In wishing a friend a happy 50th birthday the other day, I said "Welcome to the best decade yet!" and as I thought about that response, I realized I really and truly meant it. Welcome to the Fabulous 50s! Do I mean that my 50s are my literally best decade thus far? Are they simply…
Tag: aging
This is grief
Back in May, at the funeral of a colleague's mother, I began to cry and could not stop, already beginning to mourn the loss I knew was soon ahead. My then-boss, a wise and wonderful woman, held me in a tight hug afterwards, knowing, without my saying a word, what I was thinking. And then…
Gifts
This was going to be another post entirely, about the hurt Mama J inflicted about our new house and about my sweet husband's defense of me, my heart stinging with pain and bitterness. But then something wonderful happened -- two somethings, actually -- and I decided to write this story instead. "It is under the greatest adversity that there…
It’s not you …
Well, maybe it's you... I had to break up with Mama J, just a little bit. I'm sure there is some kind of official name for this -- caregiver syndrome, or something like that -- but the day I cracked was Hallmark Ornament Day, aka Big Deal Day 2016. Each year, Mama J buys Hallmark…
Positive attitude
Last night we pulled into a handicapped spot at the store and I opened the trunk to get out the wheelchair. Mama J said, quite seriously, "Do you think when people see me they wonder why I'm using a wheelchair? Because I don't look like I need a wheelchair." Um, ok. Glad for the positive…
“It’s personal.” Or is it?
This weekend, B, Mama J and I ventured off on a road trip to New Iberia for a Father's Day with B's family. The trip proved to be harder on all of us than anyone could foresee. For Mama J, I think, the strain of traveling, especially on the heels of a long visit with…
Nothing new
I realized today that I had not posted anything in a while, and it set me to wondering why. I had a disconcerting revelation. I started my blog as a way to work through the emotional stress and distress of caring for my mom, and it has been a great mechanism for that purpose. So…
