My Mother...

I rarely post about life with Mother...or about her life...today seemed like a good day.

As most of you know Mother turned 91 in May. When I wrote about her birthday - everyone was amazed at how beautiful her skin is...I'll tell you her secret...Vaseline! Yup. You read that right. Every night she slathers (and I mean slathers) her face with Vaseline. I spend $$ on items like Olay, Aveda, or whatever the latest craze is...and she uses Vaseline. Go figure!!

Mother is hard of hearing, has vision problems, and a form of dementia...yet she is a happy person. She seems to enjoy her life. Her short term memory is shot! But, hell, she can remember the third Tuesday of whatever when I was four...

But engaging her in conversation is difficult...but we try...and somedays it is good and others it isn't.

Monday thru Friday Mother goes to a program called Day Out. The bus picks her up at our door, takes her, and delivers her home in the evening. The first time I put her on the bus I really worried...but, it gives her a sense of independence and I know the driver will not let her off anywhere other than at day out and home.

Our evenings are quiet - she watches tv and I piddle around the house, watch tv, work on projects...our week-ends are the same. Sometimes we go out for lunch or a ride - but rarely go out at night. I have a sitter for when I want an evening out...and it is usually spent for my quilting group.

This is a photo of us last year when we went on a train trip to see the leaves change. She loved it. While she doesn't see the details - she sees the overall picture - therefore she could see the large trees and the colors. She seemed to have a great time on that trip.

Before she got frail - her favorite thing was to work in the garden. Our house in Tampa was gorgeous with flowers. I swear she can take a stick and make it grow into something beautiful. As she has gotten to the point where she can't work in the garden - she helps by putting the top soil into planters.

Day Out has given her such a sense of independence. This is the centerpiece she made last year for Thanksgiving. There is such pride when she brings these items home to me. I can imagine it is the same feeling I had when I would bring home the treasures I made for her when I was in school. While at Day Out she does exercises, bakes cookies and quick breads, plays Bingo, and participates in arts and crafts. They also have flower beds that they plant a garden in. She loves going and has friends there. And, me, I am thankful that her life is still full.