Plymouth Magazine-Summer26-DIGITAL - Flipbook - Page 11
VIGNETTES OF A SENIOR LIVING EMPLOYEE
By Sarah Anne Sutter
I
7:00 AM — DINING ROOM TABLE 2
SEAT 1
SEAT 3
• black coffee
• orange juice
• Des Moines Register
SEAT 2
• decaf coffee, two blue
sugar packets
• skim milk
• cranberry juice
• coffee, single cream on
SEAT 4
the side
• a small glass of water for pills
• Cedar Rapids Gazette
• 2% milk
• window shades closed
three-fourths of the way b/c
of [redacted's] cataract
7:10 AM — DINING ROOM TABLE 2
soft robes
familiar jokes
sleepy smiles
How precious each breakfast is now.
Every day the same,
“What time is it?”
“Where am I?”
“Boy, was I tired, I could have slept all afternoon.”
“I should get my skirt on.”
Every day the same,
“Will you stay with me?
“I don't want to be alone.”
[redacted], it was an honor.
IV
7:03 PM — EMPLOYEE PARKING LOT
During the search
[redacted] was found relaxing in her wheelchair
at the bottom of the hill
in the middle of the employee parking lot.
She wanted to watch the sunset
and see if the geese had begun their migration
V
7:45 AM — DINING ROOM TABLE 2
A visitor arrives.
A familiar face at Table 2.
“Good morning ladies, how is everyone doing?
I brought some flowers for the table.
[SEAT 1], how did Garrett's basketball tournament go?
[SEAT 2], the puzzle is coming along! I saw it on my way in.
[SEAT 4], have you heard how your farm is doing? I heard Sioux
City got hit hard by the storms.
Hi Mom, how is your breakfast?
It’s Davey.”
2:52 PM — CAMPUS SIDEWALK
First nice day of Spring,
out for a walk,
side by side,
sunshine warming our faces.
Toe catches sidewalk crack.
Forehead catches fall.
My friend, [redacted].
VI
5:40 PM — [REDACTED]’S OFFICE
II
10:30 AM — APARTMENT 103
CNAs springing into action;
everyone on shift running to Apt 103.
Belly laughs erupt from [redacted] sitting on the floor,
surrounded by concerned faces.
“If I knew sliding out of my chair was going to be this much fun,
I would have done it years ago.”
III
1:45 PM — APARTMENT 126
Every day the same,
wake [redacted] up from her afternoon nap.
Every day the same,
I gently rub her back, “time to get up.”
Doctors have found
often people don't fall and break their hips.
Their hip breaks,
and they fall.
VII
4:30 PM — APARTMENT 201
For days, [redacted] wrestled with God,
or the devil,
I'm not sure.
What I saw was punching,
grasping.
I hoped they worked it out in the end.
It seemed important.
Plymouth Magazine 11
