Day 12 -- Bagpipes, Sketches, and the Gift of Sleep

Myrtle sleeps a lot, sometimes at unpredictable moments.  James (her 10th grandchild) has been wanting to play his bagpipes for her.  Have you ever stood near bagpipes going at full tilt?  This instrument is really quite LOUD.   Not wanting to alarm Myrtle or blast her out of  her wheelchair with the bone-rattling sound of bagpipes,  I've been putting him off.   A few days ago, he did play for her.   If you watch to the end of this short clip, you will understand my point.

How in the world does a person sleep through this?

Yesterday, after a long day at the Cooper Cup Regatta, Andy (her 9th grandchild) decided to visit with her.  They were watching a cooking show.  I guess dropping off quickly into a deep sleep is not a gift reserved for the aged?

                                             Five minutes after sitting down with Grandma.....

And then there are moments when sleep is not sleep  --  sometimes Myrtle forgets to open her eyes, or something temporarily turns off this automatic function.  Sometimes, she eats, talks and fidgets with her blanket, but does not open her eyes and does not know that they are closed.

Not wanting this to become permanent I wondered how I could encourage her to keep her eyes open. I tried introducing her to a "scratch and draw" art book (when she fails to open her eyes).   She really liked it.

Remarkably, she remembers how to draw.  More remarkably, she did part of this with her eyes closed.

By far the most difficult adjustment for me has been Myrtle's irregular wake-up times.  She rises in the morning at different hours - sometimes 7 am (that's ok) - sometimes 5:30 am (oh, no).   I have tried keeping her up later, but this does not result in a later rise for Myrt.  And there is no "letting her wait a bit", as she does all within her power to escape the protection of the bars on either side of her bed, including getting herself thoroughly and painfully wedged in between the bars.   If you know me, you know I do not do well before my first mug of strong black coffee.  I like to get up quietly and sit alone with my thoughts, my plans for the day, my prayers, and YES my coffee.  But, in order to rescue Myrtle from herself,  many days I must spring into action well before I am ready.    Sigh....

Sleep is a gift.  Choosing one's wake-up time, even if it is early, is another gift, heretofore undervalued by this blogger.  But, honestly,  my silent, solo morning cup of Joe is proving to be the greatest gift of all and it is one I will never again take for granted.