Or in this case to the beat of the Energizer Bunny.   
    This morning, Andrea left her body behind and took the trip around the world she assured me she would be taking for free to see all the places she hadn't visited yet.  I suspect she is giving it all her studied, practical assessment and will be taking her recommendations to Management.  I'm also sure she is enjoying the beauty.  
    If I were to devote post after post to extoling her virtues, they would stretch across more time that she would want me to spend talking about her deeds that were "just what she did."  
    Andrea is high on the list of diamonds I was able to be with during my nine and one/half years as Coordinator of Volunteers at Foss Home and Village.   Andrea was one of the long-term volunteer I could always rely on as a light through various events and seasonal activites.  Her main focus throughout her volunteering was always how it would effect the residents, speaking up for them when she felt it was necessary and giving extra touches.  When she delivered personal mail to the residents, she made a point of drawing their attention to it and offered to open it for them and/or read it to them if they wanted and needed assistance.  At the rummage sale and bazaar, she always kept her eyes open for items they might be able to use for crafts or decorations.  In years past she decorated all the trees and dining rooms. For the last ten years, she concentrated on hanging swags and wreaths on every door in the Home.  It wasn't just a matter of putting up whatever she unpacked as she went along.  She used decorations she believed went with that particular resident every year they continued at Foss.  The boxes she stored them in were clearly marked as to which units they belonged to, and woe to whoever messed with them.
    Andrea and I became good friends with a lot to share about caregiving for husbands.  We often had stories to share and frustrations to let out about our trips and frustrations to emergency rooms and doctors' offices and, of course, some laughs and grumbles about the husbands themselves.  
    It was a privilege last year for me to travel with Andrea and Caroline to Washington D.C. for Andrea to accept a Gold Award from Metropolitan Life's Senior Award.  I had written up a description of Andrea's volunteer experience and applied for this award without Andrea's knowledge.  When they called Foss to let us know she had been chosen, I was out of the country so the message traveled around a bit, finally getting to Pat Updegraff. Andrea was understandably puzzled about it, but by the time I got back, travel plans were being made.   She, her daughter Carolyn and I went to D.C. and had a great time together.  Andrea, of course, was worried about the expense Foss was spending and scrutinized the menus and prices.  After spending time at the World I, Korean, and Lincoln Memorial she admitted being there was different from seeing it on TV.   After it sunk in that this was a big deal to have the Gold Award, she relaxed and enjoyed herself with other honorees.  She brought her award to Foss for several weeks to share with the residents.   
   Her dedication to showing up was amazing.  Several times she called from the hospital to say she wouldn't make the card games with residents because they wouldn't let her out.  Last month, she came to a volunteer craft night because she wanted there to be another body there despite she had been on life support the day before.  I told her last Friday that we called her the Energizer Bunny which made her laugh.  I understand that when she left the hospital the last time and they refused to let her go home, she said she'd go to Foss and she'd be close to work.  
    She told people in the last days she had that this was an exciting time.  She accepted that she'd had a long, good life and was ready to move on when the hour came.  She had time to say goodbye to family and friends.  
    I'm so glad I got to know her and be friends with her.  She was truly one of a kind.