The Crowley Baptist Retirement Village had seen some hard times. Covid-19 had hit them especially hard, losing almost 10% of their residents and even a few staff members.
Covid-19 was now a thing of the past, for the most part. At least, that was the thought. The Kingdom no longer identified COVID-19 deaths. Many elderly deaths were just listed as 'natural causes.' If another wave were to hit of this or any other contagious disease, the CBRV (Crowley Baptist Retirement Village) would be in big trouble. The use of masks was outlawed (except for surgeons and a few other professional exceptions), and vaccines were no longer available.
Occasionally, the press of the US and Pacifica would report that the lifespan in the Kingdom had receded dramatically. Still, the Kingdom would deny it and kept no official statistics to show otherwise.
Franny knew, though. At least here at the CBRV. In the last five years, the average age of the census had declined from 78 to 73. A fluke? Maybe. But she didn't think so.
Franny Goodkind sat in her office, looking over her agenda for the day. Lots of patient visits, lots of staff consultations, reviews of medications, contacting patient physicians to advise of any required changes. This was her routine every day. And she loved it. Fifteen years ago, she was a waitress at the Honey Dew. Now, through education and hard work, she is the chief RN in charge of the day shift.
She preferred to spend her time with residents and sometimes had difficulty with the bureaucratic parts of her job. It allowed her, however, to have more influence over the care given to all the residents. Even with coping with all the rules imposed by the Kingdom, she did the best she could to protect them.
Today was a very special resident's birthday. Known mainly as Mama Blue, Daphne Blue would turn 95 today. She was the oldest resident at the facility. Ethel Verleen was next at 93. There was a time when CBRV would have three or more residents over 100, but that hadn't happened in at least ten years.
Daphne was not just the oldest resident; she was also the oldest of the Blue clan, one of the most prominent and prolific families in Dixon County. Withered and confined to a wheelchair, this once tall and proud woman had shrunken about half a foot. She often had a glazed look in her eyes, like she was not there anymore. But when Franny engaged her in conversation, she would light up and spin tales of her younger days. The stories were engaging and sometimes quite spicy.
The stories were so spicy that nosy Dotty Mathers once overheard and threatened to go to Kingdom officials and notify them. Luckily, Franny was able to distract her by reminiscing with her about her former political career, and soon, Dotty had forgotten all about it. Dotty remembered the past better than the present. If not for her increasing Alzheimer's, Dotty might have been a prominent Kingdom Elder. Such is life.
"Hey, Mama Blue!" Franny said, approaching her with a big smile. "Ready for your big day!"
Daphne returned the smile with a big grin of her own. "I don't know. Once you pass 90, it might be best just to forget the whole thing!"
"Nonsense! Every day seeing you is special! Today is just an excuse to celebrate that!" Franny leaned down and gave her a hug.
They were in the commons room with many residents and staff and some Blue family members, including two of her grandchildren, Larry and Melinsey. They began to sing Happy Birthday as Susie Kapak brought out a cupcake with a candle. Other cupcakes were wheeled in on carts.
There was a time when huge decorated cakes were used to celebrate, But that ended fifteen years ago when 105-year-old Rachel Compton expired while in the act of blowing out the candles on her giant cake decorated with Pogo and his swamp friends.
Daphne's cupcake had only two candles, a nine and a five. It was chocolate cake with chocolate frosting. Daphne was an unrepentant chocoholic.
She took a deep breath and blew out both candles at once. She did not die.
Everyone was grateful for that.
If you'd like more of CBRV, please follow the tag Crowley Stories and read A Crowley Celebration of Longevity.
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