Grandma's Shaker Set

In the early 2000's, Hubby's dad was advancing into stages of dementia where he would "take a walk" and not always make it back to his home of 50+ years.  One such day he was found by a couple of ladies just sitting on the side of the country lane about a mile from his house.  He was out of breath and confused.  

Another day Hubby's parents were in their home of 5 decades attempting to live as they did in their younger years.  Mom downsized her garden.  She was still attempting to run the tiller each spring and fall.  One day she fell and could not get up.  The tiller was still running.  She yelled to Dad A.  He did not hear her pleas.  Eventually, she worked her way to a fence post and pulled herself up to safety.

Later the folks recounted the day they were trimming the apple trees.  Dad A stood at the top of the ladder.  Mom A. would start the motor of the chainsaw then hand it up the ladder to Dad A.  They told Hubby how safe that was.  It did not seem all that safe for two elderly people in their late 80's.  In addition to this event, Hubby had more than once found the gas burner on with no flame.   

Dad became fixated on chelation as a way to rid his brain and bloodstream of excess chemicals.  Though he never did the therapy, he did do other types of cleansings.  One night after we were already in bed, Mom A called saying, "Dad is passed out in the bathroom.  I need you to come and help get him to the hospital."  Hubby hung up and immediately called 911 to send help to his parents' home.  We lived 35 miles from his parents.  The local hospital EMS was 3 miles from the parents' home.  Mom was against the EMS coming out and causing a commotion on the country lane.   Mom A. was private to the extreme.  

After dressing, we made the 40-minute drive meeting the folks at the hospital.  Tests were already being run.  Dad A. was dangerously low on potassium.  The cleansing he was doing was robbing him of necessary nutrients.  Mom A had been helping him in these efforts.  That instance pretty much sealed the deal for assisted living.  

Hubby with the assistance of Mr. Jim Golding, had been encouraging the folks to move to a nearby aging facility.  The facility offered individual housing, assisted living, and full nursing care.  Mom was 90 and Dad was 88.  Dad A was already legally blind and no longer driving.  Mom A was too nervous to drive the 35 miles to the doctors in Springfield. Hubby had taken early retirement in 2002 just to be able to care for his parents.  They were not living independently.  Finally, in April of 2004, the folks moved into assisted living in the Methodist Manor in Marionville, MO.  

Over the next 15 months, time was spent preparing the home and property for an auction.  One of the many days we were working to sort items for the auction and items to distribute to grandkids, I saw the shaker set.  It was not going in an auction.  With a stop for a time on my stove in Springfield, it eventually made its way to Son's stovetop.  One of the main things he wanted from Grandma A's home.  

He always remembered her using the shakers while cooking.  Salting the popcorn that was always the best.  Most especially he remembered using the salt shaker on corn on the cob.  Grandma always made sure Son had the corn fresh from her garden.  She knew how much he loved it.  Once he left for college, she always froze a few ears just for him.  And she always handed him the shaker of salt for his corn.

Peace,

Janice