Lillie Washington, at right, and Irene Brown share a toast at a prior campus event at Beaumont Commons, Dearborn.
By MARGARET BLOHM
For the Times-Herald
DEARBORN – Lillie Washington, a 15-year resident of Beaumont Commons, Dearborn, has a ready response for everyone she greets. It is an enthusiastic “too blessed to be stressed.”
You only need to spend a little time with her to find out why.
Raised in Detroit, Washington became a licensed practical nurse working at Harper Hospital.
“I started in medical-surgical nursing,” Washington said. “One day when I was working as a contingent nurse, I was assigned to the psychiatric unit. I couldn’t talk myself out of it.”
She credited the head nurse with helping her feel more comfortable. It led to a 32-year career in psychiatric nursing, including advanced classes in psychiatry and love of her patients.
“I learned so much about life and people,” Washington said. “There are too many misconceptions and horrible terminology used about people with mental illness.”
To illustrate her point, she described how individuals are one body – from head to toe.
“If you hurt your foot and go to a podiatrist, no one questions it,” she said, “but when it comes to mental illness, you’re not given the same consideration.”
Married for more than 57 years to Booker T. Washington Jr. – no relation to the 19th-century American educator, author and orator – she and her husband enjoyed going to the movies and traveled extensively.
“My sister, daughter and I were charter members of a travel club that was part of the Entertainment Book, the company that offers savings and discounts,” Washington said.
She has keepsakes and innumerable photos of their trips to the Caribbean and Mediterranean islands, Mexico, South America, Asia, Australia, the Middle East, Africa and parts of Europe and Egypt. Washington recalls one of their favorite trips was to Brazil. Her husband had a cousin who lived and worked in São Paulo as an interior decorator.
“He met us in Rio, drove us all around and took us to a magnificent home he decorated that included a bowling alley, theater and pool hall,” she said.
Washington also studied Spanish at a local community college and shared how her husband was much better at languages.
“He learned enough Spanish to be able to order off the menu for us when we visited Mexico,” she said.
Asked if there were any places she wished she had traveled, Washington responded, “Every year, I watch Midnight Mass at the Vatican in Rome. So certainly, Rome, and probably Paris.”
Unphased by the COVID-19 pandemic, Washington’s years of nursing introduced her to masks and handwashing, adding that she always kept a mask handy – especially when cleaning the oven to keep from inhaling the fumes.
As the senior living campus continues to follow CDC guidelines, Washington said, “I love the meal deliveries, and everything they do for us to keep us entertained. Our mail carrier is wonderful. We’ve only had two since I’ve lived here.”
As a psychiatric nurse who worked the night shift for years, Washington is used to staying up late. Her favorite TV show is “Jimmy Kimmel Live!”
“I’m so glad I have the first apartment by the elevator and can’t disturb anyone when I watch it,” she said laughingly and shared her disappointment when Kimmel was on vacation. “His guest hosts weren’t as funny.”
On behalf of Lillie Washington, a call from Jimmy Kimmel may be in order to ensure she continues to feel “too blessed to be stressed.”