Too many people, Mr. Jensen thought as hurried crowds waxed and waned throughout the airport like droves of misguided birds. Where am I anyway? And where exactly are we going?
Nicole Gasaway, Regional Director of Sales & Marketing for the Southeast and Julia Zoss, Director of Healthcare at Autumn Leaves of Stockbridge, helped Mr. Jensen toward check-in while trying to keep him calm. He was doing well so far, but they both knew that with Alzheimer’s disease things could change in an instant.
Mr. Jensen’s initial bag was too heavy, luggage needed to be transferred to his other suitcase or the airline would charge an additional fee. Nicole and Julia began repacking.
Are those my clothes? I feel like I remember that shirt. Are they stealing my clothes? Put them back! Mr. Jensen went to say something, but all he could muster up was an inaudible grumble. He was agitated but he didn’t know why.
Sweat dripped down Nicole’s brow, Julia stepped to Mr. Jensen’s right and, together, the two of them lead him up to the security check point. More crowds, more people, more excess stimuli, they just needed to keep him calm…keep him reassured…keep him comfortable.
Am I going on vacation? I don’t remember booking any flights.
“Are you excited to see your grandson, Mr. Jensen?” Julia asked.
My grandson? Well of course I am excited to see my grandson! We are going to see my grandson? As part of the no-charge relocation program that was offered by Autumn Leaves, Nicole and Julia had been asked to take Mr. Jensen from Michigan to his new home at Autumn Leaves of The Woodlands. His son and grandson would be waiting for him when his plane touched down in Texas.
Mr. Jensen was hungry. They sat down in a bagel shop and had a sandwich before making their way toward the gate. Mr. Jensen loved to walk, but you could see he was getting tired – his legs ached and he needed rest.
When stepping through the corridor between the gate and the plane, Mr. Jensen glanced back wistfully toward the terminal – for some reason he knew he would not return.
After take-off, when the jet broke through the sun-speckled clouds, Mr. Jensen looked down at the fluffy orange blanket and smiled. It’s all so incredibly beautiful.
When they arrived in Texas a young boy ran up and wrapped his arms around Mr. Jensen’s waist, “Hi grandpa.”
Mr. Jensen’s son thanked the two ladies for his father’s safe arrival. Nicole bent down and began making small talk with Mr. Jensen’s grandson, David – asking what sports he liked to play, what his hobbies were, and what school he went to. Turns out David went to the same elementary school as Nicole’s daughter, Penelope. They were both in choir together. Later on Nicole would set up a night for the entire chorus to come and perform at Autumn Leaves.
As the five of them made their way toward baggage claim the world felt just a little smaller. The airport was brighter somehow, the crowds were no longer moving so fast and the voices didn’t seem so harsh. Mr. Jensen breathed a sigh of relief and kept on walking.
