Munchkin
Full of Fairy Dust
Some of my first jobs were eldercare. Miserable work and miserable pay but I loved the people. The lady I am about to discuss probably died 50 years ago so no big deal. Her name was Henrietta and she lived in the independent living part of the home where I worked. It was really a convent but that's another story. I never knew her well but one of my favorite jobs was going to the IL wing in the afternoon and offering juice to everyone. Actually it was a wellness check and a glass of juice.
I went to Henrietta's room and she invited me inside for a minute. I went in and she told me to open the trunk at the foot of the bed. I did as she asked and the trunk was full of something big and hairy. She went on to explain it was a buffalo robe that had been in her family's Conestoga Wagon on the trip out to the American western territories. She was child but she still remembered the trip quite clearly. I got goose bumps as I heard her speak her living history. She was a treasure. After that I always volunteered to take the drink cart around. Henrietta and I had many more conversations.
I went to Henrietta's room and she invited me inside for a minute. I went in and she told me to open the trunk at the foot of the bed. I did as she asked and the trunk was full of something big and hairy. She went on to explain it was a buffalo robe that had been in her family's Conestoga Wagon on the trip out to the American western territories. She was child but she still remembered the trip quite clearly. I got goose bumps as I heard her speak her living history. She was a treasure. After that I always volunteered to take the drink cart around. Henrietta and I had many more conversations.
