Inconviences

 

In my last post I referenced my wounded hand – which is healing but still worse than I had thought. 

                                    

But not as bad as my cough – which I have had for seven months now.  I do have an appointment to see a specialist – but not until June!  I had hoped my cough would have been gone long before then.

We had a stake leadership meeting yesterday.  Those are generally my favorite of three stake conference meetings.  I had forgotten about the participation.  I could not participate myself.  Not only has this cough prevented me from participating with singing but just speaking in general.  I hate that!

The meeting had not even been that well attended.  We didn’t even have half the attendance that we usually get from our own ward. It had been raining off and on all day.  I don’t know if that played a factor and people just didn’t want to drive in it.

We had initially planned on returning for the second meeting after we got something to eat.  But not only did my cough persist but connected to my bladder and so we opted to return to Myrtle Creek.

It appears to be good driving weather right now, but once again I have opted to stay home.  I have NEVER gotten anything from the Sunday meetings unless I am watching from home – which had never been an option until 2021. 

I would rather deal with my ugly scratch than my annoying cough.  Doesn’t the marks on my hand look like it will leave such a fun scar?

3 anniversarys: fantastic, melancholy and tragic

                My brother no longer posts to his blog but has left MANY detailed posts on his facebook page.  Yesterday was a tribute to mom and some to himself for the grief of her loss.  He said he’d almost forgotten that it was 13 years ago yesterday.  His final note (after providing a detailed account of her final stages of life) was “hearts and wounds heal with time and that life continues moving forward”.

          Am I a terrible person for forgetting when she died?  She passed the day after Richard and I celebrated our 12^th wedding anniversary.  We were married two days prior to the bombing of the twin towers in New York – a day when our nation seemed to pull together to show their support.  A time when Rudy Giuliani cared about his city and seemed to be loved and respected.

          Having mom pass was disheartening, but I don’t think as disheartening as having her forget.  Having her mind in a different world apart from our own reality.  I remember that first week after we had checked her in. I remember watching a health-care worker spoon feeding one of the residents – the way one would a toddler in a high chair.  I was saddened by the sight thinking my mom would be in that position one day.  But she wasn’t.  She passed before going through all the stages.  I was glad of that.  I was happy to not have to see her being spoon fed.  I wasn’t happy that she had passed – but we had all lost her long before then.  Dementia had robbed us all.

          Three anniversaries in a row.  A great one for me and Richard.  A mixed-emotion one for my family.  A devastating one for the nation – though we do have a few positive results – the overall reasoning is just so heartbreaking.