Saturday Visit With Frieda-Old Friends Reunite...

Wayne, myself, Meemaw and Peepaw (my folks) visited Frieda this evening. When we first got there, she was hot and uncomfortable and quite vocal about that. Wayne set about getting her fan set, I removed her sheepskin boots, and hand wraps. She had a fan and repositioning it helped to cool her down right away. Wayne worked on teeth brushing and mouth cleaning, while I gave her feet and legs a good rub and massage. She was vocal off and on as if something was hurting her. We repositioned her in the bed and that seemed to help as well. There is a mouth antiseptic called "Magic Mouthwash" that Frieda needs and she had not been very willing to let the nurses attend to that. For the past few visits, she would let me brush her teeth, but anything else, she wanted Wayne to do. So, Jenny the nurse gave him the medicine and Frieda let him do anything and everything he needed to in order to get the medicine in her mouth. We had a big laugh about that. Harumph. Ok then Frieda. If it's Wayne you want, Wayne you get! Peepaw has always called Frieda nicknames like "Princess" and "Good Lookin'." Tonight was no different and when they went to leave, he did his usual goodbye in using his nicknames and boy did he get a sharp set of eyes at him! We laughed as she cut her eyes and gave him a big mean YEAH RIGHT.
Still seeming about half settled, I thought maybe a surprise might be in order. I asked Jenny if Frieda's friend Geordie could come and visit. I explained that he is our dog and is totally in love with Frieda. They are great big buddies. Even right now when we say "FRIEDA," he starts barking wildly and runs around looking for her. It has been sad around here just on that note because I know he doesn't understand where she has been. Jenny thought that was a fabulous idea, so I went out to the truck and told Geordie he was going to see his friend Frieda. He was wagging all over. When we went into the room, Frieda's eyes grew huge. Wayne lifted Geordie up to the bed and we put her hand on him. He licked her hand and they looked and looked at each other. Geordie lowered his ears. It was almost as if in those moments, he understood that something was wrong and that is why he hadn't seen Frieda. He was very still and they just looked into each other's eyes. Frieda was shaking her leg and was clearly happy to see him. I asked her if she was surprised and she shook her leg very hard. Wayne carried Geordie to the foot of the bed where Frieda could just look at Geordie all she wanted. He put Geordie's paw on her foot and she wiggled it as if to rub him. I was so happy for them both.
After we set him down, Frieda was as calm as could be and within a couple of minutes was relaxed enough to go to sleep. We waited and when she was asleep good, we got ready to leave. Jenny said Geordie could visit anytime he wanted and we were glad to hear that. We have taken Geordie to visit residents at facilities that my folks own across the state and animal therapy is so calming and relaxing. I was very touched to see Geordie and Frieda interact. Love doesn't need words.
Speaking of "words," Jenny...the nurse said that Frieda was talking in her sleep last night!!! I was shocked...I said WAS SHE MUMBLING OR TALKING IN WORDS? She said it was part mumble and part word, enough words that she WOKE Frieda up and said "IF YOU CAN TALK IN YOUR SLEEP, YOU CAN TALK WHEN YOU'RE AWAKE!"
WOW!! What an awesome thing for me to hear!!
So, we had a PERFECTLY WONDERFUL VISIT! It started out kind of out of sorts, but we all left feeling happy, relaxed, and wonderful.
Geordie is beside me now. I can't help wondering if he's thinking and maybe even dreaming about his visit with Frieda tonight. He sure loves her. He marched around that newspaper office like he owned the place and Frieda gave him full run to visit anyone he wanted. In fact, when I had my hip replaced, Young Nancy and Frieda "Geordie sat." Frieda came to Duke and brought pictures of Geordie taken at the newspaper office and he went to work with them every day. Frieda thought it was very important to keep him near what was familiar if Wayne and I weren't around. So, Geordie, you gave that right back to Frieda tonight my dear boy...and I know she was as happy to see you as you were her!
It was a good night and I miss you so much Frieda. For the record, we still got the usual hearty leg shake on the "WE CAN DO THIS CAN'T WE FRIEDA" question.
As always, if anyone can, Frieda can.

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