Paul and I drove up to CT to see my parents today. Mom was put on
hospice care about two months ago, but I naively hoped that this might have been more about changing her type of care rather than a real harbinger of what was coming. That did seem to be the case at first, but she has been declining suddenly just lately. I spoke with hospice people twice this past week, and a little with Mom herself, and decided I could not wait till next month for my next visit. I'm in the last few weeks of a graduate degree program, and we were/are planning to celebrate with my parents on Mother's Day in May, two days after I graduate. Was/am hoping to show Mom my diploma and tell her I am grateful to be following in her footsteps. (Always a hard worker, she got a Master's from Columbia when she was a brand-new mother!)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8hp6_NuZAc19XDlir6lsqmYu_kshKimbMS6gJzgt45W3LfKOGwEk9QG41yKXizzOzXEbvuTno2o7qCwasms_TZaOqvkO-vPL32WikADYVU8wbdv94E2skt3_FePEZyfvKTFit/s1600/CTvisit_4_14_2b.jpg) |
We stopped and picked up Dad first. |
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Dad asked me to bring him toothpaste. He couldn't recall the kind he liked so Paul got him a variety. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0gyDy6LiMtKV9n2VeD4gmXbTGYw2bZJS5yfLaP75t2BZRP6oxRLpGROjzCLK9wAhIvQ_zBGXRkU0idfO8GX6krjGxvrnx9K8rIzZkr6ySmRVXRe13DQ1wWNcUnWnz0CxAjVVc/s1600/CTvisit4_14_1b.jpg) |
Saw this old photo of my parents in my Dad's apartment. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgonWDnl7W3fj__vjRUBLWs2-sAFOsxjS7e5KAz0D-LJcKCfmxQ0iHJKrc8rb9jAOhCD-AcSRbMVLyPi_C34c5tXnhfz0Jl1jZjyaMSXA2rquY73vRhackldpLfWoZ2MKPVouu7/s1600/CTvisit_4_14_3b.jpg) |
Mom loves flowers |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdHas2hi_5sw34Rbut3PgAyZpD9Qu2QdwsC4G1txy7-pa7rGnOwLkttJN8KQVjGht-OWDoN362A93WHmdoszhB-M_v3LPS6uwzW5SMrk4m7Qqq3CjyeaCTJJ0hTcvCNbVmB_h6/s1600/CTvisit_4_14_5b.jpg) |
Mom was asleep and slept heavily throughout our entire visit. Dad was being very brave. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPPaCUj0Yoi5TuTqWP51IgsdXnj4kLsW5BNm7k-B5W1NSY9rw4bDpFB80JVir283eP-Plx4rH1KfPPQBljmaPMjrkvkOAfCuYpSdv96AMc3G_Ic6ZP0Y1kJfVHM7lkiOL5rn7V/s1600/CTvisit_4_14_6.jpg) |
Even though Mom was sleeping we got some snuggling in |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9IUHDCjMVpVIgaofyMDB93B0W96xaBUon94JBsUmnm4y4sExqLg4g_eLnI_bQYBFO6OSRgGSB7z3mxJFn7cLzhC6yQHz1d8nK7QSF8f1lD07hvly0UDUFZrd3xCrFUukj0VJ6/s1600/CTvisit_4_14_7b.jpg) |
She loves cats: I hope she enjoys the company of a few furry friends when she wakes up! |
This is a natural phase in existence, but it is incredibly painful. Driving home we were listening to a talk by Edward Hirsch and he quoted this beautiful poem:
Life flows to death as rivers to the sea /And life is fresh and death is salt to me. (J.V. Cunningham)
Of course, everyone is hoping she will pull up out of this recent nose-dive, and she could! She's always been so strong. Keep the river flowing Mom...
♡☼♡
2 comments:
Sending love to all of you <3 It's so hard to watch the decline.
Sending love and many hugs to all of you. I agree, it's so painful and sad the decline of our parents and loved ones...
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