Recently, I went back to my hometown and saw my friends and family. I have an elderly family member who is in an assisted care retirement home that I had an opportunity to visit and spend time with. Before I went to see my aunt, I felt that it was important that I took a get well soon basket to help cheer her up. Being an avid Internet shopper, I love being able to surf and google for fun and unique gifts. I found the idea of getting a get well soon basket was my favorite choice as a gift for so many reasons. First, because my aunt has limited dietary restrictions, it was nice to have some food choices I can choose and add to her gift basket that meets her needs, such as fruits and sugar free foods. Secondly, there were other special gifts I can add to her get well soon basket that I know she will love, making it much more personalized for her. One of the best reasons that I realized came after I gave my aunt her gift, was that she had so many little surprises she got to open when I gave her get well soon basket to her. Peering through the visitation room, I saw so many lonely and blue faces, not because the home wasn
’t a beautiful environment with lots of activities. I mostly felt the loneliness and sadness was the lack of loved ones around to bring cheer to these people’s faces. With that picture engrained in my mind, I also had the image of my aunt’s face as she smiled and giggled every time she took out another goodie out of her get well soon basket. With that in mind, flying back home, I wanted to be able to bring a smile to my aunt’s face more often than my once a year visit with a gift in my hand. So, using my Internet shopping addiction, I have taken advantage of that by bringing a smile to my aunt’s face and sending her a special surprise get well soon basket at least once a month. I also choose an assisted care roommate or buddy of my aunt’s and send them a little surprise get well cheer basket of goodies so I can try and bring a smile to another friend. I have always tried to live my life by the golden rule of “Do unto Others”. So, I know as I grow older and when I will be elderly, possibly on my own, I would want to have someone think of me. Being a someone who loves getting gifts, I love the idea of getting a surprise get well soon basket full of treats from a loved one, or even from an anonymous admirer.