A member of the book club told me, last night...
...that her mother, this last year, made a significant and unexpected recovery to former competence at 91. She said that around December of last year her family thought, "this is it," then her mother not only made a spectacular recovery (from what, no one is sure) but has been raised from assisted living at her living facility to independent living.
    I'm glad she told me this. I'm always pleased to hear when Ancient Ones get second winds. No one expects them to, but they do anyway. I don't think my mother will every qualify, again, for any kind of "independent living"; she's 'made the decision' (and, I believe it was a decision, and it was not a bad decision) that she does not want to deal with a lot of life stuff anymore, including paying bills, etc. That's okay with me. I can do all that and, in some ways, I've learned things I'd never have learned otherwise.
    Of course I don't know exactly the definition of "independent living" at a facility for the elderly and infirm. So, I don't know, maybe it's something Mom would be able to do.
    At any rate, this situation, me with her, seems to be working. I'm glad. This way all of us in the family have a reliable, detailed, worry free source of information on my mother. If I was unable to do this for my mother I would wish I had a sibling who could.
    Tomorrow we are going on what both my oldest sister and my mother independently referred to as an "adventure". Mom and I are going to check out at least one hotel for MCS/BIL, maybe more. I mentioned to MCS, when she referred to the reconnaissance mission as an "adventure" that I actually enjoyed the adventurous sense that surrounds life when you're living it closely with an Ancient One. She confirmed that she is also experiencing this with her grandchildren, for whom she cares three days a week. Lately, flowers, she said, have been an adventure. I agreed that flowers have wonderful adventure possibilities for both New Ones and Ancient Ones.
    "Yes," she said, "[Her grandson] pulls the petals off and hands me what's left. [Her granddaughter] eats them and hands me what's left."
    Somehow, I identify with this, living here with Mom.
- posted by gail rae @ 22:37   email...this post