Mom demonstrated to me that she was still not only capable of playing piano but derived so much pleasure from it that getting to her piano sometimes is more important than doing so safely. When I go over real-world options about this situation? I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Category: 7. Facebook Moments 2017
Over the time since Donna returned home I have often mused on what I was going through, positively and negatively so. Here’s some snapshots of these posts, with a more recent reflection on what was happening then, with the addition of time spent together since. These posts cover 2017– where life was ‘only’ as difficult as the process and things had a large level of routine and a lot more confidence for the caregiver. This doesn’t make it easy.
December 13, 2017: Mom surprisingly breaks out the Dylan
Figuring out what Mom knows musically has become a lovely hobby, pursued a few times a week. This was one of the moments that pushed me to find out more, and yes… there are more Dylan tunes she knows.
December 2, 2017: Donna attends the Maple Leafs game
The NHL Season 2017-18 was a flop for the Canucks but for Donna and I, it was a smashing success. Her ability to read crowds– they are reacting out of emotion, after all– keeps her both in the game and energetic about it. The third period of a game can be a lot more dicey;… Continue reading December 2, 2017: Donna attends the Maple Leafs game
December 1, 2017: Mom teaches me about music
It’s been much of a year now, but Mom’s continuing love of musical performance and my need to learn to catch up to what songs she wants to play– it gives more to us than anything that isn’t a cat.
November 29, 2017: Getting settled after a few years
There are many triggers that you will discover while taking care of your loved elder. Perhaps the most obvious are the ones where current ways of dealing with the reality are in conflict with prior ways. This is true especially on holidays. The last year we got a lot stronger, even if it is still… Continue reading November 29, 2017: Getting settled after a few years
November 21, 2017: What’s good for them will often terrify you
Things don’t necessarily go as well as all of this below, often, anyhow– but there are moments that remind me just how hard Mom is working all day every day to try and hold on to whatever she can. She is not giving up, and moments below make that clear. The hardest part of helping… Continue reading November 21, 2017: What’s good for them will often terrify you
November 16, 2017: Aftermath of respite and attacks on my neighbour
The saga of various attacks on my neighbour, an elderly woman whose mental struggles of decades was weaponized against her to get her apartment (for major Vancouver $$) is interwoven with what Donna was like upon returning from a visit to a respite locale to get myself a break.
October 30, 2017: Three years since mom came home.
October 30, 2017 was the 3rd anniversary of my mother returning home to live with me, and the 4th anniversary of welcoming Baisol into my life as my cat. This year I was actually happy enough to simply note it, and not rant about it. Such is life.
July 25, 2017: Mom scares me by being normal
Much behind the piano, the second biggest improvement in our home has been me getting motivated enough to reclaim mom’s garden for her, and now myself. When I lived here without mom a few years ago (and I was living with a partner at the time), I managed to get the garden half decent, growing… Continue reading July 25, 2017: Mom scares me by being normal
July 14, 2017: Two years sober and smokeless
Nothing scared me more than failure when I decided to make this work. Nothing seemed a more sure fire recipe for disaster than on again, off again drinking problems mixed with the emotional minefield that is this process. I made it more than a month when Mom first moved home, but foolishly decided to have… Continue reading July 14, 2017: Two years sober and smokeless