Thursday, April 25

Up around 7 a.m., so we could get ready to go to the Caring Hands office for a pastry breakfast/volunteer appreciation gathering. The volunteer coordinator had called me earlier in the week to invite us to this event, scheduled for 9 a.m.

Br-r-r, it was chilly outside for the drive to the office. Some parts of the state even got frost and freezing temperatures. But if there was frost here, it had melted by the time we headed out.

We were some of the first to arrive at the Caring Hands office, where a variety of pastries was served...quick breads, muffins, sugared and plain donut holes, chocolate mini-muffins, jam-filled rolls, etc., along with a choice of orange juice and coffee. I chose orange juice, since there was no decaf coffee.

One of the other volunteers and I joked about having gone to the hospital luncheon/talk on Tuesday, at which the speaker emphasized healthy eating, and then attending this event, at which the food was anything but healthy.

About ten volunteers were on hand, and we were shown a couple of short videos. One was produced by the Caring Hands/Home Medical Services public relations representative, and focused on slides of home care workers with their patients. During this one, Mother reached over and patted my knee and commented, "You are my caretaker." Under no circumstances would she want to be in the hands of a stranger during her final days.

The other, more uplifting video, was nationally produced as a salute to volunteers and their contributions to society, in honor of National Volunteer Week (which is this week). It featured volunteers in all sorts of happy activities.

We were also shown a nice scrapbook featuring the volunteers participating at various events. Mother and I were in several photos. A newspaper article I'd written about a 100-year-old patient of Caring Hands was also included.

Afterward, the nurses and office staff each commented on how grateful they are to have us, and how much we mean to them and the patients. Mother's and my contribution is insignificant (card making) compared to those who spend hours with the patients, or who volunteer in the Caring Hands office.

The event ended with each of us being presented with red logo t-shirts, as well as thank you cards (store bought), and bookmarks created by the coordinator. Before we left, the coordinator asked Mother and me to make sympathy and birthday cards. It was not long ago that we made about 40 sympathy cards. We are surprised and saddened at how many are needed. But I'll be checking my calendar for some free days that we can get busy on this project.

Back home, Mother and I changed into work clothes and headed to the kitchen. She diced the boiled potatoes, and the eggs, and chopped onions, bell peppers, celery, and dill pickles. I put together the potato salad (two types...one without eggs). Then, I made a big batch of baked beans for the oven. Mother chopped the onions and bell peppers for this, too, and cut a package of turkey bacon into pieces to be sauteed.

Hubbie spent the rest of the morning running errands. He returned at noon, and around 1 p.m., we were finally ready to have lunch. Mother opted for her usual Ramen Noodle soup, while Hubbie chose a pimento cheese sandwich, and I had
a chicken salad sandwich.

Afterward, Mother went to her jigsaw puzzle, and I caught on reading newspaperd, and then goofed off with my laptop and e-tablet. I did a few things around the house, and Hubbie did this and that in the yard, but basically, we didn't accomplish much this afternoon.

Later, I put leftovers...Spanish pork chops/rice, beef strips with peppers and onions, and corn...in the oven for supper. It was ready about 5 p.m., and we sat down to eat. In just a few minutes, Sis arrived, and she joined us. There wasn't any corn left, but she rounded her meal out with baked beans.

Not long after supper, she and Mother went to Mother's house. Sis was pretty tired, having been up since 3:30 a.m., and working a shift, then traveling up here. I sent a quart of fresh strawberries home with her so she could snack on them later this evening, after she'd rested for a while.

Hubbie and I spent the evening watching TV, as usual, including a 2010 movie called, "Unstoppable," starring Denzel Washington, about a runaway train carrying toxic chemicals.