Patience...must have patience...
Trip Start
Nov 12, 2005
1
8
94
Trip End
Sep 19, 2007
São Pedro da Aldeia, Brazil
Tuesday, November 22, 2005
This is where the problem lies. I have been spending a considerable amount of time with my grandparents and get daily insights into the world of the elderly. There are days where I laugh at the things they say/do and there are days where I just shake my head and roll my eyes at them. Silly old people. BAH! LOL.
My great Aunt Lola was over the other day...and I sat in the kitchen just listening to her and my grandmother list every single ailment and disease they have ever had. They also brought up illnesses that every single relative they've ever known (living and deceased) has had. It's like they took some kind of twisted pleasure in talking about all those things. I was just sitting there thinking...whoa...this really is WAY too much information here...
Every time after lunch...my grandparents need their nap. Both of them actually don't even have set times for napping...I think they both suffer from some degree of narcolepsy. I caught my grandfather fast asleep at the keyboard yesterday...hands still on it...ready to type. My grandmother sits in her chair in the bedroom...and will start a conversation...and then fall asleep before she can finish it. LOL. She's dangerous in the kitchen. She has A.D.D when it comes to cooking and frequently burns thing. We try not to let her cook...
Grandpa went out yesterday and forgot his hat. Later on in the day his poor lil' bald head was SO red and raw looking! So I got to play nurse and put a soothing aloe cream on his bald spot for him. He was very grateful. He's gonna have to start putting an SPF50 on his 'coconut' or else it's gonna fry.
So roles have been reversed. I remember when my grandparents used to look out for me all the time...and now I am looking after them. I feel like a nag sometimes...running after them and making sure they're okay. Grandma is diabetic...and loves sweets (of course). So I have to watch her like a hawk. If I buy cookies...I have to hide them...or she finds them and eats them. She's sneaky...she really is. She pulls that 'poor lil puppy dog' face on ya...and the next thing you know your resolve is gone.
As a result of living with two elderly people...I haven't gone out much. Grandma can't walk much cuz she has bad knees. Grandpa still does a lot of walking and is in good shape (all things considered)...but has his limitations of course. He runs out of gas WAY faster than I ever would. They of course, also have their religion to keep them busy. Those are pretty much the only times they leave the house (unless it's to buy bread, food or go to the bank and stuff). I try to stay out of it...I don't wanna give them any false hope of converting me anytime soon. I'm a sinner...and I like it that way! LOL. I just gotta avoid it until January...then I shall be home free! I have 2 weeks I am trying to set up to go visit some family friends in the city of Coritiba (where I grew up). It's further down south (a 12 hour bus ride from Rio) and has a bit cooler climate. Their winters actually get cold and occasionally they get frost and 0 degree temperatures.
My Aunt Teresa is supposed to call me today. I'm hoping I'll be able to escape SPdA for at least a week and get some good sun exposure. Today is my cousin Marcela's birthday. I think she's having some kind of shindig (she's 14 today).
Anyway, that's all for now. Nothing really exciting to report yet. Just slowly going insane living with two elderly people and having absolutely nothing to do! LOL.
