Mary Grace’s new life

I know there have been a lot of concerns about Mary Grace and her caregiver or I should say caregivers.
Let me reassure you Mary Grace could not be in a better place or with anyone better qualified to take care of her. This woman worked at the Mental Hospital in Tuscaloosa for years and then was employed by a home healthcare service. Besides, she was highly recommended as the best, and has proven to be just that: the BEST!

Mary Grace could not be happier. She thinks of this place as her home now and they are one happy family. They had a death in the family last May 2017 and I kept Mary Grace with me for a week, (In Alabama). Mary Grace asked about them every day and gave them the biggest bear hug when they came to pick her up. I teared up watching them together. She told me this lady was like a mother to her. Mary Grace is quick to tell you: I would be lying if I told you they were not good to me. Their lives are dedicated to Mary Grace and her needs. And as a bonus, they have 2 small house dogs which Mary Grace loves.

I am so glad it has worked out for Mary Grace. This kept her close to friends and her Doctor which she thinks the world of. Now that Mary Grace is with the caregiver, they travel a lot. She loves to visit the casinos, riding in their boat, going to the Tn/North Carolina mountains during leaf season and loves to eat out. Mary Graces goes everywhere they go. They tell me every morning when she gets up she asks, “are we going anywhere today”? One day they answered “no” because it is going to rain today. She then asked “well, does the car leak”?

Mary Grace is still getting along with little assistance. She is really dependent on her walking cane and has been for several years. She realizes it helps her walk, but I believe she thinks of it as her protection too–she is quick to threaten you with it if you misbehave.

She has always had a “Keen” sense of humor. She always reminds you that she tells things like it is.

Every time you ask Mary Grace how are you doing, her reply is “I’m mean as a rattlesnake”.

Mary Grace will go through periods of not eating as well as we would like, and it drives her caregiver crazy. She will call me for suggestions on what to cook. Once she told Mary Grace “Reta said you liked spaghetti, Mary Grace replied ” Reta should keep her mouth shut”.

Back in the fall of 2016, we had to evacuate because of a hurricane threat. Mr. Lawrence was staying with us at the time, so we loaded up and thought we could drive a few hundred miles, find a hotel room and wait it out for a few days. Well, a few million other people thought the same thing. Anyway, we ended up in Woodstock. During that stay Mary Grace spent the day with us. Her and Papa had grown up together, so they kept us entertained with stories from the past. Papa ask Mary Grace if she knew Clifton (my uncle and her cousin) she said, “Sure I do”–Papa said “well we went coon hunting together when we were young”. Then he asks her if she had ever eaten coon? She replied, “No we were rich, so I didn’t have to eat coon”.

The week of May 2017 when she stayed with us, she kept us laughing. She called Charlie “Your Lordship”. One morning he could not get a connection on his computer, she said ” well, ask it when can you get a connection”. Also, we were sitting on the porch one day while I was giving myself a manicure. She asked me what I was doing, I answered “I am doing my finger nails”. Then I asked her if she wanted me to do her nails, she replied “Lord No”. I asked what about your hair—”Lord NO”, I asked what about your toes—”Lord NO “and she continued, “I don’t want you to clean my a– either”. She is a trip.

Mary Grace always tells me that our Aunt needed to see a psychiatrist, but then the psychiatrist would need to see a psychiatrist. LOL

She fell not long ago, so when the caregiver called to let me know about it and she had been to the ER where she was examined, Mary Grace wanted to talk to me, so I would know she was OK–she said “Reta, I just can’t let go of the bottle, so I got drunk, fell and busted my butt”. Of course, I knew that was not the case, and she was just joking. Now when I call her I ask her if she has quit drinking. LOL

I could go on and on but, I just wanted to give you some insight of her personality. She never complains and is always the same when you visit or talk to her on the phone. Also, she never fails to say, “thank you”. One night her caregiver told her, “Mary Grace you do not have to say thank you for everything we do for you. She replied, “oh yes I do that is the way my Mama raised me”.

I just have to share one more conversation I had with her the other day. We were talking on the phone and she said: Reta, you know Tom (her husband) could not drive very well. I think he paid someone off so he could get his licenses. Every time he would ask me to go for a ride I would say: Ok, but first I need to check and make sure my burial policy is paid to date.

I appreciate everyone that has contacted me about her and her health. And truly she is the reason I put up such a fight, all for her. And, I would do it all over again tomorrow.

Here are some pictures that have been taken over the last few years.