Tag Archives: visit to the nursing home

Friday, Nov. 28, 2025

Giphy

Happy Thanksgiving to my friends and relatives in the States! I hope you’re stuffed full of good food, with a big smile on your face as you try to find a comfortable position in which to relax.

We celebrated last night with my adopted family. There was a house full of noisy celebrational activity – lots of people, some I met for the first time, others I knew, and of course my new family. My new grandson really seemed to like the dinosaur/dragon I painted for him and hung it on the wall in his room. Both he and his little sister, who just turned 1 recently, are warming up to me more each time we see them. My grandson took delight in making me a ‘sandwich’ of a small slice of round crusty bread and a pickle. He smiled as I thanked him. We ate our sandwiches together. He then made me another with a humongous pat of butter on top. I managed to cut the pat WAAAAAY down – and his, as well – before we enjoyed the rest of the ‘meal’ he had prepared. We had a truly wonderful time. (New fact: you cannot import uncooked turkeys into Thailand. You CAN import COOKED ones. So our turkey was delivered so it could be re-heated in the oven for an hour and a half before our dinner.)

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Today I’m having a massage with a new therapist. MY therapist is out of town. A man stopped us yesterday to tell us that and ask us if it were all right if another therapist handled my massage today. I thanked him and said, “yes.” I think it’s amazing that they didn’t simply cancel the appointment. Instead they found someone else who agreed to handle it. I have confidence that although I can fully relax with Khun Weaw, my therapist, I will get a good massage with this other therapist. I’m thankful that they hurried around to try to make me happy.

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We will then go to visit my husband in the nursing home. I’m hopeful we’ll get a glimpse of the man I married over 56 years ago. Maybe a special look, maybe a smile, a squeezing of my hand, a question, a memory… Each visit is different, so we never know what to expect. I’m hoping he is comfortable, not hurting, able to eat and drink a little in addition to having the nasal tube. I’m thankful he has such good, loving care.

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We will spend time at the cafe when we come back from the visit, to be out of the way while Khun Nong cleans my place. I wish I could see her face as the door now opens easily and there are all new windows and frames since the last time she was here!

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I have started painting the group of Christmas cards I have sketched. I will try to get some painted each day, trying to finish the 25 cards by the middle of December. I’ll then carry them with me so that when I meet people who have gone out of their way to be nice to me, I can give them a small token of my gratitude and hopefully brighten their day a bit.

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I hope you are feeling happy.

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Happy October 2025

Happy October 2025! I miss being able to drive down with a mailbox decoration from the shop and my husband and I changing out the one there for the new one twice a month. It was particularly wonderful when someone would start to drive by, stop, and get out of the car to tell us what a kick they got out of our decorations. Several people told us they drove by often just to see if we had changed the decoration yet. How wonderful is that! 🤗

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This morning I was up at 1am wringing out towels from my leaking windows with a hard storm from Typhoon Regasa. I got back to sleep, back up again at 5 in order to check the towels again and get ready for the gym. I had to wring them out again, but that has been it for the day. I got the towels on my drying rack out on the balcony, and everything is almost dry now. I have rolled up towels in the window sills again, in case we’re not finished with the remnants of the typhoon, but hopefully, it has passed us now.

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This is the latest painted sketch.

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We went to visit Harvey at the nursing home this morning. This is a 3 hour round trip we make three times a week to show him we love him and make sure he’s getting the care he needs. At first we thought he wasn’t going to talk to us at all. I had almost given up after about 25 minutes of our asking questions or making statements with no reaction from him at all when he suddenly said, “I’m trying to remember where I got your engagement ring. I want to get you a “better” wedding ring.” I sat there with tears running down my face.

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Today has turned out to be a beautiful day with lots of sunshine. Dark clouds are looming, but they haven’t won yet. I’ll take it! 👍

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When we got home, Brian walked me to my door. A couple of minutes later he was back with a small package in his hand that had arrived downstairs. I opened it and found two new squeeze balls! When he ordered the original for Harvey, two came in the package. He gave one to Harvey and the other to me. I have to admit I keep it on my computer desk, reaching for it and squeezing it whenever I’m here. It’s mesmerizing. Sadly, about 3 weeks ago I punctured mine inadvertently with a fingernail. I told Harvey about it when I was handing him the ball, encouraging him to practice with his weaker left hand. Brian quietly ordered another set. I’m thrilled! I have my toy back! We’ll take the other one to swap out for the original one the next time we visit Harvey. This new one is actually better than the old one.

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I hope your day/evening is filled with giggles and grins..

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Busy Friday

The Dodo

We had a very busy day. I’ve been out since 5:30 this morning and am just home with dinner coming shortly.

I walked my mile on the treadmill at the gym, showered, changed clothes, ate breakfast with Brian. I had a beautiful massage from Wey-o, who takes such wonderful care of me. I came back to the condo, changed clothes again, and Brian and I went to visit Harvey. We came back in time for me to grab my book, sketchbook and pencil supplies and my jacket – we had to vacate so that my wonderful housekeeper, Khun Nong, could come clean. (I’m still thrilled when I say this. I may never get ‘used to’ having help.) We went next door to the cafe, where Brian worked and I did a combination of drawing, reading, and catching up on my phone.

I came back to this –

This was left by Khun Nong. Aren’t they lovely? AND I have a spotless place!

I left her my usual thank you painted card. The cards are always gone when I come back,. I’m not sure she actually likes them, or just takes them so as to spare my feelings … She has also made my fake green leaves that usually live in this pot disappear once again. Do you suppose she might be trying to send me a message about them?

Brian will call me for dinner any minute now. I think we’re both tired from a really full day. Mostly a really good day. Lucky, lucky us!😁

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