the bethany

 My Mom lived in assisted living for maybe 15 years.  She was in her late 80's rambling around in that big old bungalow on Homan Avenue and my sister was living in Kenilworth and she was worried about Mom living so far away, but my mother was adamant about staying in the family manse.

Until she wasn't.  One day, out of the blue she declared that that big old bungalow was too big anymore.  My sister and I checked out a few places and decided on the Bethany which turned out to be a pretty good decision. It was a nice place.  They had activities for the residents, and parties for Christmas.  I loved the Christmas party.  There was a small park in front of the building where, as they began to tell the story of Saint Lucia, if you looked closely you could just make out in the park in the dark of night some very faint lights, moving just a little closer, a little closer as the story of Saint Lucia unfolded and then suddenly

Suddenly they turned on the lights which were in the trees and there in the path was Santa Lucia 

There were some kind of gifts, there was cake, and there was ice cream.  There were Christmas carols, and all that Christmas crappola that make it such a beloved holiday.  After Mom died I wondered if I could just go there by myself.

She could come and go as she pleased, though I think she had to sign out.  They had a mini bus that would take them places like Navy Pier and Margies Candy Store where they all got black cows.  They were living large.  Mom had a full kitchen where she could have cooked her own meals if she chose to.  She did not choose to.  She had been cooking meals her whole life and now she was done with all that.

They had a big dining room where they sat 4 at each table and the food was served to them.  The food was warm and the helpings were ample.  My mother was not all that crazy about the dishes but she always cleaned her plate.

I was subbing then.  I would get home from my gig and get on the Brown Line and off at Damen, a nice little part of the city, looked like it should have a toy train running through it, and walk about a half mile to the Bethany.  Mom would just be finishing her supper and then we would go to this big front room where sometimes the son of one of the residents would play old timey songs on the piano and you could sing along or not.  We would chat a bit about nothing in particular.  Ashland Avenue went by in front of us, and I would ask her, "Mom what street is that," and she would answer serenely.  "Cottage Grove."  She had never lived or worked or visited anybody on Cottage Grove.

I would leave for the Ten Cat after about an hour, feeling like a good son.  It was just a little over a mile to the Ten Cat. A very pleasant and interesting walk I still take sometimes. Jake would usually be at the bar and we would have a seminar.  

And for no other reason then that I love the photo, here is this one.