When I was a small child, a trip to my Grandmother’s house wasn’t very exciting.  For my Father’s Mother was quite elderly and her home contained itchy mohair couches and an absence of toys…except for an old fire truck and Lincoln Log set, leftover from my Dad’s childhood.  It meant getting dressed up and being on my best behavior.  My education minded Grandmother had gone to college in the 1920’s – a very unusual thing for a woman to do at the time.  She was the wife of a minister and a lovely, intelligent, caring person.  However, it was intimidating when she asked probing questions such as… what are you learning in math, what books are you reading and where are you going to college…… when I was only in second grade.

However, I do have some favorite memories about going to visit Grandma K.  She had these great pictures of my Dad and it was fun to see him as a child, as a member of his high school basketball team and later in a Navy uniform.  The other highlight was the Humpty Dumpty teapot.  The teapot was made in two pieces – the bottom section was a yellow brick wall and the top was a yellow, egg shaped Humpty Dumpty, painted with gold features.  It was a thrill when this was taken out of the china cabinet and used when my Grandmother served tea.  It was very, very special (I don’t think we were allowed to touch it) and it fascinated me.  Chocolate covered graham crackers and pastel bridge mints were also part of every tea and to this day I think of my Grandmother when I come across these treats. 

After my Grandmother passed away, my Mother and Father inherited the Humpty Dumpty teapot.  It followed our family through a multitude of moves and always found a special place in our home.  Today, due to space constraints, it sits atop my Mother’s refrigerator in her Assisted Living apartment.

On Monday, I took my Mother out to lunch.  While walking from the car back to her apartment, she became short of breath and we stopped to rest.  As she went to sit in the chair, she fell and although I had her arm…I couldn’t prevent the fall.  Thankfully, she was okay, but it was another sign that her mobility has decreased greatly in the past few months.

As we reentered her apartment, I went to the fridge to get her a cold drink, while she rested in the den.  I looked up and there was Humpty Dumpty looking down at me.  I had a fleeting thought that my Mother had become Humpty Dumpty, as falls were becoming an increasing part of her life.  I said a quick prayer that she wouldn’t experience a disastrous fall and gave the Humpty Dumpty teapot explicit instructions to watch over her… just as he has watched over our family for generations.