleep in that chair and Nana loved to sit in the chair. The picture below shows how they compromised.

Nana with Mitzi, Ruckersville VA

Although Nana didn't visit Mitzi in person after Virginia, she still kept in touch. During our daily calls, I often put Nana on speaker phone so she could say "hi" to Mitzi while Mitzi rubbed the phone in approval. 

Nana treated Mitzi like all her grandchildren - sending her cards on her birthday and Christmas. As Mitzi and Nana both got older, Nana joked about how they were both 'Seniors.'

During my monthly trips to Pennsylvania, Nana and I talked about how Mitzi knew when I was leaving to see Nana. She pouted when she saw my suitcase. When I got home, she gave me the cold shoulder for a while to punish me for going away. Nana understood Mitzi's reaction - Nana doesn't like when I leave her at the end of my visits. 

Mitzi may be gone from our physical world, but she'll stay in our hearts forever. Goodbye sweet Mitzi, until Jan and I and Nana meet you again in heaven.