I spent time with my parents this past week. I went out of fear, out of necessity but mostly out of love. My parents are 88 yrs young. My Dad will be 89 this month.
By all accounts they are doing amazing.
Amazing as in I just taught my Dad how to download, open and print an attachment. He was amazed at how easy it was. He and two of his friends ( 85 +) were going to try and figure it out together. I can only imagine and chuckle a little at how that scene would have unfolded.
So yes they are doing amazing….. except when they are not.
Two calls to 911 for my Mom in less than a week gave us a bit of a start. She collapsed twice. Once for outrageously high blood pressure. Once while sitting on the couch just talking to my Dad ..scary I know.
So I went to be with them, bring food (I am not the best cook but I have a few dishes I have perfected) and a few gifts I knew my Mom would appreciate.
Mostly I went to be..just be with them. Not to clean (their house is cleaner than mine) not to clean out the frig (my Mom’s version of Tetris) not to tell Mom to throw out magazines (maybe next visit).
No this visit was just to wiggle myself in, love and just alcoholism be.
Mom and I watched a movie ( While You Were Sleeping), I updated her digital frame and put the same photos in a photo album. We chatted, watched the deer in the woods behind their house, and laughed at the jokes that Dad told. We have all heard them numerous times but he gets such a kick out of telling them again we can’t help but laugh.
It used to be when I went home I fell into the role of daughter which looked a lot like this:
Still their little girl, or as my Dad likes to refer to me..his fat baby. It’s a term of endearment referring to my baby days when I was indistinguishable from a rather quishy basketball 🙂
These days our visits look more like this:
Just so you know, Thoughtful Thursdays came from my Mom. I remember always seeing her sitting in the kitchen writing letters, or notes. And she still does. Never misses sending a birthday card or just a note.
So this visit was not to “fix” anything but just to be with my parents.
We need to do more of that.
Just be, just love and cherish our time together.
It is what Thoughtful Thursday is all about. It’s the connection.
My hope for you is that you get to love and be loved today. There is nothing better!
Now go make it a Thoughtful One!
