Life Changes

The single constant in life is change.

Last December my 90-year old memory-impaired mother moved in with me. She had been in an assisted-care facility, but wasn't getting enough care, and they had decided that Santi the cockatoo, her companion of 42 years, had to go.  Instead, they both left.

You can imagine this is a big change for me. After years of living on my own, I am now almost constantly with people, and  have many new responsibilities. Mom suffers from cluster strokes - very small strokes that don't incapacitate her but really beat her up inside - that are stealing her memory. She needs 24-hour care. Living with severe dementia is a challenge, and an incredible learning experience.

It is my hope that I have adjusted well enough that I can once again share my experiences through this blog. I need to take more pictures, as the camera helps me focus in on otherwise overlooked details. I need to write more, as this helps me focus on thoughts and ideas, and to see things more clearly.

Thank you for joining me on this new journey.

Bunny Love

My lovely mother enjoying one of my adorable bunnies.

Settling In

Birthday Girls

Joy Gustafson (on right) and her sister Mary Mann on Joy's 90th birthday. Mary's birthday is 3 days later.

Family!

My mother's sister Mary came up from California for a visit this week. My sister and I drove up to Seattle, and we all joined her son Dan in a lovely little park in the city.

We had a picnic in the park seasoned with great conversations and reminiscences of childhood in Australia. Later Dan made us coffee at his place before August and I headed home. It's been ages since we've seen Mary; it is such a treat to have her here again.