last weekend

[cellboy]

I finally I got a "Fastrak". That is a device one puts on the interior of the windshield for bridge/highway tolls. When I go over the Golden Gate/Bay Bridge, I won't have to stop and pay a toll. You just drive through the "Fastrak Lane" and it is deducted automatically from your debit card account. Yay!
So I zipped over the bridges on my way up to Sacramento/Roseville to visit my mom, attend the Mr. Bolt Leather Contest, and meet friends and..... (slurp).
Mom is doing much better. I stopped a the grocery store, picked up my dinner, then off to the convalecent hosp. to eat dinner with her. She is looking great and doing much better. Stayed a few hrs, then went to her house, showered changed then off to the contest. Contest was great, and the men were good lookers! Proof that not all the good lookers live in SF (lol).
Next day, took my mom out to her home, where we had lunch. Said my prayer for patience before meeting up. And my patience was a bit better this time. She did say a few things that got me irritated, I barked a little, but did my best to behave, even though she still treats me like a 3 yr old, and has this control thing over me. Maybe it is a mom thing. Who knows.
She is still weak, and hope that in a week or two she will be ready to go home. After that, the dilemma of who will watch after her at home? She thinks that she will be going back to manage the 2000 sq ft home and yard and drive her car. We (my sister and I) don't think so. The doctors don't think so either. She will really need to go to the retirement community, her own apt, the 3 meals per day, transportation, etc.....
It is really hard seeing your parent grow old and slowly fail. Today I was driving to the bank, and noticed an old woman slowly walking down the street, cane and all. I just started weeping. Thinking about my mom. A friend of mine that just lost his mom a few yrs ago, told me to cherish these years, possibly last few yrs with her. They will be the most important.
These are the moments, that I wish someone were at home. Someone there to just cuddle with. To make me feel better.

Comments

[jackiesjunkie.livejournal.com]

My husband's grandmother is living in an assisted care facility. It took some convincing as she didn't want to leave her own house either but she had lost her drivers license and had taken a couple falls, though thankfully not too bad of ones. She's got her own room and her meals are taken care of, they make sure she takes her medication, etc. Before long, she made friends and now she spends more time out of her room than in it.

Granted, some places are better than others and a lot of it depends on the level of care that your mother will need. Talk it over with your sister and see what kind of options you have. Maybe one or both of you can visit the retirement community if you haven't already so you can point out all the positives to your mom. It's an idea anyway. *hugs*

[cellboy.livejournal.com]

Thanks! My mom picked out her place, senior facility about 6 months ago. NOt assisted living, for she so far will not need that for a while (knock on wood). As you know, all this can be a pain, but one step at a time :o)