I am happy to write now, nearly two years later, that days like this are continuously possible and give both of us reinvigoration. Knowing one another and having routine makes a tremendous difference.
July 18, 2016
There are mornings like today often enough: Awakened about 20 minutes before going to see mom, enough time to get my eyelid exercises and a few deep breaths before heading to help mom up.
Arrived in her room to see her open her eyes in a good mood. “Well, good morning,” she tells me. Then Mollie bounds up on her bed and makes her little mew sound, looking straight up at me. Mom sits up, and beams her biggest smile and radiates warmth in her eyes to reach out for her cat. “Hi Sweetie!” she offers in a slow, heightened loving sound. Mollie blinks approvingly, licks at her hands and does her nuzzles.
This goes on with me talking to them both for about 2-3 minutes before mom gets up, without needing help, off the bed (on her walker) to walk into the bathroom. Her eyes open to family, her bed, the love of her wonderful cat and a feeling of peace and belonging. She has her home and her family, and it’s all over her face that things matter to her.
So much win, and off I took her for a longish walk to her day program, stopped to pat dogs along the way, and now I have a few short hours while she visits with people who understand her challenges.
This is not at all an unusual day– but it feels really right today. I’m a little smug and I am grateful for these cats, who make an apartment a home.