Now it just seems to do its own thing.
This morning I found my heating had come on so it must have been chilling last night. You'll be surprise to know I have my heating set quite low as I hate being too warm even in the winter. I think it's because when I visit my mother in the nursing home she asleep because it's so warm it makes the residents sleepy.
Last Friday, my husband and I went to see Mum. My mother is in a wheelchair and isn't able to do anything for herself now as her muscles have wasted away. I'm pleased to say she still knows who Russell and I are when we visit her, even though she does get muddled and confused by what day of the week it is, when things have happened and who people are, but this is understandable when you have no structure to your day and you're not planning anything for the future i.e. days out, family get together, holidays appointments etc. Things that mark the passing of time for us with busy lives.
As you all know, because I have said before, we like to take mum out, in her wheelchair, to the shops. I would dearly love to take her out further afield and visit new places, but she hates going to far and doesn't like traveling in a car. The last time we took her out she kept crying that she was falling and wanted to go home, so now take her around the shops until she tells us she had enough and wants to go home.
Mum has good days and bad day... On good days, she is chatty, telling us about people she's seen and talked too. These are people she hasn't see for years or like my father, are no longer with us, or some longer ago remembered time. My mother was never a great talker, well, not to me. I always felt my mother had a secret life. whether it was because I remind her of her own mother, who was a very upstanding lady who like things to be done properly and was very well dressed, where my mother was always very haphazard about everything in life. Her attitude was one of 'That will do'.
Many years ago, I went to see my mum when she lived in her own flat. It was the first time we had really talked to each other. I had learnt quite early with my mother that you must never question her, but allow her to free flow and just listen. She told me that her mother was always telling her off and complaining about everything she said and did. She liked living on her own, because she had no one to answer to and she could do whatever she wanted. Many of the carers at her home describe mum as a 'spirited lady'.
On her bad day, she's still pleased to see us, but apart from 'Hello' 'yes, please take me out', and 'I've had enough can we go home now.' she doesn't say anything else.
Friday was one of her bad days. We were told she was grumpy and feeling fed up when we arrived. As we were walking along the street I chat to her about nothing much, (which I wonder if she finds it annoying in itself :-) As a child, I was chatty when I came in from school, wanting to tell her all about what I did at school only to be told to shut up because she was watching the TV) the weather, my garden, asking her if she's seen anyone, and Russell and my trip to Whitby, normally if it her solemn day she remains quiet and unresponsive I would shut up.
So that what happened on Friday, I shut up and we walked on in silent, when Mum suddenly piped up, How are you getting on with your book, Paula?
You could have knocked me down with a feather, she brought tears to my eyes.
Bless her. 'Mum I loved you.'
So in answer to my dear old mum who will be 80 this week. Happy Birthday, Mum! It coming along nicely, but so far no one loves it enough to take it on... but who knows what will happen by the end of this week.
Positive thinking is needed in large doses about my book and the weather too.
Have a great week everyone.
Paula R C
