I took Bella to the nursing home for her regular visit on Saturday morning. We've been going for so long, I almost feel that I know the residents better than the activity staff because there's such a big turnover in that office. The girls only seem to last a couple of months. I would like to introduce you to some of her regulars.

John is much younger than most of the residents and can be very sarcastic and downright unpleasant to the staff. But he loves Bella and looks forward to seeing her every month when he's feeling well enough. He's in his mid 30s, is bedridden, and his hands are sort of like claws, all the fingers and thumbs are curled tightly toward his palms. He has her get up on his bed and wraps his arms around her. He whispers into her ear for as long as we can stay. She loves him and snuggles up and often gives him kisses. Sometimes she even flops onto her back for tummy rubs.

Beulah lived on a farm - the one that's been in the family for generations - for the first 70 + years of her life. She and her husband moved into the home about 3 years ago and loved to sit in the sunny courtyard together. He passed away about two years ago and Elaine moved in to become her roommate. I had always thought Elaine was much younger than Beulah, but I thought wrong. Elaine passed away shortly before our visit and Beulah had become very depressed afterward. The aid told me she had withdrawn from all the activities and wouldn't talk to anyone or anything. I knew we had to see her and I was right. She and Elaine had been life long friends - having attended the same one room country school. Bella brought out her first smile after Elaine passed!

Judy has spent her life in a wheelchair due to a birth defect. Volunteers are never told what's wrong with the patients, but I can see that Judy's head is enlarged and she obviously can't walk if she's always in the wheelchair. However, her mind is as sharp as mine and her speech is clear. But, Judy loves dogs! She's about 35 and has always adored dogs but her mother does NOT like them. I guess that didn't stop her from getting some for Judy when she was waking up though. They share a room at the home, so when Bella comes in to see Judy, we are careful not to go over to her mother's side. Her wheelchair is so high that she's almost at my eye level so I get a chair next to her and Bella jumps up on that and sits with Judy for a while.

We visit over 100 people every time we go but those are three that have fallen in love with Bella. And why not? She's my sweetheart!

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