Mom & the Nursing Home: Part 2

worth clicking to enlarge...

She is doing fine. I think she is glad she can relax, not have to try so hard, knowing she will be taken care of.

She is staying up for more of the day, sitting at a table with several other women who sometimes don't make a whole lot of sense and my Mother seems relaxed about that too. She is playing games and listening to songs she has known most of her life.

I took this picture yesterday at the nursing home cook out. The sun was bright and there was no shade so they gave all the residents hats. I think my Mother liked that too.

I have a lot on my plate: surgery, a condo that has to sell and hasn't, an expected grandbaby any day, filing for medicaid, figuring out why our dog Chase is howling (and waking us up) every night. 

My worse fear may become a grateful relief. My Mother seems happy. She is in a nice place with nice people. I won't get any more calls in the middle of the night to come and stay with her so she'll stay safe. I won't have to be her only universe. 

My Mother at 97 is pushing herself to fit in and enjoy herself. "Why not?" she tells me. "A person would be crazy not to try."

I think this will be one of my favorite pictures of my Mother for all time.

love

kj