The Ladies Could See Marlee Grow Right Before Their Eyes

While Grandma B went out to the back kitchen at Marleewood, Mrs. Jo Ann started looking at the pictures in Grandma Lu's photo album. "Oh my gosh. Just look at little Marlee. She was so precious. She has pictures of her doing such fun things. She started to laugh and said, "She's even wearing those chore boots to clean house." Grandma B smiled as she carried in a tray of snacks and said, "Oh let me see. Yes, I remember that picture too. I was baking cinnamon rolls that day. We were having lots of company and she wanted to help dust. She was so little, wasn't she? Oh, I'm telling you what. She never wanted to take those boots off. I had a terrible time getting them off of her to take a nap."

"Oh look at these. This was the first time I ever met Marlee. We were at the Emporium and it cost you a fortune. Remember she wanted Chapstick and ice cream and you name it. Such fun we had that day."
The ladies slowly one by one looked at the pictures and talked about them. They had decided to go to the back of the album and then go to the front to go in time sequence. When they did that they could see Marlee grow right before their eyes.

Look at these, Jo Ann. Marlee was so little, but she just loved to be outdoors. She would get me up in the morning to do chores and look for treasures. We decided that Marlee needed a treasure box and then it got bigger and more fun. I planted some of the treasures and Marlee would "find" them and get so excited. Grandma Lu often included lessons that Marlee learned like not putting things in her mouth that wasn't food. Look at those eyes, just daring me to take it away from her. She learned quickly though.

"Grandma Lu would put numbers and colors in the stories. I think Marlee understood some of them. She could count when she was just before a year and half old. Of course, she's my granddaughter so she is exceptionally smart you know." She and her friend laughed over their coffee and had a wonderful afternoon looking at the photos.

Grandma Lu's Photo Album Is Full Of Memories

Grandma B made a call to Grandma Lu. It was a video chat on their phones so that everyone could see each other while they visited. She assured Mrs. Jo Ann and Grandma B that she was fine. She said she thought that her lady was getting a little bit better and they were going to the beauty shop again.
Grandma B asked her friend if it was okay if Mrs. Jo Ann looked at her photo album. Grandma Lu said, "Well, of course, she can. Everything is dated and labeled so that you know who is who," she chuckled. "You may not know everyone, but that is alright. If you see some pictures that you can't figure out, B can help you with them."

After the ladies finished visiting on the phone Grandma B took Mrs. Jo Ann to the Quiet Room. "This room was designed by Grandma Lu. It is for one person only. The purpose is for folks to just be quiet and think and kind of regenerate after a long day or week. You know how it is." Mrs. Jo Ann nodded her head, but her eyes got big when she saw a huge photo album on a little table in the corner of the room. "This is Grandma Lu's photo album? I think she needs a new one, don't you?"

"No, this huge book is her late mother-in-law's Family Book. "There are things in here that aren't photos. There are invitations and wedding and graduation pictures. All kinds of things. Grandma Lu used to say that her mother-in-law said it was her life in a book. I can't even imagine having something like this."
"Well, if you want to sit for awhile and look you shall see that Grandma Lu has lots of friends and family that like to send her little remembrances of all of their fun times. She loves it and likes to share her photo album with others. I think I see it over there in the corner by the window. She likes to sit in her rocking chair and look through her pictures, but she also keeps an eye out the window for friends that might pass by.

Grandma B brought coffee and sat down with her friend and opened up the first page. "Oh, look! Here is Marlee when she is just about a year old. Fast asleep in her car seat. I used to take her shopping with me. She was such a good baby. It wasn't long after this picture was taken that Grandma Lu started writing little short stories about Marlee. We all had such fun sending her pictures to put in her stories too.
 I remember when I bought Marlee her first pair of chore boots. Oh my gosh she loved those boots. Let's see if Grandma Lu has a picture of those. I had a pair too. Her boots and a Ranger ride were the two most important things in her life at that time. Yes, of course, she had one. Look at that baby, wasn't she cute?"

"Oh look, Jo Ann, Grandma Lu put a note on this picture. I can remember this day. She and her husband had come out to the Mini Farm for a minute and Marlee and I had been out for a Ranger ride. She was so mad that I stopped the ride to visit with them. Funny the pictures that she has kept, isn't it?"

"Go ahead and look at the pictures. I am going out to get us a snack. I'll be right back."

Mrs. Jo Ann Visits Marleewood For The First Time

As Mrs. Jo Ann was driving into Marlee's small hometown she smiled to herself as she thought of Marlee and her little sister, Whitlee. She loved them both as well as their grandmother, Bonnie, or Grandma B as the little ones called her. "This will be a nice little time away from home for me. I have never visited Marleewood and would like to spend a little time with the little ones and have a cup of coffee with B. Since the start of the Corona virus, Marleewood has been closed. They just now have opened up a few days a week."

When Mrs. Jo Ann pulled into the parking lot she saw signs indicating that social distancing was still necessary. There was a sign on the door that said that there could only be only ten people in Marleewood at the same time.
"I'll be so glad when we can get back to normal again. Wearing a mask is necessary and so is using hand sanitizers and wipes to make sure everything is as clean as can be. I sure don't want to get sick like so many people around the world."

When she opened the door the most amazing smells came out of the back kitchen. Grandma B yelled, "Come on in, Jo Ann. Marlee and I are making pizza for lunch. Why don't you join us?"

Of course, Mrs. Jo Ann did join them for lunch. She told Marlee what a good job she had done with making the pizza. Grandma B even called it a masterpiece.

Everyone was busy visiting. It had been a long time since they had seen each other. Sheltering in place had been going on for about two months. People were ready to get on with their lives. They were ready to get outside and enjoy the nice spring weather. Folks really missed going out to eat at restaurants and so many things they had taken for granted all of their lives.

Mrs. Jo Ann noticed a pile of mail on the counter. The envelopes were all addressed to Grandma Lu. "How is Grandma Lu doing? Is she still taking care of a lady in her home? She lives out in the country doesn't she?"
Grandma B said, "Yes, she is. Nursing homes and hospitals are not taking people in unless it is an emergency since the virus hit our country. Grandma Lu is fine and so is her patient, but we do miss her. I visit with her several times during the week by video chatting, but her friends young and small keep sending her letters and cards. Many of them have pictures in them I think."
"Why do they send her pictures?" asked Mrs. Jo Ann.
"Oh, a long time ago we had a party for her and one of her gifts was a photo album. She just loves pictures in a book rather than on a phone. She goes into the Quiet Room every once in awhile and puts pictures in it. Sometimes I can hear her chuckling as she looks at them."
"Oh, I would love to see that book. I love those old photo albums too. You can take your time and remember where and when and who, when you look at them. Where they were taken; when they were taken; and who all were in the picture. One of the greatest disappointments is to see a picture from long ago and not know who the people are. Always put names on the backs of the pictures."

Grandma B said, "Let me call Grandma Lu and see if she minds if you look at her book. She even has her late mother-in-law's huge book in the Quiet Room. I'm sure she will be fine with it. She misses you too. She was just telling me the other day that she can't wait to get out and about again to see friends and family. She's a "hugger" you know, so be prepared for a hug someday!" They both chuckled remembering the fun times with their friend.