It must be nearly two years now since Aunty moved back to Melbourne to stay with
us. It's been wonderful having someone to cook and wash and iron for us, and
look after the "kids" if we are away visiting TO's mum.
With our new live-in Filippina house maid to do the floors,
I thought I had it made.
JJ told me she is "The Floor Manager"…
"Fine," says I, "you can promote yourself, but you are still
only getting 35 cents an hour."
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Aunty had a nasty fall a year ago which exacerbated some
pre-existing conditions, but she has soldiered on. The only setback was the
great runaway supermarket trolley disaster of Jan 2013, which means I have had to
do the shopping myself, again.
Bummer.
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After my mother passed away in March, I offered to go with
Bro 2 to Murchison to clean out her room. "8 o'clock sharp," his
email said. I arrived at Murch at 7.50 am, while he sat in Hampton Park
Oops. Communication breakdown.
Bro 2 was going to leave most of mother's stuff behind for
the use of new residents. I was happy to leave the wheelchair – the best in the
world after 3 months of stuffing around to have it adjusted for her [lack of [
height.
It was made of some super-light super strong space age
yankee metal, and had solid rubber tires – at 48 kgs mother had little trouble
manoeuvring around her room.
Shampoo, baby powder and more – all of it was useful so I
kept it. Some new [still unwrapped] singlets and shirts found their way to the Philippines .
[What can I say… mother was a bogan. Tracky pants, flanny shirts and
moccasins.]
Asked Aunty if she wanted mother's [unused] wheely walker.
"Oh, suppose we should keep it, just in case I need it one day."
Really, I'm only cheesed off because mother had the world's
best, full length shoe horn, and some mongrel beat me to it.
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Aunty tripped about 8 weeks ago which has further aggravated
pre-existing conditions. The only way the ambos could get her up off the floor
was to put their feet toe to toe with hers for balance, because she has very
little movement or strength in her arms. Since then she has suffered a great
deal of pain in the hip/groin region. The wheely walker has been very handy.
It was hard for her to sleep before because of torn muscles
and tendons in both arm sockets [apologies for the medical terminology but I
can't think of a simple way to explain it]. Sleeping has become even harder,
now, because of the extra effort in turning from one uncomfortable side to another.
TO managed to get her at the top of the cancellation list
for when the orthopod returns from leave – TO is certain the problem is
muscular and treatable by injections.
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Happy days! For the past 2 days Aunty has been feeling much
better. Her cloud of depression and feelings of hopelessness about the future
have lifted a little. She sat on the walker in the kitchen while chopping up
vegies, but cook she did. Nobody does a better braised steak.
TO's work uniforms hung over the door, freshly laundered and
pressed.
Welcome back, Aunty!
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