She really did have only two dresses for school. Her classmates teased her, knowing it was Wednesday if she showed up in her other dress. She has lived with that and other indignities that attend the very poor for close to 80 years. It's not wonder she thinks people are talking about her behind her back - that was her life when she was growing her bones.
We took the three hour drive to see her and attend to her needs, this remaining lonely aunt, who is now ninety years old. She had no children and no other family lives within driving distance. One day she'll have to move, but that is not today's agenda. Now she needs some help sorting through the difficulties of doctors and procedures and exactly what is the senior living facility's responsibility through all of this. In a nutshell, they have none. She is not living in assisted living, so she's pretty much on her own We wish she would be willing to go into assisted living in a facilty close to us, but no, not now. I respect that. Her control over her own life diminishes as she ages, and she's fighting to stay in control.
As I hug her, work with her, listen to her, I know that one day I"ll be in her shoes. May I learn what I need to learn to make my own passage into old age easy for whoever will be looking after me.
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