Caregiving Story

I was working at a Temp Service in Key West, FL, where I was born. Yes, I am a "Conch"! The Temp Service assigned me to Mrs. Jeanne Porter as a Companion/Housekeeper. Mrs. Porter's family is one of the most wealthiest families in Key West. She owned a museum called "The Heritage Museum" featuring work by Robert Frost. She loved Robert Frost. Mrs. Porter was also an author, and wrote a book titled, "Conch Smiles", and she was also an artist. I, too, enjoy playing with art and she notice my love for sketching and bought me a book titled, "Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain". She taught me how to make Stain Glass Windows. She would have poetry readings in her garden. We became dear friends. I ran her errands, did her grocery shopping, we swam, we drew, we laughed, we cried.

Mrs. Porter was slightly overweight and went away to a "Weight Farm" and was gone for about 6 months. Within that time I had moved on to another job and later out of the city.

On my return home not long ago, I discovered that Mrs. Porter had passed away. I miss her dearly, the talks and the stories she told of her past. She was the second person that I was a care taker for. The first being my Great-grandmother.