A Visit with Edgar and Hannah Hetteen

We had a Grand Turkey Day

as told by Dick and Audrey Decker

Ever since hearing that Edgar Hetteen had been moved to a nursing home, where Hannah was already living, we wanted to go to see Edgar and Hannah, and celebrate Edgar’s 90^th birthday.

We arrived at Diamond Willow Nursing home in Grand Rapids, Minnesota, shortly after noon.  Hannah was in the dining room and Edgar was resting so we visited with Steve Pierce, who was also there to see Edgar.  When Edgar woke up from his nap, we three went to his room.  Really, four of us, as we had our 3 year old, 5 lb Yorkie Poo, Buster, with us too.

Edgar seemed hardly awake.  His responses were slow.  Richard introduced us, loudly into Edgar’s good ear.  Searching for something that Edgar could relate and react to, Richard asked him if he’d like to go snowmobiling.  Edgar responded – “Snow’s too deep.”  This was classic Edgar.

Then we presented the frosted sugar cookies we had brought.  Edgar lived up to his reputation as the owner of a “sweet tooth” as he ate a cookie with gusto.  Buster, an equal opportunity food seeker, helped Edgar with some stray crumbs.  This brought a smile to Edgar who dubbed Buster a “sweetheart”.  We asked Edgar if he liked dogs and Edgar nodded yes.  Richard said that dogs were nice but girls were nicer and Edgar quickly told him that “girls are too bossy”.  Another typical Edgar response.

More conversation and then Hannah’s nurse brought her down to visit with everyone.  At 3:30 we told Edgar that we had to leave because we had a long drive home. The courteous gentleman that we all know so well came through and asked if we could find our way out.  Then he walked us to the door.

As we shook hands with Edgar, Richard admonished him to “be good”.  Again, the Edgar we all know surfaced, and he asked, “I thought you were my friend, why should I be good?”

Did Edgar recognize us?  Towards the end of our visit, yes. Did we recognize Edgar?  Most definitely yes.  He kept breaking thru the blurriness – we are so glad that we took the time to say hello.  We had a few hours of some wonderful conversation that will be remembered forever.

On the drive home we reminisced on our visit with Edgar and Hannah, and we told and retold all of the genuine Edgar responses we had heard.  We agreed that this was one of the best Thanksgiving days we ever had.