Memories Of Carole Rogers And Mary Owens

While the Grandmas were completely amazed at all of the donations for their new Quiet Room Marlee was quietly talking to a mom in the back kitchen. She was Justin's mom and had brought some of his books for the new room. Marlee had been taught from a young age to invite folks into Marleewood and offer them a snack while she went to get her Grandma B. When she came back she found Nick's mom visiting with some of the other moms. They were showing their children all of the wonderful things they could do there.

Nick, of course, loved to read like Justin. He was busy looking at the books. Marlee loved to read too. She was looking at the Jack And The Beanstalk book while the grownups were talking.

Grandma Lu had gone outside to get some fresh air. She wasn't sneezing so often now that the cats had been put in a different room and one had gone outside. Hopefully they could find a nice home for him.

When she came back in she looked in a box of pictures that someone had left. Grandma Lu took them out one by one. Suddenly she stopped and looked at a painting very closely. She sighed and took a soft cloth and wiped down the frame. If you had been there you would have seen moisture collect in her eyes. This was a very special picture that had been painted by a friend's husband many years ago. She held it lovingly with fond memories of Mary Owens.

Years ago when she had first come to Marlee's hometown, a lady that she worked with, Carole Rogers, had told her about Mary Owens. She had suggested that Grandma Lu invite her to Northwood Hills Care Center to visit with the residents.  She did come to the nursing home where she had worked and had given a talk. She talked about the history of her town and the people and stores that had been there in the very beginning. Grandma Lu smiled remembering that day. Mrs. Owens had walked into the Activity Room proudly carrying her hand bag which contained index cards of stories that she wanted to tell the folks. When the activity had begun, Mrs. Owens said, "Well, I was going to use these cards so I wouldn't forget anything. I have lived here for so long I probably know more than I forgot." Everyone had laughed. It had been a good talk. A lot of the residents had asked questions and enjoyed having a snack and coffee or a cool drink with her. Aw, Grandma Lu missed her and all of her old friends.

 "Oh, this old painting of Rick's will look wonderful in our new Quiet Room. We have some of his paintings in the Sitting Room. I think Mary and he would be pleased." She kind of tilted her head and thought, "Hmm, it's getting quiet in there I wonder if the guys are getting pretty well finished with their remodeling." She went in to see, and sure enough. The reading nook had been built in and so had some book shelves. "I think just some painting needs to be done and then the furniture and decorating. Soon we will have the Quiet Room that I have always wanted."

What Grandma Lu didn't realize was that Marlee had found her own Quiet Room. It was in the corner of the Day Care. There were no babies or children today since they were remodeling. She had taken the Jack And The Beanstalk book and had gotten all comfy on one of the beds with her dollies. She found herself  in a new and exciting world all of her own and was soon sound asleep in a magical dream world of Make Believe.