MountainMornings

Every day Great Grandma Ada reigns supreme at the rehab hospital in NJ. Friends and family drive from all over the NY metropolitan area to pay homage to our matriarch. Some even call ahead to find out her physical and occupational therapy schedule, which is either efficient or intrusive depending on your point of view!

Ada continues to progress and improve. She’s walking pretty well with a walker, the staples are out and she’s been cleared for a shower. And although she tells me, “They give a good sponge here,” I’m pretty sure she’s happy about it.

The rehab hair stylist is in love with her, as is the 97 year old man, Adolfo, down the hall. She knows which aides are depressed and what every nurse needs is a delicious chocolate truffle from her dresser. We brought her the blanket we made from Shutterfly, with pictures of her family all over it and a gigantic blue bird in the corner. It’s a show stopper!

Soon it will be time to plan for the future. One friend tells her she can’t return to the Big House built on a rocky hillside. Too many stairs and obstacles. Another wants her to join her in a continuing care community. Nobody wants her to leave them, she is the mother and mentor to a tribe of interesting people – artists, therapists, chicken farmers.

But Bob’s brother Jeff and cousin Nancy are ready and willing to make the transition easier. Ada’s been telling me for years that all her friends are “In transition.” Now it’s her turn. Fifty years in one house is enough; her life will be smoother on one level, with others caring for her for a change.

We couldn’t have done this without Great Grandpa Hudson’s daughter Becky and Billy her husband. They came for this Memorial Day Parade which will honor Hudson’s WWII service. We have quite a team!