I talked with Mom tonight. I had left a message on their message machine, longer than usual, and I don't really do that much. I wanted them to know that I was going to Denver, for sure (Yea!) and I was making a HUGE batch of potato salad. I guess I was trying to ask 'My Mother' if I should use Dill or Sweet Pickles, which is silly, because she can not remember, but I sometimes forget that she can not remember. So, since she can no longer seem to understand me, on the phone (she says I talk too fast, but even if I slow WAY down, I really think she just can not comprehend what I am saying? ) Tom, her husband, got on the phone, and THANK GOD, he and I are getting along so well! He is now her secretary, driver, interpetor, companion, well, her everything!

So, he wanted to know EVERY detail of my trip, and no doubt, wrote it all down (his O.C.D. comes in handy sometimes!) and Mom wanted to know how my potato salad turned out! HA! At least she has her priorities straight! LOL! Then the conversation goes like this. You know Tom's Daughter??? *Giggle* and you know those things you put on your feet *Giggle* I am soooooooooo glad I have NEVER asked her "Why can't you remember that?" NEVER! I guess in spite of having AD, and Diabetes, she is doing pretty well, and sometimes I miss my Mom, that can remind "ME" how 'we' make potato salad (she taught me, of course!) but know how *lucky* I am just to have her....still.

Tom turned 88, on Saturday, August 16th, 2008, so I finally know how old he really is. And who says an 88 year-old man, with raging O.C.D, can not take care of an 84 year-old woman (my Mom!) with AD & Diabetes???

Sweet picture, Skygirl.
Have a safe and wonderful trip!
Carol

Sky,

That's sweet your mom wanted to know how your potato salad turned out! And I'm so glad you and Tom are getting along, I'm sure that changes everything for you.

Many times I've wanted to call and ask my mom how to make something or how I should do something, but...Thankfully she taught the girls and I a lot and we are carrying on the tradition.

Glad things are lookin' up.

Take care,

~Kelly~

I was thinking, after this post, about Mom's inability to access words, any words, it seems, and how sad that is. I think they call it aphasia? Imagine sitting in front of a blank canvas, ready to paint a picture, only to notice you have no paint brushes, or water-colors, even charcoal? Or starting a project, and looking into your tool box, and you notice, it is...empty?

Communication is so important to us, humans. It is almost primarily how we 'connect' with others? So without the facial expressions, and ability to touch, those phone calls are really tough. I wished I could reach through the phone & give her a BIG hug! I really can't imagine her without Tom now. What a difference a few months make.

They announced the winners of the all-expenses-paid, backstage passes, yesterday. One is a school teacher, and young Mother, that lives rural Montana, I am happy for her, but I wont be showing or sharing Mom's situation with the Senator, not on this trip anyway. I am still honored to go, and very excited!

BSG, Yahoo and look out Denver! Have a great time.

My poor mom would get so frustrated when she tried to tell me something and she just couldn't find the words... And it was so frustrating for both of us when I tried to guess what she was trying to say and got it wrong. But then there were the times I guessed right: what a relief when she was understood..

Kelly, I'm glad you paid attention to your mom's lessons.................I am finding out now, after she is gone, that there are so many things I wish I would have learned more about. **sigh**

YES! The quessing game! I am getting pretty good at it though! This phone call,it was het huband's daughter's name (I have never met her!), the thing, ya know like a bouqet of flowers, but ediable? A Fruit Basket. Oh a little animal ya know like that runs around in the back yard, a squiral? Yeah! Anyway, good thing I have free long distance, and I really think it hurts me more than her, but who could know? She was always so smart, and had all the answers, it just seems strange how child-like she is, I guess I will never really get 'use' to it. *sigh* But I do appreciate having her in any condition at all, and had better butch-p for the REALLY hard stuff!