Monday, June 11, 2012

Ruby Joy

Daughter Serina came home from Ireland to help organise the annual May 17th celebration. That is, she spent four days ironing, decorating, buying and cooking and visiting my mother at the nursing home. When Gunnar and I joined the party may 16th, my mother was a bit under the weather. Little did we know that one of the leaders of the home had terrorised her for over an hour the day before."Admit you are satisfied with how you are treated. Admit that we have done nothing wrong e.t.c." The leader shot herself in the leg, she put it all in writing. As you see Mom is not happy here.


 Her grandchild intuitively sensed something were wrong. My mother would not tell.


 Then we all began joking and enjoying the moment. Just look how my mother gradually loosens up, and so does Serina.


They started telling stories from when Serina was a child and said "I feel unjustly treated," because her Grandmom wouldn't buy her a pair of red shoes fitting an adult. (she was three at the time and she never got that big feet to fit the shining red shoes.)


The laughter must have filled the whole institution and the joy melted away the black clouds in our souls.


Isn't it amazing how much a good laugh in the company of loved ones can heal?

Magical Mystery Teacher is hosting Ruby Tuesday 2 together with Gemma Wiseman

17 comments:

Crown of Beauty said...

Yes, indeed, what a good laugh can do to lift our spirits. Wishing your mother could be cared for by a loving caretaker in her golden years...

Hope you had a good Syttende Mai celebration...

Thank you for the lovely postcard from Ireland, dear Felisol!

Extending loving greetings to your Mom...

Love
Lidia

Ralph said...

The smiles are enough to melt hearts, the multi generations of ladies who love and care in a way that the facility will not. Te family love will be therapeutic always...

I have been involved with nursing homes for work for 3 years, and I do not care for most of these places. Never caring, and it seems that they all believe they are doing God's work...happily Serina and you are the medicine for your mom needs :)

http://bitsandpieces-sonja.blogspot.com/ said...

On this morning, far away in Texas, my heart has been blessed by your precious Serina. How beautiful to see her with your mother, cheering her up and sharing her love. I could just hug your girl right now, and since I can't, please do it for me! :)

I'm so happy to see your post today, I've prayed so much for you and your mother, and those prayers will continue, that God will 'put His angels in charge over her' and protect her and keep her safe by day and by night.

Love you!

Maria Stahl said...

Sweet Serina to lift her grandma's spirits!

I wish your mother had an alternative place to live. I know she does not.

Mrs. Mac said...

The young bringing cheer to the family matriarch. A beautiful story with a few snapshots in time.

Your family 'wears' their smiles well :)

You have been gone to Ireland .. and blessed my heart :) The homeland to many of my ancestors. Thanks for sharing in the gift of a card.

Love,

C

Leah H. said...

Nice to see them happy.. Great shots!

Visiting for RT 2- hope you can stop by:)

http://myrecipecollection.info/2012/06/juicy-tomatoes.html

Unknown said...

I agree laughter is the best medicine. A heartwarming to see those lovely smiles.
Mary, MI

Liz said...

Precious photos.

Japanese Lantern

Amrita said...

Oh I am so happy to see this Felisol.

You all helped Monten to relax and laugh, must be such a special moment for her to retell stories. Looks like a beautiful family time.

Two lovely ladies smiling together.

Hugs to you all

lina@women said...

Laughing is really the best medicine.
Hope the nursing home will improve their caring treatment...

Terry said...

dear felisol...this makes me feel so sad about that woman terrorizing your mom..you know i know that it is true..once where i worked, in a nursing home there was this little old lady who was a real sweetheart and i loved her...one time she had wet her bed and the nurse i was working for, yelled at her, grabbed the dolly that the lady always hugged, threw the dolly on the floor and kicked it all over the room...mrs.wilson cried and cried real tears and kept saying, "my baby, my baby!"...her blue eyes were just full and running over with tears... felisol. there was nothing i could do..i was just a young girl, but i was so angry..
felisol, mrs. wilson used to be an opera singer and something like this had to happen....one time when she and other alzheimer patient were sitting in the sun room, one elderly man started to sing, "oh danny boy" and mrs. wilson joined in and believe me dear felisol, the room was suddenly filled with magic..what a beautiful sight!...two exquisite voices and two equsite faces, shining with happiness!..when the song was finished, the room became dreary again as the patients hung their heads again and the magic moment was over...it really made me sad..anyways felisol, keep your eyes open and your ears and protect your mom from this cruelty...

she looks so happy in the last pictures as that norwegian princess of yours cheered her up and then your mom's room was filled with magic...when you see mom ljung again, can you give her a hug and a smile from me..and tell her i love her....love terry

Felisol said...

Dearest Terry,
Mission completed. My Mom loves watching the Internet,and she remembers her Canadian friends.

Colleen said...

These are beautiful pictures and show such a loving relationship between your daughter and her grandmother. I am so very sorry to read that your mother isn't having an easy time where she is now. I believe she deserves better treatment but am happy to know in her family at least she is surrounded by love and compassion.

❀~Myrna~❀ said...

So wonderful to see both of those beautiful smiles!Laughter is a wonderful thing, it is good for the soul.I am so sorry for your mother's treatment. She is in my prayers. I have an aunt in a rest home here in the US. I worry about & pray for her alot.Because you never really can know all that goes on behind closed doors.
I am so glad your family had a good day of celebrating.

steveroni said...

What POWER, that gift of the Spirit!
Healing. The power to touch...and heal

We know of healings.
We hear of healings.
We see the results of healing.

But you, Felisol, have given to us a pictorial/commentary of the process of healing:

From an atmosphere of gloom,
Laughter filled the room.
All it took to rid of strife,
was a few choice words from the 'book of life'!

PEACE!
Steve

Roan said...

Two beautiful ladies. Your post made me smile. It warms the heart. I hope things are better for your mom.

Saija said...

your mom is so blessed to have all of you love her so much ...