Finally - a decent day at memory care

GothicGremlin

Peggy had a good day. One good day. There were moments when it looked like things were going to go to hell in a hand basket, but then things calmed down.

We were listening to '80s music and that song "Kiss" by Prince came on. Both of us are big Prince fans, so I got us chair dancing to Kiss. Peggy was keeping a beat! I should have videoed it, but I was in the moment. It was so nice to see.

When it was done I said "we can dance if we want to", which Peggy recognized as The Safety Dance, so I continued "we can leave your friends behind, cause your friends don't dance and if they don't dance ..."

Peggy interjected - "then they have nothin'!" 😄😄 (the line is "well they're no friends of mine"). It was pretty funny. She was on today.

As for me, it was a good enough day that I went out to a goth club (just got back). The first song I heard walking in the door was Masque by Ashbury Heights ("on the worst of days I'm a burned out candle"). The other day that song was resonating with me, and not in a good way, tonight I could smile at it.

I guess today was filled with music (in some form or another) from start to finish - probably also a contributor to the good day.

harshedbuzz

@GothicGremlin

Thank you for sharing your day. Music can be magical stuff. I wish someone had taken a video for the two of you.

Dad's MCF had a monthly themed party to which family were invited. One was a "wedding reception" scheduled for an evening around Valentine's Day. In the lead up, the Activities Director hyped it up and asked families to bring copies of wedding themed photographs of the residents. There was a DJ playing tunes and emceeing the event. He played Blueberry Hill- "their" song I'm told. The man passed the mic to dad and he sang along while hugging my mom. My niece was there and took a video clip-- it's the only smile I can recall in the last 5-10 years of dad's life.

HB

forbarbara

Oh GG I’m so happy for you. What a day to put in your memory bank - it made me smile just reading it.

GothicGremlin

@forbarbara I'm still smiling just thinking of it! It was just so nice to see Peggy keeping that beat and smiling a real smile.

@harshedbuzz That's a very sweet story. I'm glad your dad was so happy in that moment.

Also yesterday -- I forgot to mention, Peggy got a bigger bonus yesterday - my brother showed up (while I was there)! And he was reasonably well-behaved. His interactions with Peggy are really awkward now, because he doesn't really doesn't know how to interact with her at this point (you have to work really hard), but he gets points for showing up, and he gets extra-credit for understanding my code words to him when I told him not to say our parents have passed on. The new party line is "Mom isn't here right now because she's in (her old town where she is now buried), and we're in the town you live in, Peggy. She's an hour away, but she'll see you soon." Amazing how well that works.

Such a good day yesterday.

Quilting brings calm

I am so happy for you!

Emily 123

So glad you had a good day, and you got out, too!

(Last week I heard 'Just Like Heaven'...in an elevator. That's either a 'YIKES!' or a *sigh*. Not sure which, yet, but thought you'd appreciate it.)

GothicGremlin

@Emily 123 I know that song, and Just Like Heaven and Elevator Muzak in Heaven are two verrrrrrry different songs. 😄

Jgirl57

I am glad you and Peggy had that moment of musical joy and the time with your brother.

JDancer

The original post reminded me of one of my favorite bumper stickers, " Where are we going and why am I in this handbasket?"