Bingo.

Some of my Phi Lamb sisters and I went to a nursing home today and played bingo with some of the residents.  I was a little nervous about it because nursing homes can be depressing.  I actually really enjoyed it though. 

The first lady I talked to asked me if I was coming back on April 20.  When I asked why she said, "That's the day I'm getting married.  This is my fiance," and she pointed to the man sitting next to her. 

"Oh, congratulations!  What are you going to wear to the wedding?" 

"I'm going to wear my purple dress that I've never worn before.  He really likes purple, and I do too."

A little while later a lady came in and asked for somebody to help her catch up with the rest of the group, and I volunteered.  She was the sweetest old lady ever.  I moved a chair to her table, and she moved her walker out of the way and tried to scoot her chair closer to me.  (Don't worry; I told her to stop and moved my chair instead.)  She told me more than once how glad she was that I was helping her.  One time she looked at me and said, "I am so proud of you."  We had little prizes for winners, and she won a necklace and a Diet Coke. 

She told me, "Thanks for helping me.  I never would have won this Diet Coke without you." 

"Yes, and your necklace too!"

"Oh, I forgot about my necklace!  I'm so proud of this necklace.  Isn't it pretty?

She forgot about her necklace and then remembered again about three different times.  Every time she was so excited about it.

She also made sure I had bingo chips to play with so I could help her.  When I pointed to a number for her to put a chip on, she grinned and reminded me that I have chips.  One time this happened I laughed and told her I forgot I had them.  She said, "I put them there when you weren't looking!"  She also moved the bingo card between us so that I could play too.  So.  Cute.

There was another lady sitting at our table.  She wasn't quite as happy.  Every time somebody at one certain table won, she'd say, "They're cheaters over there.  They always cheat.  I never cheat.  You're watching me.  If anybody says I'm cheating you know I'm not because you've been watching me."  She also complained about other people being too loud and about the girls not calling the numbers fast enough for her.  She did tell me when we were finished that she "immensely enjoyed it."  She was quite the character.

I really enjoyed spending time with these ladies.  Sort of makes me want to hang out with old people more often.  Sort of.