Mom

Where do I start? Currently, my mom spends most of her time lying in her bed with the TV on. She can't really see too well so she listens more than she watches. Her favorite shows are Wheel of Fortune and Everybody Loves Raymond. She also spends a lot of her time praying for others, including family and friends who have passed away. She thinks about food constantly. Unfortunately, she can't or won't eat more than a couple of bites of anything. We hired a live-in caregiver to make sure she is medicated, fed, cleaned, and anything else she needs or wants. Medicare provides her weekly visits from nurses and therapists.Through all of this she has told me that she would just like to go to sleep and not wake up. Well, shes fixing to turn 84, so that's not such a disturbing wish. Like her, I believe in Heaven and all of Christ's promises. So in my mind, dying would mean that she could be re-united with her husband, her parents, her sister, and all of her deceased friends. That sounds pretty cool to me, but it's up to God to make that call. Shoot, she may be around for many more years. I just hope she is in better health than she is now if she sticks around. She has myasthenia gravis which is treatable but it will follow her to her grave. Whether she passes sooner or later, she will always be remembered for her love of her family. She was generous to a fault, and she always made time for her grandkids. The Galleria was her home base of sorts and she loved to take the kids ice skating. She also treated them to trips to New York and Europe. If you could put up with her constant complaints about quality and service, you could enjoy her generosity for the most part. However, she had a penchant for embarrassing whoever she was with. She sometimes spoke her mind without any regards for discretion. Store employees would be forced to give in to her demands just to get her on her way. Man, she could wear people out. However, it was a small price to pay to enjoy her attention. She was always there to help even when her help wasn't always welcomed. All she ever wanted was to make sure her family was always taken care of.

So now it's time for her to be cared for. It's time for her to be loved and remembered. It's time to acknowledge her love, generosity, and caring for others. If you know her, call her or better yet, pay her a visit. If you have a similar situation in your family, remember to make the time to show your loved ones you still care. Let them know that they can count on your love and support. I know it can be sometimes unpleasant, but it's worth every minute you can spare. I love my mom and I will make every effort to make the rest of her life as rewarding as she has made mine. I could bore you with more details, but I'm sure that's not necessary. Just be sure to stay close to your mother. Make Mother's Day special this year, even if it's just a simple "I love you, mom."

"Life is too short for the living and life is too long for the dying."