Wednesday, October 18, 2017

MORE REPORTS FROM THE OLD PEOPLE’S FRONTLINES

The lady who lives directly under us on the second floor is an elegant, interesting resident of ninety-five who has actually lived here for thirty-one years, virtually since Carolina Meadows was opened.  There are big plans to enlarge this CCRC, powerfully opposed by virtually all of the residents [it is already the largest CCRC in North Carolina], and she suggested I make an appointment with the new manager to quiz him about some things.  I did so, and today she stopped by the jigsaw puzzle table while I was hard at work on a 1000 piece monster to find out how it went.  I made my report, and then we chatted about, among other things, the food here [the subject of considerable conversation and complaint, as you might imagine].  In the course of our chat, she revealed that when she lived in Cambridge, many years ago, Julia Child was her neighbor.  They were friends, shopped at the same butcher, and she learned a good deal about complex sauces from Julia.


I mean, really.  Will wonders never cease?

2 comments:

  1. There is not only one "front" here. And there are cruel enemies you do not know. I think of a widow, whose children have forgotten the love she lavished on them her entire life, who lives in fear of a sadistic son-in-law, a widow denied the care she needs and deserves, and, who is, most of all lonely, deprived of normal human contact. She is permitted to shower once a week in a shower with no grab bar. Her son-in-law and daughter regularly remind her of their generosity. She is alone most days, with food, and a roof over her head, but no one to really listen to her. And she lives in the same country as you do.

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