Wednesday, September 22, 2004
Yes, we went down yesterday, yes, we'll be going down tomorrow.
Today is Mom's Recovery Day and my Close Out Yesterday, Do Today and Get Ready for Tomorrow Day. These in between days are my heaviest days and I still don't get everything done. There is much not involved in the consolidation of homes that is waiting in the wings until after the consolidation is completed.
I've got a stat from yesterday, stats from today and an exercise session from the day before to post. I may end up serving stat ketchup again. I'm considering putting Mom through an exercise session today just to give her an edge tomorrow but haven't decided absolutely if this is a good idea. So far her day has been an eat and nap day. I believe it's possible that Mom's BP is running high because of her confusion and occasional forgetfulness about the move, as well as the frequent altitude changes. I think, underneath it all, this is a bit traumatic for her. I remember once several years ago during a different traumatic event that her blood pressure ran high for a while. Since she appears to remain healthy, no UTIs, no minor illnesses or major problems, I think her BP is reflecting her concern over the consolidation of homes and the loss of a home that has been her most permanent home, well, goodness, throughout her entire life. On occasion, thankfully, her spirit of adventure kicks in and she rubs her hands together and asks, "What's next?" with a glee that allows me to know that, if this isn't exactly "the right thing", it is, at least, not "the wrong thing". It's a circumstance, one to which both of us will not only adjust but, in the long run, consider felicitous.
It became apparent to me yesterday that if I was able to simply do all this consolidation stuff myself it would happen faster. Mom loves the idea of helping. I like the idea of allowing her to feel helpful. When she's helpful now it makes more work for me. In this episode of our lives, though, it is very important that Mom be kept as involved as I can keep and allow her since she has such strong feelings about the consolidation, both positive and negative. I want to provide as many resources as possible for her that will allow her to come to her own terms with what's going on.
Yesterday, in the middle of sorting and packing, she sat down and began an informal inventory of the memories and connections attached to the Mesa house. We spent a good 45 minutes just talking. At one point I became so overwhelmed that I began weeping and apologized to her for making the decision to divest ourselves of that home. I simultaneously reiterated that since I now handle all her business as well as her personal life and, as well, keeping that house also keeps us financially strapped, I still feel as though what we're doing is absolutely necessary. I told her that if I could have thought of a way for us to keep both homes and tax neither her finances nor me I would have jumped at the chance. she understands this. She also understands that keeping that house instead of this would be incredibly stupid financially, so stupid that it would negate any emotional advantage. I'm heartened that when we are here she pretty much forgets about the Mesa home and extols the virtues of this one.
I doubt that I'll post much more today. It's late afternoon and I still have much to accomplish before tomorrow, another pack-out day in the Valley. For those of you who know us, know that the consolidation is going well, the last details fell into place yesterday, my relief over what is happening continues to grow, my energy level is high, Mom's confusion isn't too bad, certainly not so bad that I question the wisdom of this decision and both of us are looking forward to the end of next week.
I've got a stat from yesterday, stats from today and an exercise session from the day before to post. I may end up serving stat ketchup again. I'm considering putting Mom through an exercise session today just to give her an edge tomorrow but haven't decided absolutely if this is a good idea. So far her day has been an eat and nap day. I believe it's possible that Mom's BP is running high because of her confusion and occasional forgetfulness about the move, as well as the frequent altitude changes. I think, underneath it all, this is a bit traumatic for her. I remember once several years ago during a different traumatic event that her blood pressure ran high for a while. Since she appears to remain healthy, no UTIs, no minor illnesses or major problems, I think her BP is reflecting her concern over the consolidation of homes and the loss of a home that has been her most permanent home, well, goodness, throughout her entire life. On occasion, thankfully, her spirit of adventure kicks in and she rubs her hands together and asks, "What's next?" with a glee that allows me to know that, if this isn't exactly "the right thing", it is, at least, not "the wrong thing". It's a circumstance, one to which both of us will not only adjust but, in the long run, consider felicitous.
It became apparent to me yesterday that if I was able to simply do all this consolidation stuff myself it would happen faster. Mom loves the idea of helping. I like the idea of allowing her to feel helpful. When she's helpful now it makes more work for me. In this episode of our lives, though, it is very important that Mom be kept as involved as I can keep and allow her since she has such strong feelings about the consolidation, both positive and negative. I want to provide as many resources as possible for her that will allow her to come to her own terms with what's going on.
Yesterday, in the middle of sorting and packing, she sat down and began an informal inventory of the memories and connections attached to the Mesa house. We spent a good 45 minutes just talking. At one point I became so overwhelmed that I began weeping and apologized to her for making the decision to divest ourselves of that home. I simultaneously reiterated that since I now handle all her business as well as her personal life and, as well, keeping that house also keeps us financially strapped, I still feel as though what we're doing is absolutely necessary. I told her that if I could have thought of a way for us to keep both homes and tax neither her finances nor me I would have jumped at the chance. she understands this. She also understands that keeping that house instead of this would be incredibly stupid financially, so stupid that it would negate any emotional advantage. I'm heartened that when we are here she pretty much forgets about the Mesa home and extols the virtues of this one.
I doubt that I'll post much more today. It's late afternoon and I still have much to accomplish before tomorrow, another pack-out day in the Valley. For those of you who know us, know that the consolidation is going well, the last details fell into place yesterday, my relief over what is happening continues to grow, my energy level is high, Mom's confusion isn't too bad, certainly not so bad that I question the wisdom of this decision and both of us are looking forward to the end of next week.
