I try and visit mom at least once a week, but I do call her every night. She is 81 and has been alone now for over 2 years, and I’m afraid she might fall or get too weak from not eating enough and not be able to get to the phone. Last week I panicked, after trying to call her on the phone and her cell well after 10 PM. So, we dashed over to her house, some twenty minutes away, and got no response at the door. I used my spare keys and went inside. 
The house was dark, and I so afraid to go into her bedroom. In my mind, I could see her lying on the floor or crumpled in the shower, and as Judy held her breath I flicked on my flashlight and walked through the house. She was not there! I was about to call her neighbors when I decided to try her cellphone once more. “Hello?”
“Where in the hell are you?”
“Well, I’m just about home, where are you?”
“I’m standing in your living room!”
“I was afraid of that. I went to the concert at
“That’s okay…you’re alive! We’ll be here when you arrive.”
It all worked out well, but reinforced the idea of an alert device for her, so that if she falls “…and can’t get up…” at least she will have a way to summon help. This happened to Ron Southern a couple of weeks ago, so I’m going to lobby hard for the purchase.
I am about to go over now and check a leaking toilet for her (update – fixed). I know we’ll end up out in the yard looking at her prize flowers, like her fringe tree and irises. She still piddles in the yard, cooks, cleans her own house, shops,
and sometimes drives to
Mom is having cataract surgery the 6th and there have been at least 3 preliminary post-op visits that I’ve taken her since they dilate her eyes. But most of the time she makes it to all her appointments without any help or concern.
I’m having the last of a series of dental visits around the same time. It seems that she and I both require a lot of maintenance these days!
about how I seem to always have my camera…well, it’s true…I miss little! I’ve learned that there is a lot out there to blog about, and I’ve also learned that you can’t document your life enough. Judy has asked me a couple of times this week about something we’ve done and it’s just not there! Old-timers? Hmmm…could be…but I rarely forget anything I’ve taken a photo of…like these I took at the dentist yesterday while I was waiting!
I am amazed at the new technology this new guy has going on! His cute little help took x-rays of my teeth, but instead of film, they pop up
on a computer screen right in front of you! Very cool...I couldn't resist sneaking these shots!
