Sunday phone call with mom

Almost every Sunday I catch up with my mom.  I am so grateful she is still around, even though she is over 600 miles away.  Many of my friends are beginning to lose their parents.  I lost my dad five years ago, but my mom, at 80 is still sharp and active.  As a teenageer, I am ashamed to say, I was not very fond of my mother.  As an adult, I now I have a deep admiration - I only hope my own daughter's follow the same arc:)

We spend the first bit talking about the schism in the Methodist church - this occupies a lot of her Sunday's lately then it's on to an update of each child, my husband, my school work, my in-laws.  My mother-in-law has recently moved to a "memory care" facility.  My mother chimes in, "Linda (a family friend who also suffers from dementia) has just started taking CBD oil, and it really seems to be helping her bouts of anger."  Linda, like many dementia patients, as well as my mother-in-law, suffers from angry outbursts when she is confused, frustrated, tired - you name it.  I can only imagine this would be my constant state...
My mom offers that, "hopefully, when I am in hospice..."
("No time soon," I want to interrupt, but I hold back to let her finish),
"...I hope I have something like that to ease my way." 
"I do too," I smile broadly, imagining by church-going, upstanding, do-no-wrong mother, being high and happy in her last hours.  Nice talk.

Comments

  1. Adrienne G.March 24, 2019 at 3:55 PM

    I lost my mom in June, on the last day of school. She was 87. We talked weekly on the phone. She had strong opinions on important things like Charles & Camilla and always told me what she ate. When something interesting happens, I still think "oh, I should tell Mom that" then realize she's gone. I like to think she knows anyway.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. KathrynMarch 24, 2019 at 5:00 PM

      I am sure she does. I talk to my dad all the time, and I'm pretty sure he hears.

      Delete
  2. CarolMarch 24, 2019 at 4:13 PM

    I drive 130 miles every Sunday to see my mom. For the last few weeks, one of our conversation topics has been a good friend of hers that is really struggling with dementia. My mom is so sad and has strong opinions about never wanting to be that way. If CBD oil helped, I would totally go for it, even though my mom is similar to yours!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Club sponsorMarch 26, 2019 at 12:15 PM

    What a powerful post, reminding me to call my mom. I still apologize to her for how I acted when I was a teenager. Thank you for sharing.

    ReplyDelete

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