Friday, June 23, 2006
This is going to be free-association, stream of consciousness...
...regarding yesterday. Maybe I'll "list" it:
Later.
- She had the equivalent of one cigarette yesterday, a "Light 100". Our guests, too, were discreet smokers, which helped. She put her "first" cigarette out halfway through, at my suggestion, because she was gasping. Went on oxygen for about an hour, through brunch. Then had the last "half", on which she left a long butt. Oxygen again, from then on. I didn't notice any obvious congestion, but I gave her a "preventative" 200 mg of guaifenex in the evening before her dinner.
- She was in a slooow party mood, but a party mood nonetheless. The night prior, in excited anticipation, she had tried to talk me into awakening her when I awoke: 0430. No way, I laughed. As it was, I started calling her at 0830, a little over an hour after company arrived. She finally moved to sit on the edge of her bed a little after 0915.
- We were both delighted with the visit. I think part of this is that it was short and intense, with plenty of time to savor it and enjoy a relaxed retirement out of the visit. I think we may no longer be at our best on extended, live-in visits. Not that we won't do a few more. But, those are getting tedious. Not unrelated: Everyone quietly noticed, myself included, how much more attendance Mom now requires. I was not nervous but steadily busy and focused on the most minute of matters throughout. I was in good spirits. I took care to jack myself up with two extra strong cups of coffee and a speed-lite cold pill. At one point, though, one of our guests took me aside, advised me to leave "Mom" to the other two, she would be fine, and, I knew this. Everyone was surprised, though, at how continually active and attentive my care of her now is. Can't say it was an unpleasant surprise; just noticed.
- Everyone of every species was delighted to see everyone else.
- The food was Early Summer Lite...perfect for everyone.
- We had the diverting, unexpected surprise of one of our cats figuring out how to claw her way through the screen. It was a bonding experience.
- Mom got around surprisingly well. Her knee "went a little weak" when she was coming in from the back yard (where we spent almost all our visit, very pleasantly, I might add) from the added exercise of walkering over a rough surface and having to step over a very few obstacles. I need to see to evening out the backyard. The front yard was taken care of minimally last fall. Anyway, from resting in her walker, Mom's knee recovered, within an hour, to the point where she didn't remember it's previous weakness.
- I am surprisingly refreshed by and grateful for the visit.
- Flowers, a fresh bouquet, pinks and yellows and some Gerbera daisies. Very nice!
- Lots of kitten play.
- Lots of intimate ribbing.
- I cannot stress this enough: Exactly the right length under exactly the right circumstances.
- Even monks need community, I guess.
- I cleaned the kitchen and picked up in the dinette. No vacuuming. I cleared paths through the livingroom and the back bedroom (my room). I gladly and cheerfully did more food preparation than I had planned. It all turned out well.
- I am pleased, in the wake of yesterday, to be up since one of my favorite times of day, 0300, having a wonderful day, thank you.
Later.
Comments:
<< Home
originally posted by Deb Peterson: Sat Jun 24, 11:05:00 AM 2006
Gail--This was so nice to read. It's tough to strike that right balance but when you do, the rewards are great. I do know what you mean about gauging the timing and extent of a visit, along with the number of people--it's a real judgment call. I'm glad your Mom had a good time but most of all I'm glad that YOU had a good time. (And the kitties, of course.) You deserve to have a little gift like this.
And why do I usually get hungry after reading one of your entries???
Gail--This was so nice to read. It's tough to strike that right balance but when you do, the rewards are great. I do know what you mean about gauging the timing and extent of a visit, along with the number of people--it's a real judgment call. I'm glad your Mom had a good time but most of all I'm glad that YOU had a good time. (And the kitties, of course.) You deserve to have a little gift like this.
And why do I usually get hungry after reading one of your entries???
originally posted by Paula Martinac: Sun Jun 25, 05:55:00 AM 2006
Gail - I am so glad the party went well, and that it gave you a bit of "refresh"-ment!
Post a Comment
Gail - I am so glad the party went well, and that it gave you a bit of "refresh"-ment!
<< Home
