I’m dressed as a gypsy: long, purple lace
dress, gawdy, sparkly jewelry, bangles
and a handkerchief.
I walk in and some of the residents
take a second look at me; maybe now
they wonder if they’re going mad.

I smile and take out the Velcro ball and board,
place the plastic lily pads on the floor, set up the mini-
basketball hoop. Blow up balloons, dump the tiny
chocolates into the bowl.

Line up, I say as I wheel them closer. The mobile
ones walk slowly. Anna is first at the Velcro station.
Usually so sophisticated and solemn,
her face breaks out into a smile when the ball sticks
to the board. I take a picture and for a second
I see the 10 year old behind the 80 year old.

Nadia is next at the lily pads. She speaks only
Russian and so misses the frog completely
and, instead, steps on the pads in her satin
slippers, as if this was some kind of slow-dance
game. We must let her do this.

My favorite picture is one I took of Lila
holding the string of a pink balloon.
Though her eyesight is poor, she looks up
at the balloon with such gratitude that perhaps
she feels the buoyancy.

01/15/2006

Posted on 01/15/2006
Copyright © 2024 Lisa Marie Brodsky