It was about 8:30 a.m. when the Uber ride drove up to the side entrance of our building.

The driver stopped the car and out stepped this smiling elderly lady, dressed in a pink nightgown and a white robe and little pink bedroom shoes. The driver shut the car door behind the lady and drove away.

The delighted little lady stood just inside our side door. She spread her arms wide like a bird taking off in flight and announced to the staff and residents in the dining room, “I’m back!”

Everyone looked at this person that seemed to be overjoyed to be home again and they didn’t have the slightest idea who she was.

Apparently she expected a welcoming committee thrilled to see her back. The least she expected was somebody would take her back to her apartment. The trouble was she didn’t have an apartment here.

One of the RA’s took her arm and sat her down at one of the dining room tables and began trying to make sense of this bizarre situation.

It seems this friendly elderly lady had been a patient in one of the local hospitals and when it was time to release her and send her home, they sent her to the wrong home via Uber.

This RA was so kind and helpful to her. In fact, she asked the cook to make her a nice breakfast while someone tried to find where she belonged.

Afterwards, she was assured we indeed had the right name and address of another assisted living that was anxiously awaiting her return.

Not once did she complain about this mistake.

We sat her down in our front parlor, gave her some lemonade and said someone would be right here for her.

About two hours later, someone in a bus did come and they took her to the appropriate location.

She was telling the driver the whole story and how she announced her arrival with, “I’m back!” and how funny it all was to her.

During her wait, I was continually passing her in the parlor as I did my 15 morning laps. Shallow me.

I felt embarrassed at the mistake. I had never even heard of delivering a patient in her nightgown to the wrong address.

But, you know, that wise friendly elderly lady wasn’t the least upset by any of it.

In fact, after I said I was so sorry she had to wait so long, she told me she enjoyed meeting so many nice people and how tasty the breakfast was.

Then she said she would like to live in such a generous friendly facility. Of course, I tried to sign her up right on the spot but I guess she was happy at her real apartment.

I know people who would have been very upset at such a mistake at their expense.

I even wonder how I would have felt if I had been that sweet lady.

What I was reminded of by having this experience is life is so short very few things are worth having a fit over.

Certainly, the elderly lady in the pink nightgown knew this and even seemed to enjoy the morning with us.

The view from the mountain is wondrous.

Jean Brody is a passionate animal lover and mother. She previously lived in Winchester, but now resides in Littleton, Colorado. Her column has appeared in the Sun for more than 25 years.