My mom came over after visiting my grandparents apartment last weekend and announced "Melissa, they'd like some bibs." She handed me a roughed out drawing on a piece of newspaper and charged me with making some adult cover-ups. "They're thinking plastic on one side", she said. Well of course they are.
My grandparents live together in a little apartment in an assisted living facility. They eat together with the other residents in a Dining Room down the hall. Apparently, their seat-mates had scored the last two Super Bibs at a closeout sale of a local department store. My grandparents, ever dignified, and annoyed at the rate at which food was finding a way onto their clothes every meal decided they needed some. "It makes people look old, you know. Having food on your chest like that." Can't argue with that.
I vetoed the plastic and the word "bib" and had a good self-indulgent cry while I cut them out. Nothing like coming face to fabric with one's own mortality and love for family. Cotton on one side; canvas, flannel, and terry cloth on the other side. Nana gets two, because she's a lady. Papa can make do with one. Besides, they're all reversible. Sam and I delivered them today, and they indulged me with a picture or two.
Before anyone says what a good grandchild I am, let me dispel that quickly and say that really, I am not. I used to be. They've aged quickly, and so has my son who about loses his pieces when we spend time with them. He's afraid... or something, and while everyone would love him to get over it (myself included) he won't budge. So I defer to him. Meal Covers (there's a trademark in there somewhere) are about as good as it gets.
So why share this, then? Maybe you know someone who could use a little help at the table. The closure is velcro and towards the side so that reaching is not an issue. If arm mobility is a big problem, I would go ahead and make it a continuous regular neck hole with a slit in the front for fitting ones head through. It's backed so you just go ahead and sew right sides together, leaving a space to turn it out. Iron it flat. Top-stitch around the edges and maybe down the middle to help it lay flat in the wash. Sew on your closure. Now sit back and slosh your soup.
