Sep 10, 2013 - Jeanne Friedman visit (plus video)

From: Jeanne Friedman on Tue, 10 Sep 2013

Lovely visit with Barbara today, altho the weather sure didn't cooperate in getting us outside.  Rainy and cold. So we stayed in.

Carrie Johnson, friends with "Barbie" (learned that nickname today ;-) since junior high school, came up from Morro Bay.  Not only is she a burst of high energy, they proceeded to dig back in time to San Diego and old friends and scenes.  One of those HS friends, Norm, called while Carrie was there - more old SD stories. And even more fun for BA, Carrie provided pedicure and most welcome leg massage.  BA toenails, (formerly purple, thanks to Carrie) are now multi-colored.  Did you all know that Barbie was an excellent water-skier?  BA memory of San Diego events and people was excellent.

I arrived earlier than my usual today, was there at 10; BA was fast asleep.  She woke up slowly over the next 45 minutes but we held hands the whole time.  And Lorraine called somewhere in there too, a call that was lost.  Thanks to tip from Audrey, I charged the cell phone, and later Carrie took off all the messages, so the phone is caught up.

Memory - BA recognized me immediately, altho called me Lorraine after that call a few times.  She told me Beau had never visited her there, so I corrected that and reminded her he had been there and brought her some clothes.  Not 15 minutes later, she told me Beau had visited and brought some wonderful new-size clothes which she likes.

Carrie and I had the same impression of the place - the people are warm and wonderful, the food is good, and rustic setting very nice.  There's a horse and some burros out front.  I met Heidi (who has the key to the meds cabinet) and Manny (brings food), and you'll all meet Madeleine, who is singing with BA in my little video.  BA likes these people a lot.

Pain meds - As soon as she woke up, BA asked me to check on her pain med schedule.  Heidi came right in and gave her one pill.  At 11:30, BA said she had a bad headache, would I check on pain meds schedule.  (The three of us were kind of loud, lots of laughter, especially with the toenail colors).  Turned out Heidi had given her at 10 one of the two she is allowed every four hours, so she got the second.  I asked what the med was - Hydrocone, generic Vicodin, I believe.  By the time I left (1:20), she agreed that the meds had kicked in fine and she felt good.

Food - she didn't eat her breakfast yogurt until I prompted her at 11; I did that because there were meds with it she could not take until after she had some food.  At 12:30, I asked about lunch, and the staff said she didn't eat lunch, so back I went, and BA said she "is never hungry" but would eat if the staff felt they should bring her food.  I had brought a chocolate cake for her, didn't think that was a good lunch on its own, so asked them to bring something light.  They did, a lovely tortilla with avocado and tomato and something else, which BA liked a lot and ate almost all.  (And she loved my cake).  BA said she thought the food is excellent.

Just as she was eating, Madeleine came in and they just broke into song, apparently they sang together the other day.  I got some of it. I showed BA the photos Dorothy sent of the musician gathering Saturday, BA remembered every bit of it, told me names of musicians etc.

Very sweet indeed.

Best to all (and if someone knows Carrie Johnson's em, can you send this to her?)  I really liked meeting her.  Carrie does not do the calendar, she said, just drives up (3 hours each way!) when she can.

Jeanne