Tuesday And My Twin

Had breakfast, then hastily put together some old pictures in an album before Lora picked me up at 9:30. We drove the Pacific Coast Highway to Santa Barbara in less than an hour on a beautiful warm and sunny day. 

When we got there, Betty was, as she often is, in the recreation room.  One of the staff, a lovely young woman, was batting a huge balloon back and forth to the seven or eight seated residents. As soon as we walked in, Betty gave us a big smile. I'm sure she recognized me as someone close to her, but have no idea if she knew I'm her twin. Lora and I sat with Betty on a couch and participated in the balloon game, which was actually fun. The young woman then read aloud a story about a woman and Snoopy, the dog. Whether the residents understood and/or enjoyed it was hard to say. 

We stayed in the recreation room about an hour, then I suggested we sit in the atrium. I showed Betty pictures in the album. I don't know if she actually recognized herself, me, and other members of the family, but when she saw this picture*:

                                                     

...and I asked her who it was, she said, "That's your father." I was amused she didn't say "our" or "my," but pleased that she knew him.  Lora took some pictures, but hasn't yet sent them to me; when she dos, I'll post here.

At noon, we followed Betty to the dining room, as an aide helped her into a chair, then said goodbye. I broke down in the hallway and Lora embraced me; she has had--and still has--some unfortunate family happenings in her life and is so sympathetic to others.

We went to Joe's Café, where Vickie had taken me the last time I was there and both enjoyed it immensely. We were there for two hours, and I heard a lot more about the ups and downs of her life. Got home about 3:30 and, on impulse, left almost immediately and bused to the mall. I've been looking for Vanity Fair undies and didn't find them there, either. Did buy blueberries and spinach.

Since I had again gotten up at 4:15, I set the phone and took an hour's nap. Ellen called on her way home and we had a good, long conversation. We're going to hike in Ojai the Sunday after next: I have docent duties at Dudley House this Sunday.  

I was surprised to get a text from Margarita asking if I planned to go to the BCNN meeting next Wednesday. I texted back I'd like to, but Julie wasn't going, did she want to pick me up? She answered yes, so I'll see her next week.     

*This is a copy of the portrait of  my father painted by the artist mother of a friend of my brother, Frank. He commissioned it after my father was killed.  The friend's name was Bruce Apel--I don't know what ever happened to him--alive or dead, dunno. The original hangs in my niece, Carolyn's, living room.