Friday afternoon I had a handful of errands to run in Green Hills.
Deposit at the bank, a few things to pick up at Whole Foods and Trader Joe's, changing my employer discount at Verizon, stocking up on stamps for Valentine's cards, and a drop-in to see Grandma.
I picked up flowers for Grandma at Trader Joe's. It wasn't the biggest bouquet, but it had two kinds of roses and alstroemeria in variations on pink and white. There were some gorgeous calla lilies for sale, too, but I just couldn't bring myself to carry lilies into an assisted living facility. Too close to the funeral home for that there.
It's been a few weeks since I saw Grandma. She, and the entire facility, were sick. Not a little bit sick, they had a raging stomach bug that had the place under quarantine. I cannot get sick. I only have the ability to take off from one of my three jobs, and while I am solvent, I don't have much of a cushion and cannot afford to miss a day, or cash in the time I've banked at the one job that offers benefits.
All visitors (and residents) have to sign in and out, and I was thrilled to see that my oldest niece was already visiting with Grandma. I hadn't see my niece since December, when she turned 18. Hard to believe it had been that long!
The grin on my face so big it was starting to hurt, I knocked on Grandma's door, and niece opened it, greeting me with a giant hug! Several hugs later, a kiss for Grandma, a search for a vase and trimming and arranging the flowers...we all sat down for a chat.
We caught up on all the big news. Grandma complained about the fuss being done to celebrate her 95th birthday in March, and she dropped several hints about how much she'd done all day. I took the hint and made noises about more errands to run and laundry to do. Niece followed my lead, and we left Grandma to her nap, and niece met me at my house for a cooking lesson and some long-time-coming bonding time.
If every day off was like today, I'd be in heaven. Especially because of all the hugs.
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