Do you remember the last time you visited your mother in that nursing home? You were worried because she was complaining about her next-door neighbour being too nosy and that kind of bothered her. You have talked to the director who said it was just a natural reaction of somebody who is yet getting accustomed to a new place.
You know your mother to be a very private person. She could be friendly but not to everybody. She is the discriminating type but far from being hostile. She doesn't dip her fingers into other people's affairs as she doesn't want them prying on hers. That is what worries you. She can't be happy in that nursing home.
Checking your calendar, you are surprised to discover it has been six months since you last visited her. You finally stopped making the vow to visit her every end of the month and resolved to do it the next day as it is a weekend. You have been too busy with work you even cannot properly be with your family as you work at home even on weekends. Tomorrow, the whole family will visit the nursing home.
On the way to the senior health care home, everybody is happily chattering and excited with the prospect of meeting your dear mom again. You couldn't wait to get there. The kids are so excited you had to admonish them as you enter the nursing home premises.
After going through the visitors' routine check you proceed to your mother's room passing through half-open doors with elderly people happily gossiping with their family although some barely participate. Growing old is such a mysteriously lonely phase. A few had no visitors at all and just stared blankly at the wall or to space through the window, not even noticing the manicured lawns and beautiful flowers blooming. Your heart skipped thinking of the months you haven't come to visit your mother. You are touched with guilt and a hint of sorrow.
You finally reach her room and got more worried not to find your mother there. Even the kids looked sad as they entered the room slowly wondering where their grandma was. Then you hear muffled laughter through the wall from the next room. As you passed by the slightly open door to ask about your mother's whereabouts, you see her excitedly chattering with her next-door neighbour who she said was "bothering" her. You tentatively knock at the door and your mother sees you. After a brief hello, you tell her that the family is waiting for her next door. But to your surprise, after a hint of pleasant surprise, she tells you to wait for her at her room. She just has a "little business" to finish.
Back in your mother's room it has been fifteen minutes but no grandma yet. You start to wonder if growing old and/or nursing homes will change you the same way.
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