Family & Friends – Page 8 – The Dackel Princess

Our Visit

Today, after another drive through torrential downpours, we arrived to see my Mom at Hospice. My cousin, Janet was with me and thankfully she did the driving for me. Even with her at the wheel, we had to drive 50-55 miles an hour as the rain was so heavy and ponded in the road!

Mom was thrilled to see us, and delighted with the slide show of her past.

But I noticed early on, as did my cousin, that the spark is out of my mother’s eyes. She is merely waiting for the good Lord to take her home.

Since she has entered Hospice, we expect that she will not be with us too many more weeks. If that.

Around three o’clock, Janet and I left to go and check in at the hotel. Little did my mother know that we were also meeting up with Savannah and Mandy!

Imagine her delight when they walked in and my mother saw them!

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Savannah was her usual wonderful, charming self and she entertained us all. What a little darling!

Mom watched her play.

And enjoyed her beautiful smiles and curls!

Later at the hotel, Janet sat reading to Savannah.

Lobstah & Steamahs

I was sitting around scanning in old slides, when my cousin sent me a message. What was I doing? Nothing much.

The next thing I knew we were planning an adventure. A summer dinner of Lobster, steamers, corn on the cob, potato salad, and my Moon Glow Pickles.

I was busy cooking, but Janet managed these pictures of our wonderful meal!

All lined up!

All set, with melted butter!

Waiting for theirs.

Even dackels need their lobster!

This was a nice, relaxed visit, and the food sure was great! Thank you Janet & Dave! As is with most good things, their visit was too short, but on Friday Janet and I are going off on an adventure!

All for now. It’s late and this girl had better get to bed! Happy Sunday, everyone!

Memories

I had a thought today. In the middle of all the craziness of canning pickles, washing clothes, making meals and cleaning. Here’s the thought.

I’m going to scan in as many of our old family slides as I can, so I can make a slide show for my Mom.

You see next weekend we’re going down for a visit and I want to show her all the pictures. Sort of a ‘This is your wonderful life’.

Look at this. My Mom, about the same age as me. She was young and beautiful and I bet she had no idea. In the picture is my Mom, my sister Mel, and Janet’s Grandmother, Tilly.

It amazes me to see these long forgotten pictures! Here is another. It’s of my grandmother, Mom’s Mom, Janet’s mother, Betty and Janet and her Dad, George.

Oh my much love Grandmother, Aunt and Uncle. And of course, Janet. She has always been so close that I have felt like she is another sister!

Oh how I miss these people. Except of course, Janet. She is part of my link to the past!

So I’ll be scanning in more pictures over the weekend. I know I was at this picnic, but so far, I haven’t found the pictorial proof of it!

Meanwhile, I am enjoying seeing those wonderful old faces that have been gone from me for so long.

Happy Birthday, Melodie

Today is my sister, Melodie’s Sixtieth Birthday. She’s always been a very important person in my life, as well as my dearest sister!

It’s been both a tough and joyous year for her, with the illness of our mother, but she also has the greatest joy of the birth of her twin grandsons, Nolan and Gabriel.

I wish for you a Happy Birthday, today, Mel and a wonderful year ahead!

Happy Birthday, Melodie!!! from Dackel Princess Maribeth on Vimeo.

Monday Happenings!

Monday found us roaming around central New Hampshire going to the Kokopelli Store and then having lunch a one of our favorite places. We’re been enjoying “Canoe” for years. Their sweet and sour calamari and mussels in white wine and garlic are amazing.

Kokopelli has been revered since at least the time of the Hohokam, Yuman, and Ancestral Pueblo peoples. The first known images of him appear on Hohokam pottery dated to sometime between 750 and 850 AD.

Kokopelli may have originally been a representation of ancient Aztec traders, known as pochtecas, who may have traveled to this region from northern Mesoamerica.

Their store has many beautiful items and it was like going into an Indian Museum!

Here I am with my darling friend, and sister in soul, Candy. She was my dearest friend in Florida, and our friendship has continued throughout our lives.

We saw this woman in the lake with her little Chihuahua doggy. They floated around and the pup just loved it!

Mount Chocorua.

This is Mount Chocorua. At an elevation of 3,490 feet (1,064 m) it is the easternmost peak of the Sandwich Range. Mount Chocorua’s bare summit can be seen from almost every direction and can be identified from many points throughout central New Hampshire and western Maine.

Candy has made a friend for life! Greta! Greta also adores DeVere, and is currently all cuddled up to him, as I write!

What I Did This Weekend

Our host is Gattina. Come join us and tell us what YOU did this past weekend! After all, you never know when you will need an alibi!

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The last weekend was my trip down to see Mom. I needed to see her, to talk to her, hold her and kiss her. I celebrated her 84th birthday with her, my sister and two cousins, and most of all, Mom and I needed to say a few things to each other. Important words of love.

The drive was long, the heat was intense, but it was all worth it because it made Mom happy. I gave her a little Beanie Baby Monkey with some Birthday Balloons.

Mom liked the monkey so much, that she holds onto it all the time now. She says it makes her feel calm holding it. I am so glad.

Once they decide where she will be going next (nursing home or hospice) I will either send down or bring down a little cape for her, to keep her from getting cold.

It is great to be back and my puppies and Hubby are happy to have me here. But, my heart is torn. I would love to see my Mom each day, but I just cannot do it living so far away. I am there in spirit.

Happy Monday, Everyone!

Joyous!

On Friday we went to the hospital and set up to celebrate the birthday of our mother. Mel had baked an Angel food cake, and our cousins, Janet and Larry came, and we had flowers and balloons and sat telling stories and jokes. We laughed and we cried, but it was a good day for Mom. She was the belle of the ball! As it should be.

Her doctor and the Physicians assistant brought her flowers and a card. These two women have been truly wonderful and respectful, caring for Mom. They have made her feel special.

I showed her videos of Savannah as well as pictures. We got her a meal from one of the food trucks outside the hospital. Have I mentioned how much I now love “Food truck Food”?

After singing Happy Birthday and eating cake, the nurse came in to put a heparin lock in Mom’s arm. I was scooting my chair forward and slipped and landed face first on the bedside table! Yes, it hit my scar and yes, it hurt so badly that I couldn’t breathe, talk or move! The nurse just about fainted, I think and ran off to get ice. She also wanted to know if I needed a doctor.No, but the ice helped.

I managed to take some pain medication I had with me (I wasn’t driving), but still have pain tonight! Everyone was teasing me that I should have been named Grace-less!

When I left, it was with bittersweet feelings. But Mom knows how I love her and that I hope to see her in a couple of weeks when they settle her in hospice.

This birthday was not perfect, but for Mom it was joyful!

Last Birthdays

Last Birthdays, unlike First Birthdays, are really overwhelming. Today is Mom’s last birthday. We are all gathering at her room at the hospital to surround her with love.

It’s so hard, even if she says it’s okay and she is ready. So much time…lost.

Happy Birthday, Mom!

Off I Go…

I’m heading to Connecticut today. Mom has taken a turn for the worse and I want to be there. She has stopped eating and it seems her kidneys are shutting down. Although she has said all she needs is my sister, I’m thinking that this is probably not true any longer. I think she does, at least, need me to come and see her again, before she starts her journey to the other side.

Even if our mother doesn’t need me, I know my sister does, so I will be going down more to be with her than anything.

It seems very sad when you realize that when she is gone Mel and I, along with my cousins, (formerly known as the kids of our family), will be the senior members of the clan. All those beloved Aunts, Uncles and Grandparents, gone from this world. And soon, Mom.

On Monday I worked like mad on Laundry, cleaning and packing. Hubby will have to manage himself and the dogs. I hate leaving them, but it’s important that I go.

I’ll be keeping you all posted.

Retail Therapy

First, Happy Birthday to my dearest cousin and best friend, Janet!

On Thursday I was in desperate need of a little retail therapy. Before my dental appointment, I stopped by a little shop and I found a cute sun dress. It fits okay, but it will look even better when I get myself going again on Weight Watchers.

There are really no good excuses for me having fallen off the wagon except of the stress I have been under.

The face, my mother’s illness, and the illness of a beloved friend. All have set me back a ways.

Today we learned that Mom is stage 4 Liver Cancer. There is nothing that can be done. No magic pill, or anything that can make her well, nothing that will give her a few more months. It is what it is.

I’ve also felt depressed about my face. Although I know I shouldn’t, I do, and I wonder how long a road I will be on with this.

My friends illness is not for me to talk about here. All I can say is to pray for them. That it is not too late to do something about it.

So this is why I found myself in the boutique downtown trying on this adorable dress. I even found a necklace and earrings to match.

Anneliese got sick after dinner, but we got it cleaned up and I will rest her little belly until the morning. Then it will be a little baby rice cereal. Hopefully that will help her to feel much better.

Have a great weekend, everyone!