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| McCafe Latte |
I was at my local McDonald's yesterday, decided to get a small latte, skim milk and whipped cream, a good compromise don't you think? An older senior lady sat quietly at the table next to me. I decided to ask her if she was collecting the stickers on her cup. It's a fun promotion and if you get 7 stickers, it entitles you to a free medium drink of your choice. She said she did have a couple of stickers she had saved.
She mentioned she lived alone, that her husband had passed away a month ago, he had heart valve problems and died in his sleep at home. We both agreed we wouldn't mind dying this way. He worked up until the day he died. It was revealed that he had compromised their business due to gambling debt and felt he had to keep working. As it is he had left their affairs in a mess. There is no life insurance and she will sell her house, which will pay for other accommodations once she decides where to go. Admittedly, the house is too big for her alone anyway. She doesn't have many friends left these days so she didn't think it mattered staying close to home. Her husband was 82 and she is 81. She has children living with their own families, one at the other end of town and one living up north. The one at the other end of town visits her weekly. She was very 'matter of fact' about the whole thing, as opposed to being upset. I think it was good for her to talk to a sympathetic ear. Indeed her problems are not unique in our aging population.
I bid her goodbye and we both hoped we would meet again.
12 comments:
what a wonderful chance meeting, she obviously needed someone to share her worries and you were so kind to let her, to listen, sometimes we just need someone to listen,
Life is sometimes hard, and she was lucky to have found you to talk to, it's bad when you have nobody to talk to about problems. Valerie
Christine it was so good that you were there. I bet that's what she had really been needing - the chance to talk about it some.
What a lovely encounter. I enjoy speaking with the elderly. They have stories to tell; they just need someone to listen.
You certainly know how to get people to open up!
The main thing I got from your conversation with her is that she does not have dementia. Very important! I am glad she is independent mentally and physically at her age.
good point Gigi, she said she was in good health.
This world just moves too quickly anymore. I loved hanging out with my grandparents when I was a teen, but teens these days? How do we slow it back down?
I'm glad she has some family to visit with her and she has a plan. She sounds really together. I'm shy in real life, so I rarely talk to people when I'm out, you're so amazing!
hopefully things will work out for her
Amazing the things people have to deal with. She sounds like she will do well. Good for you for listening.
Cheers from Cottage Country Ontario , ON, Canada!
It sounds like she is a real stoic and you were a good listening friend to her. I'm glad she does have family around who can look in on her. She is lucky in that way.
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