She sat quietly in her wing chair, lost in thought . Hearing my knock and spying me standing in the doorframe, she sighed. “You might as well come in, but I have nothing to say.” “That’s what you tell me every week, and then you talk my ear off!” I teased her. She smiled. “That’s … Read more
When I was in college at the State University of New York at Albany, I took an intriguing course called Behavioral Geography. The professor taught us that how we used a place affected the way we mapped it in our brains. One of our assignments was to ask people we knew from different groups to … Read more
“Well,” I said to Wanda, standing up at the end of our session, “I’ll see you next week, Love.” “Okay, Honey,” she replied. I laughed. “What’s so funny?” she asked. “I called you ‘Love’ and you called me ‘Honey.’” She laughed. I walked out of the room smiling.
Dr. El offers the inside story on what it’s like to be a psychologist: Jobshadow interviews Dr. El
I was real happy and carefree and old And I was enjoying the years they call gold When one day I lost focus and I guess that I slipped. All that I know is my health took a dip. First was the visit to the medical center, Where they poked me and prodded — … Read more
Paranoid Resident: “Every time they laugh at me, I put a curse on them. Me:“You put a curse on them?” Resident: “Yes. What choice do I have?”
7 Things I Worry About in Advance of My Nursing Home Stay How I’m going to manage my lip balm addiction Being cold in those flimsy cotton house dresses Controlling my temper when staff members call me “Honey” in that high-pitched, patronizing tone The mortifying trip from room to shower half-draped in a sheet (see … Read more
Give ’em hell Knit Hang out on the patio from Spring through Fall Attend every off-campus trip available Read Write Join, or start, the International Association of Nursing Home Residents Sit in the lobby and watch the people come and go, while knitting Attend the Classic Rock and R&B performances in therapeutic recreation Take a … Read more
A little over a year ago, I decided to stop coloring my hair (Going Gray). I’d started to feel uncomfortable hiding my silver while I was spending my days helping folks deal with growing older. I kept a box of fire red in the closet, though, just in case it was a disaster. I got … Read more
I’m still at it! Cut by Stacey Lyn Weinstein of Loft 26 in Manhattan. Previous posts on this subject: Going Gray Update (1/4/10) Going Gray (5/10/09)