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| Florence at 92 |
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| Florence by the Shores of the Sea |
My mother went into the hospital earlier this month, and for a while I thought she might pass. But she's improved and is now in a rehab center in good spirits. But it's apparent she can't return to her home again. So, with less than two weeks until I'm scheduled to leave for England (not to mention the 115 degree temperatures and my politically correct non-air-conditioned car) I've been desperately seeking an assisted living community for her to go to, and resigning myself to the possibility of giving up my trip.
I've looked at places gorgeous but too expensive, and lots of places less expensive that are very depressing. Finally I went to a big community to meet with a manager named "Sharif". I walked into a beautiful building with a big dining room, impressive art and furniture, and a huge landscaped interior garden. I was expecting Sharif to be a rather intimidating Middle Eastern man, but instead was met by a young, freckled redhead in a Hawaiian shirt, who told me that he and his brother, Omar, were named after the famous actor. I immediately saw that the place would be perfect for my mother.We looked at a lovely studio, and in the course of a tour Sharif interrupted our walk by bounding down the hall to assist an elderly woman who called for help. She was fainting, and he caught her before she could fall. I excused myself, and said I'd be back later.
My mother's name is Florence, so I was a little amazed when I came back to notice a big sign, with balloons, over a door that said "Welcome Home Florence!". When I met Sharif again, he told me the lady who had almost fallen was fine, just a blood sugar problem, and that her name was Florence. And last but not least, I received an email from someone who was interested in purchasing a "Flora" mask!
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| Flora Pitcher with Florence, 1917 |
