Something to Smile About

Written by Jen Friday, 09 January 2009 01:41

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"I'm one-hundred-and-one," she said proudly. I gasped at the little lady sitting in the scooter. Really, how can you respond to that comment? We should all be that fortunate.

After this sweet woman almost ran over me twice while moving her motorized contraption in reverse, I'd helped her reach a jar of pimentos in aisle 8, then a box of tissues in aisle 12. I felt like we were becoming good friends.

She told me that the bus dropped her at the grocery and she only had an hour to do all of her shopping. She had few items in her cart, but then she only prepares breakfast and lunch herself. (The pimentos are "so good in salad, you know.") For supper she goes "downstairs" to the dining room at the retirement home where she has a little apartment.

"How do you like it there?" I quipped, knowing the place she resides is the same facility my own in-laws have considered.

"Well, I don't like the food much," she answered. "I never thought I was a finicky eater until I started eating there. But it's fine otherwise. You know, when you really can't live by yourself anymore it's just fine. Now, where do you think I can find a picture frame?"

I pointed her to the other end of the store and she rumbled off happily with a "bye, dear" and a smile. By the time I checked out and was leaving the store with my own cartful of supplies, the seniors' van was waiting out front. Six gray heads were barely visible through the side window and I looked furtively for my friend. I couldn't tell if she was one of this group, but I hoped she was seated peacefully with her pimentos, her tissues and the best photo frame she could fine.

And I prayed that supper would be good tonight.