Living in this modern world means having a phone in your pocket most waking hours.
It is a convenience as well as a ball and chain. People now can have access to me whether I am in my home, car or boating on the lake.
I had special ringtones assigned to my and my husband’s parents. Sometimes it was tempting to ignore them when I was busy or just didn’t want to be interrupted. The importance of their calls could not be denied. My heart overruled my selfishness and I always answered. They might have a true emergency or just need to know I would answer. When someone has dementia they need that security
Each evening I would carefully place the phone on the charger beside my bed. Sometimes it would ring at 2am when they thought it was 2pm. Other times they thought a car was idling in their driveway. I silently prayed for a good night’s sleep. Now I still plug the phone to a charger in the evening only to find those old familiar ringtones never awaken me.
I try to remember the sound of their voice. The inflections and phrases I am so used to are fading. The silence leaves a longing in my heart. Should my phone ring in the middle of the night now, I might grab it before being fully awake and expect to hear one of them.
We live in a world where people ignore texts and calls. I urge you to take a few moments even when it is inconvenient, and truly listen to what someone has to say. These are conversations you can never go back and get.
On a lighter note, these conversations can be very interesting. Many senior citizens do text. They just use different acronyms than the younger crowd. So be patient when grandpa just doesn’t understand your text. He is trying. Giving up on common grammar and complete sentences is not easy on him. He most likely adheres to acronyms used by him and his friends. Hopefully, this list will assist you in communicating with him.
Senior Texting Explanations
- ATD – At the Doctor’s
- BFF – Best Friends Funeral
- BTW – Bring the Wheelchair
- CBM – Covered by Medicare
- CUATSC – See You at the Senior Center
- DWI – Driving While Incontinent
- FWBB – Friend with Beta Blockers
- FWIW – Forgot Where I Was
- FYI – Found Your Insulin
- GGPBL – Gotta Go, Pacemaker Battery Low
- GHA – Got Heartburn Again
- HGBM – Had Good Bowel Movement
- IMHO – Is My Hearing-Aid On?
- LMDO – Laughing My Dentures Out
- OMMR – On My Massage Recliner
- OMSG – Oh My! Sorry, Gas
- ROFL…CGU – Rolling on the Floor Laughing…Can’t get Up!
- TTYL – Talk to You Louder
- WAITT – Who Am I Talking To?
- WTFA – Wet the Furniture Again
- WWNO – Walker Wheels Need Oil
- GGLKI – Gotta Go, Laxative Kickin in!
- LMT – Lost my teeth
- NMIFT -Never mind I found them
Word for Today
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23
Prayer for Today
Dear God,
Teach to slow down and listen. Teach me to treasure the time with my loved one. Forgive me for ignoring them and always remind me of the importance they have in my life.
Amen
Song for Today
Walking Them Home 