Mother and Daughter on a Swing, 1895
Robert Walker Macbeth

In my previous mother-daughter journey post, described my mother and a recent conversation: she had fallen back into her obstinate side, the dark side of her moon, the side that gives you a rationalization for everything. The side that says, “I am too old and tired.”

When I mentioned that if her funds run out, something I didn’t want to discuss but the conversation led us there, she became terrified. Maybe that was a good thing. I repeat: she has her mind, her hearing, her vision, no aches and pains, no major health concerns. She eats and sleeps and had taken to living her life in front of daytime television. In my mind this was unacceptable. There is no reason to live that way when you are in a wonderful building with activities and nice people.

A text conversation ensued between me and her aide which went like this:

Aide: Good morning how are you today, hope you are feeling great. Your mom is going to do her hair and she said she is going to eat downstairs WOW

That’s what she did. After, like before, she went to the movie room.

Aide: “Everyone was saying, ‘welcome back, glad to see you.’ “

“WOW!” I said

Aide: “Just came from the movies and she went down for dinner too. Your mom said she is coming to your house for Thanksgiving.”

When I read this I was shocked. The sun was out and reflecting off that fearful side of her, lighting her up. She was brave, she did it, broke through, and even if she would not come for Thanksgiving, at least she verbalized wanting to.

She was saying, “Thanks.”

This series is linked: see “continued here.” Also, below the line there will be links for the previous post and the next.

The series starts here

continued here