There is great excitement at Resthill. Mamma Mia is in town and it has to be seen.
BUT……. Our greatest ABBA fan is Lily. Quickly bought tickets before they sell out, so that Lilly can also see Mamma Mia. The big BUT is, Lily has limited mobility and broke her ankle a while ago and is still battling to stand up and walk on that foot. How is she going to get in and out of the theatre with a broken ankle? Now, if you know Lily, you will not ask a question like that.
Never in my life have I seen so much determination, so much will power. She is exercising with the biokinetics instructor. With the assistance of a walker, she is up and down, up and down the passages. She walks. With slow laborious movement, but she is walking. She has to walk and is showing us that she can. Every time she gets up, walks a few more steps, a few more steps, and then she slams down in the chair with an expression of such satisfaction and achievement. We are all rooting for Lily and everyone is clapping hands and cheering her on.
The big day is now near. What to wear? What is Lily going to wear? Something warm and comfortable and always some jewellery.
To be able to get in and out of the car is another hurdle for Lily, so they are practising with Alet and Esmarie to get in and out of the SUV, in the front seat. As it is, the car is rather high and difficult, even for a person with normal functionalities, so imagine poor Lily with a weak ankle and limited mobility. But, as I said, she is so determined to do this, nothing is standing in her way. In and out, in and out. She practises with an expression on her face that tells you, nothing is going to stop her.
The big day has arrived. Lily is going to see Mamma Mia! Al dressed up and ready for the big event, in the car with not too much hassle, because remember, she practiced for this. Off they go.
On arrival at Montecasino, Lily’s eyes were everywhere. She is so excited to see all the beautiful places and all the people around her, she doesn’t stop looking around. Gift, her “big and strong caregiver” is pushing Lily in the wheelchair around the little streets of Montecasino. This outing was just as exciting for Gift as it was for Lily. Esmarie and Alet stays in the background as this was Lily’s day.
And then it was time to enter the theatre. Lily receives a programme and is starting to feel the reality of the evening. When the music started and the actors entered the stage, Lily was nailed to her chair. You could see the wonder and admiration in her face. This was just too wonderful. And then she got into the beat.
Singing along and swinging her arms. As we always say, music is not part of our memory, music sits in our DNA. She recognised each song and enjoyed it with total surrender, absolutely in awe of the story and the beautiful costumes.
After all the excitement of the show, Lily and Gift were treated with Lily’s favourite take-away which they enjoyed on their way home. Arriving back at Resthill everyone was exhausted from all the excitement and went to bed. The next day and the days following, Lily was telling everybody about Mamma Mia and Abba.
Absoluut stunning Aletta….