Monday, October 24, 2011

The Sweetest Thing Ever

Sunday was a beautiful fall day here in Iowa.
As I was driving down Jones street I noticed three ladies having lunch outside. Not just lunch on a picnic table but instead a formal looking sort of lunch.
I thought it was the sweetest thing I ever did see.
I stopped to asked if I could take their picture.
I just assumed that it was two daughters having lunch with their mother.
But upon visiting with them I learned that Esther, the elderly lady and guest of honor, is Dorie and Mary's aunt. I learned that Esther would be leaving her home and moving to the care center the next day.
This would be her last lunch at her home.
I had to wonder were they having lunch outside because it was such a beautiful fall day, or was it just too painful to have lunch in the house?


Esther, Dorie and Mary

Take a close look at this picture - click on it to enlarge it.
This picture is soooo grandma like – the red and white checked tablecloth, the silk flower basket that someone probably gave her, the Christmas candles that she has probably used every Christmas for as long as anyone can remember, the stenciled drinking glasses and the pin on her lapel.
This could be a picture of my Grandma.
And enjoying a glass of wine too.
Good for Grandma.


I had never met any of these ladies before I stopped to take their picture and I still really do not know much about them. I do know Dorie and Mary did the sweetest, kindest thing that anyone could do for Esther.
And I know one thing for sure...They are good people.

Do a feel good something today.

From my heart,
Sandy

17 comments :

  1. Very sweet indeed! What a lovely meal with that pretty table setting. I'm assuming the house was pretty cleared out if she is moving to a care home so maybe it was just too empty to be cheery. I hope they see their smiling faces on your blog.

    I miss my Grandma, who passed away two years ago this month.

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  2. What a really sweet thing for them to do for Ester!

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  3. And now that you have taken their picture have you an address to send someone a copy? Just a thought! That was so sweet... hopefully not her last picnic outside. I think sometimes people tend to think that once someone is in a nursing home... that they are fine and don't need to go check on them.
    Great picture! Thanks for sharing.

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  4. Your post brought tears to my eyes. I saw a lot of these sweet ladies in the skilled nursing facility I worked at. What a wonderful thing these two ladies did for their aunt. Thank you for sharing.

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  5. That IS the sweetest thing ever!

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  6. That must have take a lot of courage to ask to take their picture! :o) I agree, we must do as Jesus, and love one another and take the time to do something thoughtful and selfless...it's about others, not US!

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  7. The power of a simple act of kindness...theirs and yours for sharing it with us. My heart is full.

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  8. Isn't that touching! Made me cry. We never know where life will take us and I'm only 51 but have had a disabling lung disease since I was 38 and it's getting worse and I wonder about my future. This is not how I envisioned I would be living my life at 51 but if I make it to even 61 where will I end up? I hope to have caring family supporting me when that time comes. Thanks for sharing this photo. It gives me hope. :)

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  9. Oh, that picture and story brought tears to my eyes. Having gone through the painful process of moving my mom out of her home to live with us, and then finally, to a nursing home when we could no longer care for her, I applaude those women for that lovely gesture. Thank you for sharing that!

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  10. Beautiful post. Thank you for being brave enough to stop and talk to them. What an inspiration, we should always take the time to do something nice for someone. Thank you again for sharing. That was something nice you did for us. :)

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  11. This is kind of a bittersweet photograph. And, yes, they are good people. You can just tell...

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  12. A grand party for sure. I hope Auntie enjoys her new home. Cheers to all.

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  13. What a neat thing they did for Esther! Interestingly, Esther was my Swedish grandmother's name. She was on my father's side and had strawberry blonde hair. This could almost be her. Except that she died in 1979. She also lived in Kansas, after coming here from Sweden.

    ~Linnea

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  14. Awe, this was the best post ever. I really am touched by this unique post. Thank you for sharing.

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  15. Darn it, this post made me all teary. YOU made me all teary! I worked in a rest home in high school and that was always such a difficult day. Ester is lucky to have such sweet nieces!

    A perfect shot. So great to know there are people like this out there!

    (also, thanks... :-)

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  16. So very nice and a simple beautiful thing to do. My husband's mother just passed away last weekend and moments such as these are the special ones that will always be remembered. Thanks for the post.
    Marsha S.

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  17. Ah, Sandy, you give me hope that there is still good in the world. Bless you fora the joy and beauty you bring to us.

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