Sweet Della

I'm in a bit of a funk. I know it, I don't really know the reason for it. (maybe I do) I hate feeling like this. This is when all the bad, awful, horrible feelings about myself come and hit me like a ton of bricks. Really it's just a big pity party that I am throwing myself. I have been sitting here trying to talk myself out of throwing this party and trying to come up with something happy and the only thing that comes to mind is my sweet friend Della. I have been wanting to write about her for some time and I decided that tonight instead of focusing on my own feelings of myself I will focus on her.

I met Della quite a few years ago when she started coming into the salon. She has quite a hard time getting around and it is very difficult for her to come in. A year or 2 ago I made arrangements with her to go to her house to do her hair. I did this for a while and then she decided she didn't need me to do that anymore. After a few months she had me start going back again. As time went on she needed to go to the dentist and asked if I would drive her. I was happy to do so. Well, since then I have become her chaffeur when needed, along with being her hair dresser. About 3 months ago she got edema in her legs and had a heck of a time with it. (Turns out they were wrapping her legs with something that had latex in it. She is highly allergic.) I began taking her to the doc quite often. She schedules her appointments on my days off so I can drive her. A couple weeks ago at her appt. they finally decided to admit her to the hospital so we went from the doc to her house to get a few things, then I took her to the hospital and got her settled in there. She stayed about 4 days and then was moved to a rehab facility.

She calls me her girl friday.

I keep her daughters informed (they both live out of state), do her laundry, get her mail, pay her bills, and be her friend. It kind of sounds like I do a lot for her. In all reality

she does way more for me.

I look at this sweet woman who lives alone and is almost completely housebound, can hardly get around or take care of herself, and is genuinely one of the kindest people I have had the pleasure to meet. She never complains about her situation or herself. If she starts to, she immediately catches herself and says "now thats enough about that". She is also extremely stubborn. She insists on trying to pay me for anything I do. I know there is a level of independance that she needs to maintain and by paying me she feels like she isn't taking advantage. I can't always refuse her because I know she won't ask again and she needs the help. I tell her all the time by paying me she is taking away the blessings I might be receiving and

I need all I can get!

While in the hospital they discovered a heart problem and she is now on medication to correct that. One day when we were arguing over her paying me and I was have none of it she said to me "Now stop this, you know I have a heart condition." I almost busted up laughing and told her she can't pull that one on me, that my husband tries to pull the 'I had an aneurysm' card all the time and that I don't fall for it either!

She always wants to know what is going on out in the big world of Middleton, and how my kids are and how their activities are going. I have been around quite a lot of elderly people and many of them complain.

A lot.

Della never does.

She is such a great example to me and I have told her over and over that the high light of my week is going to her house on wednesdays to do her hair. It just makes my day brighter.

The rehab facility has been good for her. She is getting the care she needs and getting stronger. Hopefully she will be able to go home soon.

I will continue to do what I can for her and will continue to be taught many lessons from her. Lessons about love, patience, and endurance.

I have never met her daughters. They are very thankful for what I do for their mom. I tell them that if my mom were still alive and I couldn't be there to help her I would hope there was someone out there that could and would.

I miss my mom.

A lot.

Della isn't a member of the church and it makes me realize how fortunate we as members are. There is always someone looking out for us, especially if our family isn't around.

I hope as I age, I will remember the lessons that I have learned from her and that I will be able to do it with the same grace and good attitude as my sweet Della. I love her and hope to be able to help her for many years to come.
After all...

she is only 86!

Thats all