A Day with Bobbie

Bobbie, who happens to be my grandmother, recently suffered from a back injury. Her back injury has impaired her, causing her to need a walker to get around. Things that she once was able to do have become a difficult task for her and takes quite sometime. Being able to go to the restroom or even to the kitchen have become very tedious obstacles. I don't have a gory, detailed, dramatic story as to what caused her back injury, she is simply aging. This physical disability has prevented my grandmother from partaking in certain activities that she was once able to do.

I feel for her being that I have seen her go from an independent, upbeat, high spirited woman to a dependent, somber woman. She continues to keep a smile on her face, but I know that it upsets her to not be able to do things for herself. Luckily, she has my grandfather who is able to help her with her every move.

When I was presented this assignment, I knew exactly who I would be spending the day with. It all worked out because I was able to spend time with my grandmother and give my grandfather a little time to himself. I decided to take my grandmother to the movies and a dinner. Initially it took me a minute to adjust to having her with me. I am typically always in a rush and I do everything very quickly, from getting into the car and even walking. Having her with me I had to slow down, a lot, but it didn't bother me much. The restaurant that we chose was STRIP sushi bar and the movie that we chose was “This is Where I Leave You”. It was somewhat difficult getting into the restaurant because it was not accessible for handicapped individuals. In addition, the place was slightly crowded which made it harder to get around. I did my best to try and make her feel comfortable to make this a good experience for her. Going into the movie theater was much better for her. There was a handicapped accessible chair for her and she did not have to go up any steps.

I truly enjoyed spending the day with my grandmother. I was able to see what daily obstacles she faces and how she has yet to let that break her spirit. This activity has also made me value my independence and freedom more so than I did before.