161. Mother-Daughter Journey: Today is My Mother’s Birthday
She is 102 years old. Living in a residence. She has the help of aides who travel on buses and subways. Think about that.
She is cogent most of the time but has occasional bouts of old-age ideations, the typical paranoia and all that goes with it. She can be so “normal.” She can be so impossible. But, she is still here and she made it to another year. A year I never thought she would reach.
She was born in the year of the 1918 Spanish Flu Pandemic. That means that her parents survived it as well as an older sister. My mother outlived three sisters and her parents. And her husband.
She outlived three “boyfriends.” She survived pneumonia many times.
When we moved her back to NYC after about a thirty year sojourn in Florida; she had just come off hospice and was near death with pneumonia. She was ninety-five years old. We moved her out of her condo and into an apartment in a lovely assisted living building which served her meals. A place that I later helped shut it down, as it fell apart, infested by rats of the animal and human kind.
And now this. Another epidemic. We don’t know how this will play out. I don’t want to empower the words of my fearful thoughts. I’ll just sit here with the hope that if she goes, it was her time, and no virus will get her.
We are not going over to celebrate, I do not think it is wise. Nor does the staff. This is not a “facility,” and not run by the state, it is a private, church-owned building with amenities for the elderly. We’ll talk on the phone.
What else is there to say? Maybe that this country has been so hate-filled and divided for several years that something had to step in and scare the shit out of everyone to heal the divide, to help us understand that we are all in this global issue. Though the shelves are bare in stores, though schools are shut to kids, though restaurants have to close down, though there are shortages of staples, the sun continues to shine and days pass. People still have birthdays and carry on as best they can. Except now it is in panic mode.
Now we get a glimpse into living in the time of war. This seems to be a once in a century event since 1918.
The 1918 pandemic, a flu that killed more soldiers than WWI, is part of our global history, as this virus will become. We will fight it as best we can, we will survive.
Survival runs in my family.
This series starts here:
Part 1: And The Band Played On … a mother’s life, a daughter’s journey
The previous post is here
The next post is here
Congrats to your mom on reaching 102!!
You’ve definitely inherited her strength!
Good luck to you & your family during this crazy time 😘
Happy Birthday, to your mom! My grandfather died in the spanish flu epidemic of 1918.
Happy Birthday to your mom, stay safe with your family … HUGS.
Wow! Happy Birthday!
Hugs to you. Happy birthday to your beautiful Mom.
My mom is living in my childhood home and her lovely aide is with her now. My 98 year old is at The Abramson Center in Philadelphia and cannot receive visitors. Phone calls are so important right now.
Just watched the PBs documentary on American Experience that originally aired in 1998. We saw it when it first came out.
Hoping we all remain well.
XOXO
Cherylita
Kudos to your Mom on reaching 102 in spite of so many challenges. Kudos to you for taking such great care of her in spite of those other seemingly insurmountable challenges. Hugs for both of you. I hope your Mom understands just how lucky she is to have you as her daughter.
It is like living under the bombardment- war – sending love.
You make me remember my family and loved ones. My grandfather, Samuel suffered the 1918 pandemic and was left Deaf. It was a hard life for him but he married, had children, and grandchildren and Great Grandchildren. and yes, here we are again. We are strong and we are united in this mess and we will survive.
Miss you and love you and wish your Mom a VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY.
Hugs your,
Sandila
I remember when you were moving your mom from Florida, ever so gingerly, because of her condition. Survivor she is, indeed….and so are you.
Hugs,
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