John has worked in a nursing home for many years now, and often the boys and I stop in to say hello, smile and hug some of the residents, and occasionally visit the giant fish tank up on the fourth floor. This last activity was especially popular with the boys when they were a bit younger, so we took many elevator rides up to the fourth floor with Daddy when they were around ages four and five.
One time we were just finished staring at the fish (really, watching three fish swim about for five minutes was somehow the highlight of their young lives, which is thrilling to any mother who is searching for cheap field trips - a nursing home and a fish tank - I may be considered a skinflint, but it worked!) and were headed down the hallway towards the elevator when I spotted a resident parked in the hall in her wheelchair. Whenever we encountered folks in the hallway, I would encourage the boys to say hello, knowing what cheer small boys can bring to the elderly. Gabe gallantly walked by with a polite wave and equally polite greeting. Zach veered straight over to the lady, who was admittedly a bit hunched over, most likely about a hundred years old, kind of bent, with one eye open, and did a quick wave, while exclaiming,
"Hello, little monster!"
Praying she was hard of hearing (eek, is that even allowed?) I was quick to grab my youngest son by the shoulders and steer him into the elevator before he could elaborate.
This is by far my favorite story. :)
ReplyDelete