i'll choose a college where there are a lot of boys

another sunday...from 4:30 - 6:30... i had to skip my rondalla band practice... i really need to reorganize my schedule and maybe start doing my visits on a friday or some weekdays after work.

anyway...



=== (I) ===

i first went to see (I). as usual she's in the dining hall. i said my hello and off we go up and down the hall again, only stopping at every window we passed by for 15 minutes. she kept tagging on her blouse so i helped her fix it and pulled it down (it was very high up her waist) and then she asked "does it look better?" to which i answered "yeah, much much better!". she's a little quiet that day. she looked like she's not in the mood. she's not in her usual talkative self. she mentioned a person named harry very briefly and then she stopped. when i asked her about it i think she have forgotten that she even mentioned that name and she started talking about something else. as usual i would sit on the floor infront of her while i rub or touch her hand/arms. she kept saying "you're beautiful" which really made me laugh and i just kept replying "and so are you". but the most wonderful thing i heard from (I) that day was when she said "i think i'll keep you, i'll take you home with me". it really melted my heart.




=== (P) ===

then i visited (P). she's awake. i'm starting to think that the best time to visit my patients is in the afternoon so that they are all awake. i saw her with her legs exposed again. no blanket. maybe she preferred it that way. she really has a very good skin even at a very old age. i so envy her. anyway, so i said my hello. asked her how she is. i told her i brought a book again and that i'll read for her. i read her one of the chapters of the lord of the flies, the chapter where we stopped last time. (note to self: i think i need to buy those portable chairs that people used when watching a baseball game or having picnics. i was wearing a dress that day (i cant stand jeans, very very hot) and i had to sit on the floor right next to my patient's bed or right infront of my patient's wheelchair.). when it's almost time to go the nurse came in to give her dinner. i just watched her eat for a while (she can still eat on her own) and then i said goodbye. another note to self: i really need to ask my volunteer coordinator about bringing a nail polish. hers is chipping off.



=== (J) ===

next stop is (J). she's on the second floor. i found her on the dining hall and she just finished her dinner when i saw her. i said hello, again i heard that light chuckle and then i grabbed a chair and sat right next to her. i noticed that she was hiding her other hand inside the side of her pants. i teased her about it but she just chuckled. i asked her if she wants me to wheel her down the hall or if she prefer to just stay, she chose to just stay at the dining hall. there's another old woman sharing a dining table with her. she's a short old woman. at first she would just watch me while i stroke (J)'s back or shoulder or upper arm and while i talk to (J) and then she started talking to me too. i think she thought i'm one of (J)'s relatives and she kept telling (J) "i trust her", "i really think she is trustworthy. i'm very good at judging peoples personality". or the "i like her smile. she'll go places because of that smile". hmm interesting. anyway, she also asked me if i had a good swim and i just said yes even if i haven't been to my apartment's swimming pool since it opened, lol. the funniest part of the conversation i had with that old lady was this:

"are you done school?"
"yes, i'm done with school"
"ah that's good. have you decided which school to go to for college?"
"uhmm. hmm. i really haven't decided yet"
"i'll choose a college where there are a lot of boys"

i can't help it and just laughed out loud,LOL.

"oh" was my reply
"that's what i'll do", the old woman again

(J) was just smiling the whole time and looked contented by just listening to our conversation and answering the old lady’s questions to her. although i still think she’s having difficulty talking. oh and she also laughed when the old woman mentioned about going to a school where there are a lot of boys. by the way, i need to document this. one of the nurses was holding a small container w/ spoon that looks like a pudding that has (J)'s meds mixed in it. the nurse asked me if i can feed (J) but i told her i don't know how and she looked surprised and repeated what i said:

"you don't know how?"
"yes, i don't know how, i'm sorry" i replied. i felt useless at that very moment, lol
"you're just here to visit?"
"yeah", trying to hid my embarassment, lol
"oh, i thought you're an aid"

hmmm.... i wonder if they know about volunteers visiting the patients or if i'm really expected to feed the patient and help with meds. i sure remember my coordinator telling us that we're just there for emotional support nothing else.



=== (T) ===

last stop was (T). he's in his room sleeping. i grabbed a chair (i wish all rooms have chairs, lol) and i think i woke him up because of that. i introduced myself. said my hello and asked him how he was. he's not responsive like (P) but he says "thank you" and "hello" a lot. so anyway, i sat right next to his bed and showed him some pictures of deers and read to him the description. he tried grabbing the book from me so i gave it to him but he can't really hold something with his hand so it just fell on the side of his bed. then i asked him if he wants me to read him a book. he didn't reply and i saw his eyes slowly closing. but i was like, what the heck i'll just read to him. when i started reading he opened his eyes right away and after a few minutes started dozing off again and then he would open his eyes again as if he just remembered i was there and he would doze off again... that's pretty much what happened while i was there. when it's time to leave i said my goodbye and he started saying "hello" over and over until i left the room.