Friday, December 28, 2018

Dementia Unit

When I attended the North Carolina State Fair a  month ago, I wrote that when I
was ready to go home, I couldn’t find my car.  I walked up and down the parking
area for 40 minutes before I found it. I vowed that I would pay more attention to
where I parked so that would never happen again. It happened again.


As I entered the parking garage next to the doctor’s office, I noticed the three closest
gates to get parking tickets were backed up with three or four cars in each one.  
But off to the side was another gate and empty. I got my ticket from it, wound my
way around many loops in the garage until I found a parking space. I made a mental

note that I was parked against the far wall and noticed a sign that said Level B.  I walked
to the elevator, got on with another man who asked me where I was going. I said to
the bridge that crossed the street to the doctor’s office. He said that’s level two and
punched the number. I assumed we were going down to level two.


After my appointment, I paid for my ticket, got on the elevator and thought that I was on
the next level up, Level B.  I got off the elevator and it was Level 3, not B, but a sign
showed a Row B. I looked for my car against the far wall.  No car. No problem. I took
the elevator to Level 4. Same thing. Row B, not Level B and no car. I wondered
how I could have misread Level B when it said Row B.  I checked Level 5, then
Level 1 before finding a parking attendant. She looked at my ticket and said I parked
in the physician and staff area. Try the basement.


I took the elevator to the basement and signs said Level B.  I walked to the far wall
and there was my car. Apparently, the gate I used was reserved for physicians and
staff and instead of going up in the garage, I went down.


When I got home, I filled out an application for the dementia unit, but after analyzing
how I got in the basement, I put the application in my desk drawer.  Anyone could
have made the same mistake??????


Seasoned Man

stevelem117@gmail.com

Thursday, December 20, 2018

Christmas Concert

The annual Christmas Concert at Carolina Preserves was held this past weekend.  Aloma
sings in two concerts a year and has been practicing for this concert since August.  The music
was beautiful. Even though the average age of the singers is about 65, they have a talented
director who works them hard.  A robust standing ovation followed the final song. At a cast
party yesterday, the director was so pleased and said how proud she was of everyone.


The Carolina Preserve Dancers performed to lively songs from “Grease” and also got loud
cheers from the sell-out audience of about 200 people.  It was a great evening.


Before the concert, I hosted 15 people in our small house for drinks and a light supper.  Since
Aloma was preparing for the concert, I was on my on for the party. That makes me nervous.  
But I had lists for my lists, got my shopping done early and cooked BBQ chicken the day
before. Everything was set up an hour before guests arrived.  Everyone seemed to have a good time.


When we got home after the concert, Aloma said, “It smells like a brewery in here.”  I told her
only one beer and two glasses of wine were spilled.


I’m already looking forward to the beautiful Christmas music and entertaining my cousins and
friends next year.


Seasoned Man