Update from the Home Front

Hello everyone.  I guess its about time I update everyone on the happenings up north in Canada.  A few weeks ago Gramma Grace had a fall at the retirement home and was badly bruised and bumped. The staff at the Atrium called an ambulance and Gramma Grace was thoroughly checked out and it was determined that nothing was broken - just bumped and bruised.  Since her memory is failing her at what seems a fairly rapid rate, she does not remember falling and is mostly somewhat confused about why she is in so much discomfort when she moves.  Therefore, she has been rather immobile since it happened which is probably contributing to the slowness of her recovery.  Auntie Cecile and Auntie Colleen have arranged for a personal service worker to help her in the mornings and the evenings with the tasks involved with getting up in the morning and retiring for the night.  Hopefully this will expedite her recovery.  Moving on..........about two weeks after Gramma Grace fell (in her room at the Atrium), Aunt Peggy took a fall in her driveway.  It has been extremely cold in Canada for the last while.  But - they had a mild spell and the snow melted and everything was damp and drippy.  Overnight it turned cold again and all the damp and drippy stuff froze solid.  Against the advice of Kev-Inn, Robbie, Cousin Anne and Auntie Cecile - Aunt Peggy looked out the window - saw the sun shining and decided to go out to retrieve her garbage can from the end of the driveway.  Of course, with her impeded vision, she did not see the patches of ice in the driveway and down she went.  Like Gramma Grace, she ended up badly bruised and bumped.  After a visit to the emergency department at the hospital she was sent home with the diagnosis of badly bumped and bruised, but not broken.  Similar to Gramma Grace and like most elderly people (she will be 98 in March), she was slow to recover and finding it difficult in her home with no "every day" visitor while I am in Florida.  Consequently, Cousin Anne kindly travelled a fair distance (especially in a Canadian winter) and arranged for Aunt Peggy to stay at the same retirement residence where Gramma Grace is.  As of the last report from home (she has been there about a week), she is much improved and able to get herself up and dressed and off to the dining room for meals.  She is still in some pain, but Tylenol seems to alleviate it enough to make her comfortable.  On a cheerier note....

...... Auntie Colleen received this "wild and woolly" pair of socks in the mail from Florida this week.  Hopefully - now that I have sent three pairs, she will have enough to keep her going until she gets some more in the sock giveaway.  Taffy tells me she has been keeping you all up-to-date regarding that.  We ended up with eight people in the giveaway this year - in no particular order - Mommy, Auntie Colleen, Auntie Denise, Auntie Pauline, Gramma, Lucy & Susie and Taz (these are all people at work!).  It'll be a banner giveaway and I have about half as many socks made as I need to start the choosing!  Poppa and I have been busy doing something next to nothing, but different than the day before (anybody recognize that line?).  We've shopped and driven around and swum and lazed and played computer games and watched TV.  Poppa has gone golfing with Squeegie - I didn't get a picture - I was on the phone when they left - next time - I promise.  I received these...........

.........two pictures....

....... from Mommy of our little men in the tee shirts I sent them last week.  I'm not sure if you can see - but they are covered with skulls wearing sunglasses.  I think they are a tad outre, but apparently the little boys loved them and I knew Mommy would think they were hilarious - so I sent them.