Fran and the Sept. 16-19 ROL
Title
Fran and the Sept. 16-19 ROL
Creator
Jacob Schlitt
Description
"Whenever we come back from a period of time away, we always put the best face on it."
Date
2013-09-21
Format
application/pdf
Type
text
Language
en
Coverage
2013
Identifier
Fran_and_9-13_ROL
Text
FRAN AND THE SEPT. 16-19 ROL
Whenever we come back from a period of time away, we always put the best face on it. We had a great time! It was wonderful. We saw so many fantastic sights. The food was terrific. Best of all, was being with the people we were with. If it was expensive, I might comment on the cost, but always follow it up with, “It was well worth it.” If it wasn’t, I would stress what a bargain it was. And if it was Wildbrook, I would shake my head in disbelief that one of our children owns such a place, and we are able to spend a few days there at no cost.
After months of anticipation, Fran and I, Bob and Rose, Barbara and Ruth, and at the last minute, Bernice, came together on Monday September 16, for three days. I had hoped to leave around 10:30 am. We were going to pick up Bernice and get to Wildbrook around 2 pm. Fran was moving especially slowly. She had come to bed around 5 am, having spent the early hours of Monday making soup. I had packed the night before, and went to Kopels in the morning for bagels, to Trade Joe’s for eggs and wine and a thank you card, and to Brookline Booksmith for a gift calendar for Dan and Jen. Fran was not ready to go until 1 pm. We were back and forth with Alex and picked up Bernice at the Framingham service plaza on the Pike.
It was a pleasant ride to Exit 2 and up Tyringham Road, getting to Wildbrook around 3:15 pm. We unpacked and Bernice and I went to the main house. Fran rested, and I came back for her a few hours later to have her join us for dinner. We had a lovely dinner, sang and schmoozed and got caught up.
Just Bernice, Fran and I were staying at the small house, Brookside, which has three stone steps, without a railing which I can’t handle. I discovered that we can go in through French doors on the side. Earlier, Fran discovered that she could not get in the bed because it was too high, so we had taken a stool from the main house to aid Fran in getting into bed. Fran decided to follow Bernice up the steps. Just as she reached the third step, she fell. I was behind her, Bernice was in front of her. Fran was sprawled on the grass, unable to get up. We tried rolling her over. No luck. Fran was hyperventilating, crying, insisting she is not in pain, but was unable to maneuver herself up, even with our help. Call our friends. No cellphone reception, and we didn’t know how to use the house phone.
I drove back up to the main house. The doors were locked and no one heard me banging, or the sound of my horn. I returned to Brookside, and Fran was sitting on the stool. Bernice apparently helped Fran get up. I was delighted that she was no longer lying on the ground. Bernice and I helped Fran get up from the stool and walk inside. She sat in the chair in our room for a long time, trying to regain her composure. Eventually she came to bed, but getting into the bed was difficult, even with the stool.
Tuesday morning, Fran was unable to get out of bed. However, by late morning, she got out, I brought her some breakfast, and the group went to Stockbridge and lunch at the Red Lion Inn, without her. When we returned, I brought Fran the leftovers from Monday evening for lunch. And Fran joined us later for supper. Fran was using the larger walker which is difficult putting in and taking out of the car, and it required help on the stairs from where we parked.
Wednesday, Fran slept late and I brought her breakfast at Brookside. She said that her back was hurting, very likely from the fall. The group chose not to go out to lunch but instead had an early dinner featuring Fran’s soup. Throughout, Fran seemed to be breathing with difficulty, whenever she walked. And throughout, Fran carried her purse, and a bag with newspapers, magazines and a book, hooked onto the handles of the walker.
Thursday morning, the Epsteins and Barbara had already prepared breakfast when Bernice and I arrived at 9 am. Fran promised to be ready by 9:30 am. I returned for her at 9:45 and she was just about ready. Back to finish a big breakfast, and then a trip to the apple orchard, while Fran stayed behind. We returned, cleaned up, took pictures, said goodbye to the Epsteins and Barbara, and Bernice, Fran and I returned to Brookside. Fran had not packed. It took her a long time to finish packing. We loaded up the car after putting in the walker and water for Fran, and off we went. A good time was had by all, except that Barbara and Rose felt that it was diminished by the amount of work required—cooking, serving, cleaning. The men should have done more, but it is still a lot of work. Perhaps we can hire someone, or get prepared food. Or not come to Wildbrook twice a year. We are all getting old, and it is more difficult for some of us than for others.
9-21-13
Whenever we come back from a period of time away, we always put the best face on it. We had a great time! It was wonderful. We saw so many fantastic sights. The food was terrific. Best of all, was being with the people we were with. If it was expensive, I might comment on the cost, but always follow it up with, “It was well worth it.” If it wasn’t, I would stress what a bargain it was. And if it was Wildbrook, I would shake my head in disbelief that one of our children owns such a place, and we are able to spend a few days there at no cost.
After months of anticipation, Fran and I, Bob and Rose, Barbara and Ruth, and at the last minute, Bernice, came together on Monday September 16, for three days. I had hoped to leave around 10:30 am. We were going to pick up Bernice and get to Wildbrook around 2 pm. Fran was moving especially slowly. She had come to bed around 5 am, having spent the early hours of Monday making soup. I had packed the night before, and went to Kopels in the morning for bagels, to Trade Joe’s for eggs and wine and a thank you card, and to Brookline Booksmith for a gift calendar for Dan and Jen. Fran was not ready to go until 1 pm. We were back and forth with Alex and picked up Bernice at the Framingham service plaza on the Pike.
It was a pleasant ride to Exit 2 and up Tyringham Road, getting to Wildbrook around 3:15 pm. We unpacked and Bernice and I went to the main house. Fran rested, and I came back for her a few hours later to have her join us for dinner. We had a lovely dinner, sang and schmoozed and got caught up.
Just Bernice, Fran and I were staying at the small house, Brookside, which has three stone steps, without a railing which I can’t handle. I discovered that we can go in through French doors on the side. Earlier, Fran discovered that she could not get in the bed because it was too high, so we had taken a stool from the main house to aid Fran in getting into bed. Fran decided to follow Bernice up the steps. Just as she reached the third step, she fell. I was behind her, Bernice was in front of her. Fran was sprawled on the grass, unable to get up. We tried rolling her over. No luck. Fran was hyperventilating, crying, insisting she is not in pain, but was unable to maneuver herself up, even with our help. Call our friends. No cellphone reception, and we didn’t know how to use the house phone.
I drove back up to the main house. The doors were locked and no one heard me banging, or the sound of my horn. I returned to Brookside, and Fran was sitting on the stool. Bernice apparently helped Fran get up. I was delighted that she was no longer lying on the ground. Bernice and I helped Fran get up from the stool and walk inside. She sat in the chair in our room for a long time, trying to regain her composure. Eventually she came to bed, but getting into the bed was difficult, even with the stool.
Tuesday morning, Fran was unable to get out of bed. However, by late morning, she got out, I brought her some breakfast, and the group went to Stockbridge and lunch at the Red Lion Inn, without her. When we returned, I brought Fran the leftovers from Monday evening for lunch. And Fran joined us later for supper. Fran was using the larger walker which is difficult putting in and taking out of the car, and it required help on the stairs from where we parked.
Wednesday, Fran slept late and I brought her breakfast at Brookside. She said that her back was hurting, very likely from the fall. The group chose not to go out to lunch but instead had an early dinner featuring Fran’s soup. Throughout, Fran seemed to be breathing with difficulty, whenever she walked. And throughout, Fran carried her purse, and a bag with newspapers, magazines and a book, hooked onto the handles of the walker.
Thursday morning, the Epsteins and Barbara had already prepared breakfast when Bernice and I arrived at 9 am. Fran promised to be ready by 9:30 am. I returned for her at 9:45 and she was just about ready. Back to finish a big breakfast, and then a trip to the apple orchard, while Fran stayed behind. We returned, cleaned up, took pictures, said goodbye to the Epsteins and Barbara, and Bernice, Fran and I returned to Brookside. Fran had not packed. It took her a long time to finish packing. We loaded up the car after putting in the walker and water for Fran, and off we went. A good time was had by all, except that Barbara and Rose felt that it was diminished by the amount of work required—cooking, serving, cleaning. The men should have done more, but it is still a lot of work. Perhaps we can hire someone, or get prepared food. Or not come to Wildbrook twice a year. We are all getting old, and it is more difficult for some of us than for others.
9-21-13
Original Format
application/msword
Collection
Citation
Jacob Schlitt, “Fran and the Sept. 16-19 ROL,” Autobiographical stories & other writing by Jacob Schlitt, accessed April 29, 2024, https://tsirlson.omeka.net/items/show/207.