(Journal entry dated October, 2007)
I drove to Naples today to see my Mom. My heart fell to my feet as I realized that she wasn't
sure who I was. She thought I was my sister Vickie. Didn't matter who she thought I was,
though… she was ready to go for a ride!
My plan was to take her out for lunch, get an eye examination, and do a little shopping. Wal-
Mart seemed like the "one-stop" shop. When I arrived, I found out that there were no more
eye appointments available for the day. After a quick "Happy Meal" and the purchase of the
most wonderful RED (her favorite color) shirt, and khakis, we were ready to leave. Vickie had
located an eye doctor a few miles away; that was our next stop.
Mom's glasses hadn't been changed in at least five years, so chances were that she would
need a stronger prescription. On top of that, her glasses are often lost, or picked up by
someone else in her memory care ward. Her caregivers are under constant scrutiny by my
sister, who thinks it awful that they allow Mom to walk around ALL DAY without her glasses
when they ALL know she should be wearing them. It's Vickie's pet peeve.
SO… I decided that Mom's glasses should be special. They shouldn't look like anyone else's.
I know that Mom has a penchant (like myself) for all things sparkly… and although my Sister
and I had very different "visions" of what Mom needed, I was the one with her check card.
No matter how many different frames Mom tried on, she kept going back to the same pair. I
just couldn't resist, and in 3-4 days, my Mom will be receiving the coolest eyeglasses EVER,
designer Dior frames with all the bells and whistles-- sparkles on both sides, AND her name
engraved on each arm. I'll bet she won't lose THESE glasses… and if anyone else picks them
up and puts them on, the aides should be able to spot them a mile away! Ha!
My Mom fell last week and injured her back. X-rays showed no changes from X-rays made a
few months ago, so the doctors don't think anything is broken. The last time I spent time with
her, she gave ME a run for my money. Today, she moved very slowly and needed my help
constantly to sit or stand, or to get into or out of the car.
She's very petite, and even though she has Alzheimers, she "talks a good line". She doesn't
use inappropriate language (unlike myself), and has a good attitude in spite of the hand
she's been dealt. I find myself speaking to her as if she were a young child, very slowly and
about the most bizarre things-- the clouds, the trees, bugs.
Today, I was holding her right hand, her cane was in her left, and on the way to my car, we
had to step down off the curb onto the parking lot.
"Mom, watch your step… Your back is already hurting and you know what will happen if you
miss that step."
"Yep", she said. "I'll fall and bust my a**."
Go, Mom.
That is all. I think I'll go to sleep now.
My daughter Victoria (wearing the Avondale shirt!), Me, Mom (rocking the new $800
glasses!), my sister Vickie & her daughter Lindsay.
Tina
(formerly Benson, as in "Streetie & Louise", native of Rockingham, currently living in
Central Florida.)
I drove to Naples today to see my Mom. My heart fell to my feet as I realized that she wasn't
sure who I was. She thought I was my sister Vickie. Didn't matter who she thought I was,
though… she was ready to go for a ride!
My plan was to take her out for lunch, get an eye examination, and do a little shopping. Wal-
Mart seemed like the "one-stop" shop. When I arrived, I found out that there were no more
eye appointments available for the day. After a quick "Happy Meal" and the purchase of the
most wonderful RED (her favorite color) shirt, and khakis, we were ready to leave. Vickie had
located an eye doctor a few miles away; that was our next stop.
Mom's glasses hadn't been changed in at least five years, so chances were that she would
need a stronger prescription. On top of that, her glasses are often lost, or picked up by
someone else in her memory care ward. Her caregivers are under constant scrutiny by my
sister, who thinks it awful that they allow Mom to walk around ALL DAY without her glasses
when they ALL know she should be wearing them. It's Vickie's pet peeve.
SO… I decided that Mom's glasses should be special. They shouldn't look like anyone else's.
I know that Mom has a penchant (like myself) for all things sparkly… and although my Sister
and I had very different "visions" of what Mom needed, I was the one with her check card.
No matter how many different frames Mom tried on, she kept going back to the same pair. I
just couldn't resist, and in 3-4 days, my Mom will be receiving the coolest eyeglasses EVER,
designer Dior frames with all the bells and whistles-- sparkles on both sides, AND her name
engraved on each arm. I'll bet she won't lose THESE glasses… and if anyone else picks them
up and puts them on, the aides should be able to spot them a mile away! Ha!
My Mom fell last week and injured her back. X-rays showed no changes from X-rays made a
few months ago, so the doctors don't think anything is broken. The last time I spent time with
her, she gave ME a run for my money. Today, she moved very slowly and needed my help
constantly to sit or stand, or to get into or out of the car.
She's very petite, and even though she has Alzheimers, she "talks a good line". She doesn't
use inappropriate language (unlike myself), and has a good attitude in spite of the hand
she's been dealt. I find myself speaking to her as if she were a young child, very slowly and
about the most bizarre things-- the clouds, the trees, bugs.
Today, I was holding her right hand, her cane was in her left, and on the way to my car, we
had to step down off the curb onto the parking lot.
"Mom, watch your step… Your back is already hurting and you know what will happen if you
miss that step."
"Yep", she said. "I'll fall and bust my a**."
Go, Mom.
That is all. I think I'll go to sleep now.
My daughter Victoria (wearing the Avondale shirt!), Me, Mom (rocking the new $800
glasses!), my sister Vickie & her daughter Lindsay.
Tina
(formerly Benson, as in "Streetie & Louise", native of Rockingham, currently living in
Central Florida.)
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