100, Under Quarantine, And Still Fabulous
"Oh, I'll never make it to one hundred," I recall my mother chuckling.
"Yes you will," said my sister-in-law, "and wait 'til you see that party."
My mother did, indeed make it to one hundred years last Wednesday, June 24. But how strange that she should reach this birthday when the world is in the grip of a pandemic and instead of celebrating her century of life surrounded by her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and some good old friends, she should be isolated on this day from her near and dear ones under the restrictions of quarantine and the rules of social distancing.
And yet, thanks to the kind, caring staff at Sunrise of Gahanna, the senior care facility where my mother is a resident in the Memory Care unit,
The wonderful Sunrise Activities Coordinator organized a quarantine-friendly community drive-by party, decorating the front porch with banners and balloons,
According to the quarantine rules, I was allowed to be present at a safe distance, so a chair was set up for me at the other end of the porch from my mom.
While one of the staff was at the CVS parking lot across the street from Sunrise organizing the participants of the drive-by, other staff members gathered around the porch,
I explained - well, lied - to her that unfortunately there wasn't, but one of the staff members showed her one of the cakes I'd brought over and told her - truthfully - they were now going back inside for cake and ice cream with her friends, and she seemed happy that her party was still going on.