Speaking of Slippers…
September 1, 2012
Source: Historical Society of Princeton
When she reached up to pull the blinds last night, Alice hurt her upper back. When you’re 97, it’s so much easier to get hurt doing simple things. But, ever resourceful, she put the vibrator from her Sonic Alert SB300 Sonic Boom Loud Vibrating Alarm Clock under her back and rested on it for a while. 
This morning she told me that her back feels a little better. She’s certain it’s because of the vibrator.
She has that clock because several readers suggested a vibrating alarm clock when I was searching for an alarm she could hear. (See Tick-Tock.) It works. What would we do without you? Thank you.
But sometimes I don’t know what to make of Alice’s resourcefulness. Now she has decided that a white stripe up the back of her new black slippers looks “too sporty.” She asked me to bring her a black magic marker.
Alice’s new slippers.
She’s not fond of the white trim around the bottom of the slippers either. For some reason, I keep forgetting to bring that marker.
Enjoy your Labor Day weekend. Glide somewhere in a kayak, as these friends did this past week and stopped for a short visit at my houseboat.
Or put on your slippers and read a good book, such as this brand new McElderry Book of Mother Goose, a selection that’s a mix of favorites and very old, unusual, rarely reprinted rhymes, compiled and illustrated by my dear friend Petra Mathers.
Whatever you do, I hope you will labor not. Unless you want to.
(The image of Albert in his fuzzy slippers came from Ronni Bennett at Time Goes By, an excellent site featuring resources for elders including articles about elder law, health issues, politics, music, poetry, a “Gay and Gray” column, and much more.)
September 1, 2012 at 5:36 pm
Bring that woman a sharpie!
And that book looks terrific — I, sadly, seem to be buying children’s books for myself of late as my kids are getting “too old for them, Mom.”
September 1, 2012 at 6:44 pm
I read them all the time too, Elizabeth. They’re so beautiful and/or funny. I get stacks from the library, carry them home, and have a feast.
September 2, 2012 at 12:16 am
I am “working” if you can call teaching Pilates to people who crave and love it, and love each other working. Alice needs a new project, by the way.
September 2, 2012 at 9:43 am
Alice does have a new project. She’s working on her next story.
September 2, 2012 at 7:54 am
Love the photo of Albert – and sure, let Alice go to town with her Sharpie – so few choices left when you are 97, and she is still making her fashion statements…after all, her book is called, Roses are red, shoes are black!
September 2, 2012 at 9:44 am
The Sharpie is packed and ready to roll.
September 2, 2012 at 9:07 am
Yes, bring that woman a sharpie. We can all learn so much from Alice when it comes to being resourceful. Have a great weekend Andrea.
September 2, 2012 at 9:45 am
If only I’d gotten the resourcefulness gene…
September 2, 2012 at 1:52 pm
Andrea I can scarcely say how much comfort I take in the thought that the setting of the Riverhouse Stories is still there and still yours.
September 3, 2012 at 4:54 am
Oh the wonderful uses of a permanent marker! (Sharpie or otherwise) they can hide a multitude of defects – even used one on a skirt that got splattered with bleach once. magic!