Mom's 85th Birthday/Thanksgiving with Gail & Bill

My sister, Gail, and her husband Bill visited Mom for her 85th Birthday and Thanksgiving. In the picture below, Mom and Bill are showing us the beautiful flowers that Mom's granddaughter, Jan (Sarah's daughter), and her husband Scott sent for her birthday. (Click on photos to enlarge, then click your browser's "back" arrow to return to the blog.)

Mom and Dad made the 14.5" Jennie June doll pictured below from a kit from the Mark Farmer Mfg. Co. in El Cerrito, California when she was living in Atlanta, Georgia. When Mom was sewing the body, Dad put a heart inside. Dad glued the head, hands, and feet to the body. Barbara Gail had a dress made for it with a contribution from Chuck and Cyndi. Later, Mom found the original pattern and material for an old-fashioned print dress, so Gail will have that made also.

Rosemary (below) was Mom's doll when she was growing up. Pearl Wallace Meyer, Mom's mother, had very long hair until it became the fashion to cut hair into a bob in the Roaring 20's. Many women saved their hair and had dolls made for their daughters, using their hair for the wigs. Pearl did this for her daughter, Mary, so Rosemary has Pearl Wallace Meyer's hair. Barbara Gail remembers playing with Rosemary as a child and took her to a doll hospital to be restored. Rosemary's dresses, which were made by our grandmother Pearl, were also restored.

Gail and Bill took Mom to Hollyhock Hill, an old favorite Indianapolis restaurant, for her birthday.

Marcele Everest, who has been a friend of Barbara Gail's since 1970, joined them. Marcele and Barbara Gail met when their husbands were both teaching at DePauw University in Greencastle and they were in the League of Women Voters together. Marcele was a great help when Gail was going through Princeton Theological Seminary. Marcele brought Mary roses for her birthday and generously hosted Gail and Bill during their visit.

Gail and Bill used to live in Indianapolis 30 some years ago so they have many dear friends in the area. Beth Cope Lawrence, Barbara Gail's friend from her career at Indiana Bell, met them for a reunion at Summer Trace. Beth got to know Mom when Barbara Gail was in the hospital for a month in 1973 and she has known Mary for over 30 years.

They all enjoyed the lavish Thanksgiving buffet at Summer Trace.
L to R: Beth Cope Lawrence, Rosemary (doll), Mary, Gail, Jennie June (doll), and Bill

While Gail worked on Mom's Christmas cards, Bill worked with Mom on her speech therapy. (I love this picture. I have not gotten to see Bill for years and we were out-of-town while they were here!)

Whiskers, which is what Mom has taken to calling the cat, loved Bill!

Thank you, Gail, for sending these great photos and story for Mom's blog!

85th Birthday

Phil and I had dinner with Mom tonight to celebrate her 85th birthday early as we will be out of town. And I didn't take a photo of us. The photo for this post is of a wonderful handmade birthday book full of stories and photos from Pam and Larry Gantt and family!!! Mom was thrilled and couldn't wait to read it. She said, "I miss them." Thank you all SO much for your lovely birthday greetings!

What a wonderful birthday surprise!!! Thank you!!!

Catsitting

Sally's kitty is visiting Mom for a few days while Sally is traveling. Both are having a great time. Sally also as a dog named Peeve who is a friend of Mom's but didn't get stay with Mom. Don't tell Peeve that Spoke is living in the lap of luxury this week!

Here are some movie clips: (Click arrow to play.)
Mom and I went to Pet Smart and she picked out 3 cat toys for Spoke. Here Mom is counting to make sure all three toys are there.

Mom has aphasia due to her stroke.
A person with aphasia may:
* Speak in short or incomplete sentences
* Speak in sentences that don't make sense
* Speak unrecognizable words
* Not comprehend other people's conversation
* Interpret figurative language literally
* Write sentences that don't make sense
(Click here for more information on aphasia.)
Sally named this cat "Spoke," as in the spoke on the wheels of a bicycle. In this video clip, Mom knows exactly what she wants to say, but the aphasia won't let her get it out right. Mom switches from speaking to me to speaking to Spoke as the kitty raises her head to listen. I have a feeling Spoke is a very good listener. And the aphasia won't matter at all.

Here Mom clearly says, "The man didn't want it?" This kitty showed up at Sally's parent's house a few months ago. When Sally took her to the vet he discovered she had an identity microchip. When they contacted the owner (in Illinois!), he said Sally could keep the cat. We are all curious as to how she got from Illinois to Indiana! I think she was heaven sent to visit Mom! :-)

I love this video. Spoke had climbed up next to Mom to take a cat nap. Mom is protective of her and very content to just watch her nap. (Thanks Sally for sharing your kitty!)

Mom had to check and see if my husband, Phil, knew about Spoke. She will tease Phil and tell him he needs to get a cat. (We can't have pets in the house due to allergies.)

Wednesday Night Knitting

Every other week the Summer Trace knitting group meets at the same time as cards, so Mom has a choice. Most of the time she plays cards, but tonight she had a friend, Regina, who was willing to work with her on her knitting so tonight was a knitting night for Mom.

It was fun to watch them work together.

Mom does not give up on her knitting, her speech, or anything else!

Mom's friend came to Aphasia Support Group!

Today was a special day. Mom's friend, Peggy, (who also has aphasia due to a stroke) came with us to the Aphasia Support Group! Yeah!!! She had the best time and Mom loved it!

I thank Mary and her daughter Ali and all the speech students for the time and effort and energy they give to the victims of aphasia. And I thank Ann for her support to the caregivers.