May 2018 Island Trip Day One
A fire engine pulling out, as I left our neighborhood, stalled my timing this morning (no grudge!). Then every light on the road from our interstate highway to the town that hosts the ferry terminal was red. I made it to the dock with 6 minutes to spare before losing my reservation. That’s a tad […]
Dentist Three
Mom did really well at the dentist today. She didn’t need me once during the two hours she was in the chair, nor did she twig to the fact they prepped for a second crown. Next appointment is in a month.
Carpenter!
Today the finish carpenter is: Installing the bathroom cabinet doors that my father made 15-20 years ago. Maybe longer. Will repurpose the old kitchen cabinet doors for the kitchen sink cabinets that my father made at least 20 years ago. Think about that… My father made all new lower cabinets for the kitchen AND kept […]
Gentle Deception, Confabulation, and Anger
While I don’t consider gentle deception lying to my mom, and it doesn’t give me moral pause, it doesn’t feel right either. It’s both because I’m a straight forward person, and telling my mother what’s easiest for her to hear, rather than what real, simply goes against my grain. I’m unable to shake this feeling. […]
Voting-Follow Up
I called the Island County Election office today, anonymously, and spelled out the challenge of three Counties and dementia. It turns out I can’t sign the return postcard as mom’s DPOA with this arm of the government. The only way to send the card back to the Elections office is if mom signs it. That’s […]
Dentist Two
The dentist’s office called to go over estimated insurance coverage with me this morning. Interestingly enough, the gal I spoke with used to work at mom’s AL community, and so knows my mom. Recall mom was insisting she needed to get back to the dentist’s to have the extraction site looked at… She managed to […]
Voting
Mom’s Island County Elections Department sent a postcard to our house to confirm her change of address (from over year ago!). Further, they ask for her residential address should she no longer live on the Island, and also ask to confirm where she gets her mail. Mom obviously no longer lives on the Island. Her […]
An All Too Quick Week.
As planned my eldest spent Wednesday with her other Grandma (my FMIL). They determined the documents she hoped to retrieve are in Jane’s safety deposit box. Hopefully Jane’s step-son, Dan, who arrived today, can coax Jane into letting him have, at least, copies. We filled our time, Wednesday evening, Thursday and Friday, with lots of […]
Pros/Cons
Each time I transition between our home and mom’s Island home, I think about the overall pros and cons of each place… PROS: Island: Quiet. Stars. Insulated from the day-to-day of mom’s ups and downs. Supreme focus on tasks. Pastoral beauty. Close community, including incredible neighbors, and friends from almost 40 years ago. Built-in exercise. […]
Lunch Visit
Mom greeted my eldest as someone she hadn’t seen in a long, long time, but quickly, conversationally, made us realize she thought my eldest was my youngest when she asked about my grandson. My daughter both took this in stride, and answered the question as best she could. Mom was extremely repetitive in both asking […]
Dementia Dance - Travels with Mom 