When I first started working, another lady gave me information about where to find things: food, clothes and what TV programs to watch. Usually I could count on fixing three meals a day and taking a couple of walks. Everything else was always changing.

One morning she was up at 8:00 am and the next day it could be 6:30 am. She would call, “I’m up” and if she did not hear me, she would repeat it until she saw me. Then she might say sleeping is a waste of time. The days were never long enough, as she wanted to do everything. I liked to drive and so we took lots of trips to parks, the beach and visiting friends. Breakfast was over quickly and she always had oatmeal, (which had to be real creamy) milk, toast and sometimes fruit. After cleaning up a walk was probably next. At first we usually walked around the block, but later on it was only half a block. This really helped her circulation and lungs. Early one morning I went outdoors to do something and tried to come back but the door seemed stuck. Then I tried the front door but it was locked too. What happened? Next I saw her at the window asking me to come in. What a joke. She had gotten up, dressed and with her cane, had come to the kitchen to trick me.

One morning, while still sleeping, I heard a noise. After looking out the window I saw Ruby walking down the sidewalk pushing her walker. Guess she didn’t want to waste more time in bed.

Every night we watched TV. and I had to help tune in the program, as she couldn’t see the print. She sat about two feet from the set. Westerns were her favorite and then came detective stories and good movies. Of course, Lawrence Welk was number one.

At first I read lots of animal stories to her. Sometimes it made me sleepy instead of her. Then I noticed that everything she did was to keep busy and learn more, as she knew her time was running out. One day while driving around she said, “Everything went so fast, wish I had twenty more years.” Life was still fun for her.

Summer evenings we sat outside and watched the stars and talked. One night we tried making up limericks and she wrote this one for Ebony called-

MY TREASURE

How dear to my heart is Ebony.
A kiss as a greeting she gives me
But when it comes to kisses,
She rarely misses.
When I call her she listens
With love in her heart and on her collar.
I hope she never strays or adopts another Mother.

By Ruby Harris 103

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Miss Muriel