59: The Scrapped Launch and Rescheduled Blast-Off
Well, my fellow time travelers, it looks like there was some kind of issue and my mother’s plane couldn’t go hyper-spacing through the wild blue yonder. The launch was scrapped. But wait! Because she is a wheelchair passenger, she and her fellow space leapers get first dibs at another flight: a flight leaving just about an hour and a half later with priority seating and to a closer airport, in fact, closer to where she will be living. There is a reason for everything.
Later: the flight took off, it was smooth, it landed, everyone involved found one another, bags were loaded into cars, people were loaded into bags–I mean other cars–my mother wept for joy, (she said she felt like she broke out of jail: buh-bye Florida and rats that kept her and the aide up last night!).
She marveled at the bustling neighborhood, loved looking at the buildings, thought her new building was great, thought the view from her window was gorgeous. (When I first told her she was going to be on the fifth floor–just like when we lived in Manhattan, she got upset; it was too high.) I feared she would hate the view, the houses across the street are nothing to look at, but there is a tree and one gets the feeling that one is in it. Maybe like the Florida tree that was her previous view. I somehow didn’t expect her to be so HAPPY. She was surrounded by her family for the first time in many years and I think she finally understood that this was more important than her need for “warm weather.”
She was personable and well related with everyone who greeted her, knew all the staff’s names immediately, joked and laughed and refused to have her photo ID taken because her hair wasn’t done and her makeup wasn’t on.
When we showed her the magnificent rooftop solarium and gardens with the penthouse view she marveled at the view. She saw a piano and played it. I don’t think she had played a piano in ten years.
Best of all, we all had dinner and she enjoyed the food. She said she was starving for four years. It was the first time she acknowledged not having any one around for her birthday. It finally hit home: it’s all good.
in the dining room
Mom plays the piano
I am sure there will be much more… it’s just the beginning.
This series is linked: see “continued here.” Also, below the line there will be links for the previous post and the next.
Sue! Your Mom looks so wonderful! I am SO GLAD she is already there. So happy for all the family. She certainly looks amazing and hearing her sounds just like she belongs there. The place looks terrific and your Mom has certainly surprised me. Playing the piano! I have been reading backwards, starting with the differences between Mom and the aide. I hope everything can be adjusted but I am so glad you two are close now. Congratulations! Ooohhh… she looks so sweet. 🙂
I am so happy to see your mother home and surrounded by her loving family. Sue, what precious moments! You did an amazing job getting her to NY. The video was great….loved your mom’s radiance and the view of NY was incredible! Enjoy every moment. Hugs!
Thank you for all the encouragement along the way, and for these wonderful and inspiring comments. Still getting those crazy migraines but I hope as the stress diminishes, so will they. it’s heartwarming to have such great friends from all over: time and place, past and present, world-wide. Amazing.
After all the stress and worry over this move you couldn’t have got a better immediate outcome. It is plain to see that despite all he objections re moving back to NY, that she has been feeling isolated, depressed and has been lacking a multitude of every day stimuli that keep us all functioning. You have made the right choices and it seems in this minute in time that things will continue to improve and your life as a worry-wart, distanced carer and parent of a parent will ease somewhat. Uncrossing my fingers, don’t think you will need that anymore. Hugs.
It is so great that she seems to be happy with everything! I am so glad for her and for you!
She is precious~ playing the piano, joyful in being back in NYC and appreciative of her new home with the good food! It’s all good and I am smiling and sharing in this long awaited landing. It feels like the beginning of something very,very good in her life! Well done,my dear!
Thanks for posting this video, she looks good and happy.
Your mother really has a positive attitude on life. How wonderful!
P.S.: Congratulations on Pauline’s piano playing: not bad at all for someone who hasn’t touched a keyboard in ten years. Extra kudos for being a 95 year old pianist!!!
Hooray! You can see from the start how things will turn out: best of luck to all concerned 🙂
Hi Sue,
I am so happy or you and your mom!Hope you have a wonderful journey as long as it lasts. Sounds like you are off to a good start.
Good job, Sue.
I’m smiling through my tears. I can only imagine how you are feeling. Well done!