hello
I want to thank everyone who left such nice comments to my last 2 entries. I really appreciate all the good thoughts and wishes. Monday seems like a whole world ago now in some ways. The end of mom's life, and really, the many years preceding it have been an ordeal, for us and for her. It is such a relief to have her on her way to a better place, or at least out of the misery and confusion that senile dementia had put her in. When I think of the woman she was before the disease I feel sad for the loss of that person - but I have been grieving that loss for many, many years. The main thing I felt, after the initial flood of emotions at her passing was relief. And joy. I'm sure though as time goes by and the images of the end of her life fade and I start back to remembering her as she was when she was whole I will mourn again. When Kathy and her husband get here on Saturday we will start to look through the family photos to prepare for the memorial on Thursday and I'm sure it will be a very sad time - remembering the person our mom once was and how much (still) I miss that person. But for now I am at peace and enjoying my freedom from caregiving. I've been visiting people that I didn't feel like I had enough free time before to stop and see. Walking more frequently. Going to bed early and getting better rest without having to listen to a baby monitor. At the end of mom's life I was getting up every 2 to 4 hours to make sure she was comfortable through the night and adjusting the pillows she was propped with - it is so amazing now to sleep through the night again! There is life after caregiving!
woods trail this morning - beautiful sun!
This morning Berdella and I walked at McKeever again. It was wonderful to not have to worry about getting home by 9 or 10 in case Jill was sick and couldn't come. Freedom!
berdella's hands resting on a very unique fireplace
reminds me of a cathedral - berdella enjoying the view
the little creek that winds through the park
a strange chair that we saw behind one of the sheds there - like a rooster comb
McKeever is an environmental education center and they have all kinds of strange props that they use to illustrate things for the kids. Maybe sometime I will make a post just of photos of the oddball props you see here and there as you walk through the woods. As Berdella and I were driving out the driveway this morning 3 full school buses of kids were arriving - we just got out in time!
woods trail this morning - beautiful sun!
This morning Berdella and I walked at McKeever again. It was wonderful to not have to worry about getting home by 9 or 10 in case Jill was sick and couldn't come. Freedom!
berdella's hands resting on a very unique fireplace
reminds me of a cathedral - berdella enjoying the view
the little creek that winds through the park
a strange chair that we saw behind one of the sheds there - like a rooster comb
McKeever is an environmental education center and they have all kinds of strange props that they use to illustrate things for the kids. Maybe sometime I will make a post just of photos of the oddball props you see here and there as you walk through the woods. As Berdella and I were driving out the driveway this morning 3 full school buses of kids were arriving - we just got out in time!