We've had a busy weekend. CeCe wanted her room painted and I wanted DH to put a support bracket under the clothes rod, in my laundry room closet. Yesterday was a madhouse as I emptied the closet of a 150 pounds of coats (thus the need for the support bracket). I of course, got carried away and pretty much emptied the entire room out into the garage, kitchen and dining area. CeCe purchased the paint she had picked out at Ace Hardware and recruited friends to help her paint. DH installed my bracket and then enlisted my help in trimming the room with CeCe's lovely shade of Pepto Bismol paint before the kids used the rollers. We also had our 2 year old granddaughter, Baby Belle spending the day and night. Much of our work was accomplished while Belle was napping. Unfortunately, I was too tired (or thought I was) to put everything away... thus our cars stayed outside of the garage last night. Since CeCe's room had a strong smell of paint, she slept in the living room (and all of her "stuff" remained scattered throughout the upstairs).
Morning came and the craze continued. DH prepared pancakes and watched Belle while I gave Grandma a shower and got her ready for church. She has been able to go back to her church the past two or three months, thanks to their transportation ministry. Each week one of three couples picks her up about 9:15 and returns her safely shortly after 11:00. Her spirits soar after attending the worship services there, seeing so many people she's known for years and even meeting new people. She finds her place (fourth row down on the right side) and enjoys every minute. She loves the pastor. She loves the music, She loves the people.
Grandma ate her pancakes while I finished getting ready for church. Belle was objecting to her pancakes and CeCe was trying to find her things (not easy when your room is torn apart). I got Grandma's offering envelope prepared and put in her purse... we loaded Belle and her bags into the car, and drove out of the driveway. It was 8:30. First service was beginning and we were 11 minutes away. For all we had going on, it wasn't too bad.
During our service I heard my phone vibrate and looked down to see it was "Home" calling. I immediately realized I had not told Grandma "who" would be picking her up today. When I call for her ride each Saturday, they usually tell me who will be driving, but they weren't sure this week. Grandma hadn't asked... but I was guessing she was asking now. I ignored the call, not wanting to leave the service (and knowing her ride would be there in 15 minutes.).
When our service was over, DH and I made a few stops and dropped Belle off to her parents. By the time we got back to the church to pick CeCe up after Sunday School, I knew Grandma should be home. I wasn't looking forward to what else waited for me there. Two rooms in total disarray and a garage we couldn't get our cars into.
As predicted, Grandma was home when we got there. We asked her how church was and she said:
G: Oh, it was wonderful. It always is.
DH: That's good.
Me: Who drove you today?
G: Mr. and Mrs. G. brought me home. I don't know who took me. They took me to the wrong church first.
DH: What?
G: They took me to the church here in town... but I got a ride over to my church (2 miles away).
Me: Mom... None of those people would take you to the wrong church.
G: Well I wouldn't have thought so either but they did.
DH: (to NM) You'd better call and check this out.
Me: (to DH) I am not calling them and asking if they took her to the wrong church....
(to Grandma) Mom... I think you've gotten things mixed up.
G: Silence.
I proceed to get my laundry room put back together and the kitchen and dining area back to normal. As I made another trip to the garage - our neighbor, Moe pulls through our shared driveway and stops his car. I walked out to chat with him.
Moe: We took your mother to church today.
Me: You what?
Moe: We took your mother to church. We were getting ready to go ourselves and she was outside here walking around. She asked if I knew the phone number to the Methodist Church. Someone was supposed to pick her up but she didn't know who. I told her to get in, we'd be happy to take her.
Me: Oh my gosh....
Moe: Was that OK? I walked her in through two sets of doors. Then we went on to church ourselves.
Me: Oh my gosh... she really did go to the church here in town.
I thanked Moe and told him I'd talk to him later. I went back inside the house.
Me: Mom, I just talked to Moe. He said he and Sarah took you to church today.
G: So that's who it was!
Me: And then someone from the church here in town took you to Lisbon?
G: Yes, but I don't know who it was. When I got in there, I told them, "I'm in the wrong place." Some lady talked to me and told her husband to get his car. I told them I didn't want to put them to the trouble but they said it was fine.
Me: Gee... so you really did go to the other church.
G: I told you I did.
Me: I know, but I didn't believe you.
About that time, the phone rang and it was Mrs. F. (the woman in charge of the transport ministry from Mom's church). I went outside to take the call. Poor Mrs. F. was at a loss as to how Grandma had gotten to the other church. She said Mr. and Mrs. G. had gotten to the house, but Mother was nowhere to be found (she is usually outside waiting). Mrs. G. went up and rang the bell several times and then even went inside. At this point, all I can think of, is the condition of my house. I mean, I'd never get any blue ribbons for housekeeping, but today's version had to look like I was ready for a hoarder intervention.
G: Uh, I'm sorry... you were saying.
Mrs.F: Just that Mrs. G came into church as white as could be. She was very upset that they couldn't find your Mother.
I told Mrs. F. I was sorry that Mom had caused Mrs. G.'s uneasiness ... I was quite sure she had flown the coop before 9:15. We've always told her to "be ready" at 9:15, that the ride would be there between then and 9:25, but 'Grandma time' is not necessarily Greenwich Mean Time. Mrs. F. was happy to know why Grandma was AWOL and I was happy to know they'd continue to take her in the future.
The piece from the puzzle still missing is "who took Grandma from the one church to the other." Maybe we'll find out... maybe we'll never know. Grandma may forget her visit to the other church in another day or two. I can only hope Mrs. G. can forget what the inside of our house looked like today!
So ends Episode 38
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