We Run The Gamut From Nursing Homes To Swimming Pools To Pinatas

As the title of this post implies, much randomness follows. Hey, vacation outings can't always be thematically linked! You've got to take the sentimental with the crazy, the fun with the bittersweet.

Speaking of "bittersweet," I was able to visit my grandmother Wednesday morning, June 12th. For several years now, Grandma Eckhardt has been living in a retirement home; there is a service staff there but limited medical facilities, and it's primarily a residence for those seniors who can still function independently. However, in recent weeks, Grandma came down with a series of illnesses which eventually morphed into pneumonia, rendering her very weak and helpless. As a result, she was transferred to a different, assisted-living facility, complete with physical therapy and a full complement of nurses & assistants.

It was in this new facility that I saw my grandmother, for the first time in close to three years. It was a lovely, comfortable facility, and I thought she was lucky to be there. But it was still very hard to see her so thin, frail, and helpless. We had the bad luck to arrive for our visit in the middle of her physical therapy session; it was difficult for our kids to wait for close to half an hour before we were able to get alone time with her. Grandma had to perform tasks like taking her sweater on and off, placing rings on wooden pegs, and even sitting up and down in her bed. These simple tasks wore her out so much that we weren't able to stay more than a few minutes and catch up.

Grandma Eckhardt (my mother's mother) and I have always had a somewhat prickly relationship; in her heyday she was quite the commanding figure, and I suppose my own independent spirit chafed against her sense of order. But now, she's my last living grandparent, and it was hard to see her at the mercy of so many other people. It was hard to see her so tired and lonely, and desperately longing for her old home. I found that my past discomforts with her had faded away. I was left feeling sympathy for her struggles, and impotent frustration, knowing there was little I could do for her besides exchange a few light remarks, show off the girls, and leave so she could have her rest. It was disheartening to feel disconnected from her now in this moment of weakness.

During our short conversation, she kept repeating, "I just want to go home." This new home, however lovely, didn't have her own things, or her own bed, or anything that helped her feel comfortable or safe. I realized that for Grandma, "home" probably meant her retirement home. But another part of me wondered if the "home" she was referring to couldn't also be her heavenly home, where she would be free from physical suffering, and reunited with my loving grandfather (to whom she was sealed in the temple following his death). I hope that whichever "home" she meant, she'll be able to go there soon, and find happiness again.

Sorry...I didn't take any pictures of my visit with Grandma. Perhaps I should have for posterity; but I just didn't feel right photographing her with tubes and wires hanging off of her. It's not how I want to remember her. I hope these words paint a sufficient picture.

We left the assisted-living home with mixed feelings, and decided to get lunch before rejoining the rest of the Nash family. We visited The Purple Turtle, as we always do when we visit Utah; it's an artery-clogging greasy burger/shake joint, but it is so good that we're willing to overlook that, despite a real danger of our lives being shortened by eating there.

We ordered one of their famous shakes for every member of the family...that turned out to be a mistake! Each shake filled a small-sized soda cup, plus a smaller plastic cup. These guys are serious about shakes! Needless to say, we had to leave a lot of it behind (tearfully!).

No sooner had we arrived back at the Carlins, then it was time to throw on our swimsuits. It was POOL TIME! The City of Lehi has a pretty nice community center, which includes a very large covered recreational swimming pool, complete with a large fast waterslide. I emphasize covered pool, because such pools have become almost alien to me, after years of living in Arizona, where open-air pools are the norm.

My girls always love swimming, and the whole family took turns diving in. We were only there for about an hour, but it was well worth the trip. My girls especially liked the "lazy river" portion of the pool, which has a current that pushes everyone around a loop. Aurora must have circled around in the lazy river about 500 times.

But there was still more awesomeness awaiting us at the Carlins' house...

Grandma and Grandpa Nash had prepared a jungle-themed party for all the grand-kids! I wasn't sure what prompted them to pick a jungle theme, but the kids loved it.

Grandma handed out everyone's party favors...

...including these cute pillows. Aurora loved her monkey pillow; she is part monkey herself, hence the affinity.

Caroline loved her tiger-striped shades!

Everybody waiting for their goodies

Grandma enjoyed playing "summer Santa"

I remembered (just as the party was starting) that I was supposed to be in charge of a party game. Oops! On the spur of the moment, I created a "Name That Jungle Animal" game, and ended up making a lot of roars, hisses, hoots, trumpets, and other assorted animal sounds while the kids shouted out answers. Thank goodness no one got that on tape!

Aunt Ade helped Aurora balance a peanut on a spoon for a relay race.

Aunt Jocelyn led everyone on a "python" walk; everyone joined hands and "slithered" around the yard through various obstacles. The kids really loved it!

 

After the games had been played, and the party favors handed out, it was time to break open the tiger-head-shaped pinata.

Although, it looks more like Heathcliff the Cat or Garfield than a tiger, but whatever.

Luckily, we had big, almost-teenaged girls who enjoyed hitting things with sticks, so the pinata was broken apart without adult intervention!  Whee!

 

Elaine was the cousin who finally cracked it all open.

CANDY MADNESS

The ugly aftermath

I'm really grateful for my parents for putting on such a fun party for the kids. They all loved it, and we all loved the burgers & hot dogs we ate afterwards! We were pretty worn out by day's end, but there wasn't much time to relax. The next day was one the kids were very excited about; they were taking a train ride!