I can remember taking care of my mother-in-law for a long time. The highlight of her day was her mail.
There were days and sometimes weeks without cards in the mail for her. She was almost deaf so telephone calls were frustrating for her as well as the caller, I'm sure. When she passed away I found totes and sacks, and bags full of saved cards from throughout the years; birthday cards, get well cards, Christmas cards, and thinking of you cards. She saved her great grandchildren's coloring pages as well. Those cards meant the world to her. They were on display on her cedar chest right next to her chair. (The most recent ones.) Most days she would take them out of their little holder and re-read them. She often would tell me stories about the person that had sent them to her, whether it be a grandchild, great grandchild, sister, brother, niece nephew or child. After she read them she would put them back on her cedar chest and either stare out her window remembering those folks or crochet when she was able. She was able to read her stories I put in her own blog until she was well over 102 years of age.
My featured child in my children's story blog is Marlee. She is three years old. Her mama not too long ago started working for a nursing home. She posted the other day, that the residents tell her every day that they would love/need visitors. I worked as an Activity Director, and an Administrator of Skilled Nursing Homes for twenty years. I heard the folks say the same thing. Sometimes the people that were able would share their cards and pictures with their friends they had made in the facility.
People get busy with their own lives and forget, so I decided to remind you all that they need to be remembered by their family and friends; Their neighbors, their church family and even the mail delivery person, the meals on wheels people that used to stop and visit several times a week. They need you.
So if you can't visit please remember them with your cards, pictures and letters. They are thinking of you, so please think of them.
