Thankful Thursday:Mary

 

Photo by PNGITEM

Every now and then, life blesses you with an unexpected gem.

Mary Long is one of my gems.

She is an 84-year-old, uh...character...Yeah, that's it!

She is a patient here at The Waters. 

She's had a very interesting life, to say the least.

She's been married 10 times.

Mary met her first husband when she was a 13-year-old hitchhiker.

He was in his 40s. and they were together for 30+ years.  He was the father of her 3 kids.

He was a bad diabetic and lost both his legs.  She said she was 70 lbs and toted him 'round like a sack of taters.

She says that he is the only one she ever loved and the only one who ever really loved her.

The rest of them, as she says, only wanted someone to keep them up and go to bed with.

As I said, she is a character.

But no matter how many times she tells me her stories, they are always, consistent!!

On Thankful Thursdays, I've been writing about strong women who have influenced my life, and Mary Long has definitely influenced my life.

Last week, I talked about how Mama always prays that GOD will place people in our lives to help us when she can't.

Mary is one of those people.

Mary has taught me many things, and probably many things she probably shouldn't have.

She is one of the happiest people I've ever met.  She's a natural entertainer.  She makes me feel better when I'm upset.

Who is a gem in your life?

Thankful Thursday -Gail's Mom

 

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I am continuing to give thanks to some of the women who have made an impression on me.

I have 2 friends here at the Waters who are sisters They both have some type of Apraxia. (I think)

I met Gail when I first came to live in the nursing facility.  She's so sweet.  Her condition is much more advanced than her sister, CJ.  Along with her trouble speaking, she's totally physically disabled.  I thought she had Multiple Sclerosis when I first met her.

I'll talk about these sweet ladies in other posts.

Today I want to talk about their mom, Mrs. Jefferys.  

First, let me say it's been a difficult week for me.

My roommate, Sandra , went to live with a caregiver in her home in Hermitage.  I got upset and Aella Saudade may or may not have, made an appearance.

Anyway, Mrs. Jefferys just called to say hello and see how I was doing.  She said she would check on me next time she comes to visit Gail and CJ.

It meant so much to know that someone, out of the clear blue, just called to say she was thinking about me.

Mama always says that she hopes people step in and take care of us when she can't be there.

I've been blessed by a lot of good "Mamas" over the years.  I'm proud and thankful to count Gail's mom as one of my adopted "Mamas".

Thankful Thursday - Sandra

 Photo by Clipart Library

Some friends are just distant to meet...no matter what.

My friend, Sandra, is one of those friends.  She was here when I came back to the Waters (I went to live at a nursing facility for a while.  When I first got back, she was afraid she'd come between our friend Deborah and me.  Soon we were all thick as thieves.  

In many ways, Sandra and I had more in common than we did with Deborah.  She has CP also.  We just bonded~it's can be very hard to meet other people my age who have CP.

She became the "big sister" I never had.  We took care of each other.  I'm usually the "mother" of friendships I have ~ some of my friends are older than me.

She says I have a low pain reliance because she hit me with the corner of a pizza box and I said it hurt.🤕

She spoils me.  She's my confidant.  She protects me when I get in trouble 👮 (not that I ever get in trouble).

She calms me down when Aella Saudade, comes out in me.

I love her so much!!!