Saturday, January 24, 2004
I could be waking my mother up...I could have awakened her at 0900...
...but it isn't yet emotionally convenient for me. There are solid arguments on either side. The side on which I'm focusing at the moment is the one dictating that it's all right, she didn't go to bed until quite late last night: So late that she was up for a third dose of ibuprofen before going to bed and had popcorn and spice tea (to which she first requested "a touch of honey", then continued to drink it while complaining that it was "too sweet") to gastrically bed down the pills. The TV was off most of the evening. I worked on the website and she delved into a pile of new gossip tabloids and magazines. She was an alert, active reader, often piping up with an explanation of and commentary on something she was reading. I was surprised how late she remained awake.
I was equally surprised at how late I remained awake. I think it was approaching 0200 [Bar closing time here, isn't it?] when I rounded up The Girls, secured the house, restarted the dryer and retired. I had a lot of things on my mind, a lot of chores to do and an unusual amount of optimistic energy. As well, it felt good for Mom and me to be lounging in the pleasure of our separate pursuits in each other's company. More than anything I consider last night a good omen, boding well for continued healing.
She is 86 and although she's a healthy and relatively sturdy 86 despite the strikes tallied against her, she has periods of frailty now that have not before occurred. She could, I know, succumb at any time. I try to be realistically optimistic in light of the fact that she still brings herself back and is surrounded by others who beckon her forward from her frailties.
Which reminds me: This weekend might be a good weekend to have her call her cousins. That'll work like a shot of L-DOPA. Of course, it also wears off like L-DOPA.
I think I'll take another half hour, then jump start my mother's day.
Later.
I was equally surprised at how late I remained awake. I think it was approaching 0200 [Bar closing time here, isn't it?] when I rounded up The Girls, secured the house, restarted the dryer and retired. I had a lot of things on my mind, a lot of chores to do and an unusual amount of optimistic energy. As well, it felt good for Mom and me to be lounging in the pleasure of our separate pursuits in each other's company. More than anything I consider last night a good omen, boding well for continued healing.
She is 86 and although she's a healthy and relatively sturdy 86 despite the strikes tallied against her, she has periods of frailty now that have not before occurred. She could, I know, succumb at any time. I try to be realistically optimistic in light of the fact that she still brings herself back and is surrounded by others who beckon her forward from her frailties.
Which reminds me: This weekend might be a good weekend to have her call her cousins. That'll work like a shot of L-DOPA. Of course, it also wears off like L-DOPA.
I think I'll take another half hour, then jump start my mother's day.
Later.
