'Tis The Season....
Visited my Mom today at Sandpiper Nursing & Rehab in Mt. Pleasant.
I reminded her it was her wedding anniversary.
Always a week before Christmas.
It would have been their
77th.
The main dining room was being used for a festive employee Christmas party and children were running around stuffed with sugar cookies.
Took some pictures of the decorated tree.
Then used Photoshop to enhance it even more.
Growing up, we three brothers had mixed methods for decorating the tree. My older disappeared and my younger usually got impatient.
Eventually he would start to throw clumps of silvery icicles on the tree instead of hanging them carefully one at a time.
Every year.
Today,
Santa and Mrs. Claus were leaving the room, looking tired but happy.
I asked them to pose with my Mom.
That got a big smile from everyone.
There was a sign on the bulletin board that said
"Save Santa A Trip, Be Naughty."My Mom said
"Of course, I've been nice."
(Click on the photos for details. Can you see the Photoshop effects? I'm glad the Clauses could get away from the shop with a busy week to go.) Thanks for stopping by. Stay warm.
Labels: brothers, Christmas tree, decorations, Sandpiper, Santa Claus and the Missus, silvery icicles, sugar cookies, wedding anniversary
How 'bout A Balloon Hat?
It was billed as an
"Old Fashioned Ice Cream Social".
The residents, staff and families were all invited to have some treats at
Sandpiper, my Mom's Nursing & Rehab Center in Mt. Pleasant.
Great turnout.
I guess I didn't expect to see a clown.
He was making balloon animals - and hats - and was a spry funny-face man in baggy trousers with very large floppy shoes.
I quickly figured out his name was "Sam."
Raising my ever-present camera, I saw him start to freeze into a pose.
"No, Sam, ignore me and just be yourself."And
Sam Drummond, a retired former clown with
Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus, did what clowns do - he made people laugh.
The ladies and the gentlemen.
The boys and the girls.
And the children of all ages.
Thanks Sam.
[The "best" camera is the one you have with you. A photo opp can happen at any time.]
Labels: balloon animals, Barnum and Bailey Circus, Nursing Home, Ringling Brothers, Sam Drummond, Sam The Clown, Sandpiper
Happy 93rd Birthday Mom !
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Mom was born in 1916. My Dad in 1913.
There are three boys in the family. I'm the "middle son."
I have written about my Dad. He was a carpenter and had his own woodworking shop. He died 10 years ago.
Mom was a homemaker until the last son graduated from high school then she went to school.
She became a nurse. A LPN. She worked for 25 years at St. Francis Hospital. She retired 30 years ago.
We had a nice party for her 90th at her church, Divine Redeemer Catholic church in Hanahan.
For the 91st, friends and family came here to the house and overflowed from the large kitchen into every room. Some were out on the patio.
Last year's party was at Sandpiper Assisted Living in Mt. Pleasant. A very large crowd gathered on its outdoor deck and there were three cakes.
This year's celebration will also be at Sandpiper but in the Nursing Center. Mom suffered a stroke last year so we won't have a crowd this time. Just family.
Happy birthday. We love you.
Labels: Assisted Living, carpenter, Divine Redeemer Church, homemaker, Licensed Practical Nurse, LPN, middle son, Nursing Center, Sandpiper, St. Francis Hospital, woodworking shop
Visited my Mom today at Sandpiper Nursing & Rehab in Mt. Pleasant.
Today, Santa and Mrs. Claus were leaving the room, looking tired but happy.
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