Dad's What? or The Week Ending 03/29/2015

A rather tame week.

Mom is becoming rather stubborn about some things.  Such as:
1)  Taking showers - she keeps stating she took one the day before.  They had been able to get her to take them under my orders (she was accepting that as an order), but that has seemed to cease - no evidence of bathing this week.  Not sure what to do.

2)  Laundry - She refuses to allow them to take her laundry.  She tells the staff that she'll do it herself if they'd allow her to use her washer/dryer downstairs (this is going back to her former house - there is no basement at St. A's - at lease not one she'd be able to access).  I checked her hamper today, it's mostly undergarments.  The staff went through her clothing and put in the wash those things that were in need.

3)  Cleaning her room - She refuses them access to clean it.  So, when she's not looking they rush in and do what they can before she can catch them.  Wednesday she went to Mass, so that presented a wonderful chance while she was in the reception area, outside of the cottage.

On Wednesday, too, Jean came for a 2+-hour visit.  Mom showed her the box of clothes that she wants to donate; Jean contacted me and asked me to go through it first, as it's not something she is trusting is what Mom says.     Jean was also generous enough to bring chocolate mini's and some soda for Mom.   I'm hoping that the surge of sugars will bring about a good change in her, as I figured she really wanted those items and at this point she should be happy - not cantankerous and miserable.

They spoke of many things, but not shoes, ships, sealing wax, cabbages, and kings, but the things RLC members prefer to speak of - family.  Mom spoke of her paternal uncles, and also spoke of Dad's brother, Bob.  When Jean asked her about my Aunt Mary, Mom told her she wasn't real family but married in (she's really my father's sister who, sadly, we've not heard anything about in nearly 20 years).

Today I came in and took her mail out of the refrigerator.  Mom says I put it there, but I honestly can't recall doing such a thing.  Hmmmm.

I went through the box of donations and found several pairs of pants that used to fit Mom - but no longer.  And she refuses to try on the new ones.  Doggone it - pretty soon she'll be left with ... never mind.  Also in the box were some dirty underwear, which was pitched into the hamper;  next came some mismatched socks, a very nice nightie (she says she doesn't wear those anymore - they're not warm enough), several undershirts, some nice shirts she's outgrown, and a sweatshirt she wore last month - she kept that one.

We hied over to Jean's house for pizza and berry pie a la mode.  Beautiful warm day  and very good conversation.   And, of course, we spoke of Jean's family.

After a little under an hour, Mom wanted to get going.  Then came the pie and ice cream.  Hooked her!

Two hours in we left.  That seems to be Mom's limit.  So, we went to the store to pick up some things for her - lipstick, eyebrow pencil, and oranges.  Before we left, she stated that she really had no need to use the "facilities", yet as we arrived at the store she demanded we move quickly so she could.  The janitor said she'd need to wait, and I told him he'd have more than enough to clean if he didn't let her in right then - problem solved.

She later kept asking if we were going to Timmy's house.  I kept asking her who Timmy was.  Finally, it was realized she was speaking of Jean's son, and not my nephew, Mom's grandson.

After we left the store she asked if Dad and his lady-friend were coming over.  Huh?  "What did you say?  Dad's what?"
"You know, his lady friend."
"What lady friend?  Dad doesn't have a lady friend.  What makes you think he does?"
"Well, you know, the woman who was in the checkout with us with your father."
"Oh," I lied.  "No, that was just some woman, not a strumpet."
"You really shouldn't call people names like that.  Besides, she's a very nice person."
"What do you mean by lady friend, anyway?"
"You know, a woman who is his friend."
"Just a friend?"
"Yes.  Get your filthy mind out of the gutter!  I'm going to tell your father!"

Well, to  be honest, that was all a relief.  Also knowing they wouldn't be visiting soon.  The only woman in the line with us was the checker who appeared to have left most of her better days of glory in storage years ago.

So, I had brought in more soda and more chocolates, thanks to Jean.  Mom has a box of Chips Ahoy! in her dresser so she's pretty well taken care of.    I suspect this week will bring more news - perhaps that of good hygiene!

The Week Ending 3/22/2015, or How Little We've Changed Since....

A rather slow week for Mom.

Jean came and entertained her on Wednesday, and Mom was quite happy to see her.  They chatted and played a little Scrabble.

Mom has spent most of her time in her room, unwilling to come out.  Yet, once in a while she will venture into the main salon for a change of pace, I suppose.

She has been keeping the staff from washing her clothes, insisting they're stealing them, or that her clothes are clean and don't need to be washed.  Same thing with her.  They have been able to get her to shower twice a week, under the guise that I insist she do it or they will come in and wash her themselves.  If this were to happen, think Eliza Doolittle in "My Fair Lady" receiving the first real scrubbing!  Although in many ways this scene might delight, it wouldn't be pleasant for all those having to do it.

They've learned that giving Mom her wine at the beginning of dinner is best.  But many times she fails to request it.  If she receives it later than in the beginning, she takes it into her room and partakes in the mornings.  

She's been sleeping in quite a bit, and if she has wine in the evenings she's a bear in the mornings.  I told them to give it to her only if she asks, and that she is not to take it into her room (but knowing her she'd take it anyway just to be defiant).

Today, I popped in to take her to the movies.  She had a choice - Cinderella (which she said sounded childish) and The Second Best Marigold Hotel (which she said sounded stupid).  Once I stated I would buy her an ice cream after the movie, she began to ready herself to go (she just sat there talking about something that made no sense for 10 minutes until I made the promise).

She enjoyed the movie even recognizing some of the actors on the screen.  It was a linear plot, and she stated it was half-way intelligent with no crude, vulgar, or sexual issues.  Whew!

Then she asked, "Where's my ice cream?"

Now, she cannot remember the simplest of things, let alone a thought, and she can remember this?  Oh Boy!

We drove through Jack In The Box and she was upset because I didn't order a chocolate mixed with vanilla, but she received it and was quite contented.  Too much so.  For when we returned to St. Anthony's, she refused to get out of the car!  She told me that while I went in she would wait and then she would go home with me.

Egads!

I finally coaxed her out of the car (if threats can be seen as an active coax) and we went in.  She was rather churlish, something I've not seen for a while, and this got me to thinking.

Is the lack of sugar (I've not been buying her small candy bars or soda) driving her back to her old cantankerous self?  Mentally I've not seen any changes, but her moods and affect are certainly going back to being mean and bossy.  Although she's gained 39 pounds in 4 months, and there's no sign of a decrease from the lack of them, perhaps I  need to make a run to get her these things and put her back on track....I'm not sure.

To sweeten her and make her happy, perhaps it's for the best as these are her twilight years.   While it appears to be an ethical dilemma that has to do with too much sugar and brain insulin, I'm going to give her the sugar.  It's what she wants and it will serve us all for the better - she'll be happier and so will we.

Entertainment and Such for Mom - where has it gone?

Thinking about entertainment for Mom has always been a project.

If we go to the movies, it had to be something intelligent with no skin, swearing, or suggestive material.  That's pretty limiting!

Taking her to  a play was pretty simple - especially in Port Angeles.  But she liked to make comments here and there and talk back to the actors under her breath - that was entertainment in itself, and sometimes a bit embarrassing, especially when the people around us would look over to see who was making the sounds.  But, it worked.

We did try a musical, and that went fine, but it wasn't very good, and she was pretty good!  Same with concerts.

Today, all that past still lingers.  However, taking her to a movie is still limiting - it now has to have all the above, but needs a good linear plot that she can follow between naps.    Taking her to a film such as "Unbroken" simply served to confuse her, and she kept looking at the scenery and found the plot very confusing.   In other words, she became a bit of side entertainment which distracted from the actual film on the screen.

With the cost of tickets, nowadays, it seems rather impractical to take her to a musical concert or play because she'll only want to nap and won't really appreciate it as once she did.  This is sad, and rather limiting, as well.

My brother had bought her a television and brought in all sorts of videos for her to watch when she first moved to St. Anthony's.  However, she refused to put the tv up as she believed that meant she was staying.  She shared the videos with other residents in the television room, but soon that wore off and she sent the videos home with me.  Later, the television would follow, which meant the DVD player for her was also a moot point.

She has a stereo in her room but once the cd has played out she doesn't put in another nor shut it down.

Mom also used to read like a bandit.  Now, she gazes at the paper, looks at book pages, and loves magazines with lots of pictures.  She really likes those pictures.  So, when travel  magazines come, or anything in the vein of National Geographic, I take them to her and she loves them - then puts them in a box.

I do know they have concerts where she lives.  I know they have other forms of presentations.  I know she gets to play games.  But at this point she seems to have a lack of interest in most anything.

So, aside from visits, and the occasional movie (shopping was never something I enjoyed at all, and neither did she unless she had a mission), walks, dinners, and whatnot, there really isn't much she can enjoy or appreciate much, nor does she truly remember (unless she dreams it).

There is one ray of light, though.  She now has Mario Lanza, Jeanette MacDonald/Nelson Eddy movies at my eldest brother's house, along with a Shirley Temple collection which she finds delightful.  However, her attention span at anyone's home or anywhere outside of St. A's tends to be limited to about 2 hours - so that puts a damper on finishing the film with dinner.

Lewy has taken a toll.  

More About Brain Insulin and Dementia ... The Information Keeps Coming!

Today's food world is ripe with all sorts of "comfort foods" that we love to ingest and savor.  Yet, all those carbohydrates and sugars are anathema to good health.  This has been served to us daily with reports in the media, politics, and in regular conversations.  Yet, nothing is as good as, say, Cheetos dipped in sour cream or that Voodoo donut - I prefer the maple bars with bacon - for a devilish snack.

In moderation, these types of snacks are fine - in moderation, that is.  Everyone has their own definition of the term, but reading the portion allotments on the packaging or just having one in a blue moon would help - if you follow the instructions, that is.

Why is this becoming more important for the general population to observe?  Because scientists are beginning to understand the role of insulin and the brain, as well as the body, and the number of those with Type-II Diabetes is increasing.  This is a cause for concern as these are those who may be more susceptible to dementia in their futures.

According to Dementia News, and as  I posted February 26, 2015, there is very much a link between dementia and brain insulin.

IN the article/documentary on Alzheimer's, produced by HBO, they speak of the need for insulin to regulate and produce glucose in the brain.  What they were able to observe was that increasing the glucose levels in the brain produced better cognitive function.  As the glucose levels rose, the pancreas produced more insulin.  When they blocked the insulin from production there was no change in the cognitive levels.  Therefore, it seems easy to deduce that working with those who are demonstrating changing cognitive function (AD, LBD and other dementia patients) could greatly benefit from such work.

Since 2012, the studies have been ongoing (perhaps earlier than this); however, it's interesting to note that not much play has been given in the media, nor on the support sites, either.

This is, indeed, intriguing.

There are many articles on Brain Insulin and Dementia.  

Here are Some:

Insulin in the Brain - HBO

Diabetes on the Brain

Type 2 Diabetic Alzheimer Dementia and the Insulin Connection

The Alzheimer's and the Sugar Connection

Study Says that Blood Test for Brain Insulin Resistance Accurately Predicts Alzheimer's Risk

Are Alzheimer's and Diabetes the Same Disease?

Feisty and Still Raring to - - Rest...or The Week Ending 03/15/2015

Another week has passed.  Not much newsworthy - Except - - - -

On Wednesday, the Ladies came by for their visit.  I had asked them to get Mom to try on her new pants.  Well, after Scrabble, chit-chatting and all, Mom was too tired when asked to try them on.

Seriously.

When they brought them out, Mom sat in her chair and declared her inability to do anything but rest.  Arrrrg!
So, I tried phoning to see if the staff at St. A's would be able to get her to make an attempt.  Nope!  She flat out refused.

So, how do we get this woman to try on new clothes and toss aside those that are looking well-worn?

Today I came in with two new tops for her to try on.  I had exchanged the ones from last Sunday and Mom reluctantly agreed when I stated she could just fit it over what she was already wearing.  Sighingly, begrudgingly, and snarling, she agreed.  These were but one size smaller than the ones previously - but she stated they made her look too busty.  I mentioned that it wasn't the shirts, themselves, and she gave me the evil eye.  Then, she continued wearing the blue one over her blue paisley long-sleeved shirt.

She took off her bone necklace and talked about putting the shirt in the box with it.  To be honest, I was confused.  So, this led to a chat about her necklace.

We also spoke of the trips she had taken to Mexico, which, at first, she denied ever having taken.  I spoke of the trips to the Yucatan to visit the ruins with Dad and friends, trips to Acapulco and Mazatlan with Nadya and Dad.  She stated they never happened.

Then, she began speaking of one trip down there and her memories of how wonderful it was as if the previous comments and discussion had never been.  Oh well.

Finally, the pants.  

I told Mom she needed to try them on or we weren't going anywhere.
"I'm too tired for all this!" she exclaimed.  "I need to sit down and relax!"
"You can do that after you put them on and show me how they fit.  Just one pair," I commanded.
"You try them on first.  They look as though they'd be better on you."
"No.  I bought them for you in the ladies' section of the store.  I need you to try them on to see if they fit, or if I need to exchange them for a smaller size.  Now, stop wasting my time and get busy."
Finally, she took them and went into the bathroom.
In a few minutes, she poked her head out.
"Hand me the pants."
"You have them, already, in the bathroom.  They're the black ones."
"No, you were going to put them on first."
"No, you took them with you.  Look inside the bathroom, again."
She found them.
She came out and they were just a tad billowy.
"I feel like a freak.  I can't wear these, the other ladies will make fun of me."
"They don't look that bad.  Are they comfortable?"
"I think they're too big!  I want to take them off right now!"
She went back in and changed.  When she came out she demanded a look at the other two pairs I'd bought.  She was horrified at their size.
"I don't wear anything this large!" she declared.  "I wear a 1x if anything."
"Well, I bought the same size as what you have on now."
I put them all in the bag to take back, but she wanted to keep them there.  Ha!

From there we went to Jean's house for a delightful lunch of tilapia, potatoes, and salad.    Mom had ice cream with chocolate sauce after, as well as an apple fritter.  She was quite content.

She acknowledged the flowering trees and the buds bursting forth as we drove.  On the way home the wind was blowing rather hard and we saw a number of fallen branches and trees, as well as power outages at the stop lights.

When we returned the facility had just lost power.  We told Mom this, but she was a little angry when she went in to use the bathroom.  I reminded her, but she said something about people needing to be a little less careless.

So, despite her 'fear' of new clothing, we made headway and it became a pretty good day.  

In the Beginning? Would Recognizing the Signs Have Done Much Good?

After many months and thoughts, it would appear that the onset of LBD with Mom might be more apparent.  Yet, nothing is, as how much we take for granted and small slips of the mind may go unnoticed and unnoted.

So it may have been for Mom.

After Dad died, Mom became lost after driving me to the ferry many miles away, a drive she'd made so many times - but that was due to grief.

The time when she was driving home from the beach house and was on Hood's Canal and fell asleep, hitting the guard rail and pulling over to stop before launching into the cold and dark depths of the sea - but that was fatigue.

The frantic phone call about her printer not working, having checked the plug and everything else - only for me to discover the plug was inserted, but not pushed in fully (then it worked).

The remarks from her cousins visiting at the beach asking about Mom's health, and how she didn't seem herself - taking naps, and not being as active as once she had been.

The inability to understand her television and cable relationship, although it rarely changed throughout the 20 years she had it - and the need for me to call the cable company and internet company to fix it so she could stop going without (this would last a few days after I'd done just that at her house).  And, to make things worse, she would chuck all instruction manuals and a few of the remotes, as well.  But this was typical - she didn't see the need for them (until I asked her to refer to them).

The slowing down of her step over recent years, and the wonderment in her eyes when she discovered her rental car card wasn't American Express or Entertainment cards in the Empress Hotel in Victoria.

Were that these happened within a quick step of each other then, perhaps, we'd notice - but given Mom's inability to understand technology (even though once she'd been quite adept), and the sigh of relief when the emails (many per day) that she forwarded to us before she'd even read them stopped.

And, we cannot forget the phone calls!  One brother received 13 in 24 hours.  I was used to receiving up to 7 with denials that she made any.  It was all so very confusing!

Then there were those stories about people she shared but weren't true.  <sigh>

But, to be honest, it made bringing movies she'd be interested in easy - there were so many she liked in the past but had absolutely no memory  of ever seeing.   That's when I began really wondering, but attributed it all to her age.

She also began sleeping more - to the extent that many times I would be tempted to trot into her room and put a small mirror under her nose to be sure she was breathing.  Luckily, she arose not long afterward.

From a distance, we can see some changes that may not be obvious to someone who sees her often.   But, even if we had taken note, what could we have done?

When Mom was admitted, she was on the cusp of being too able; that changed in less than a year's time.  And, now, we are understanding and seeing so much more that we cannot dismiss it, at all.

Who knows what adventures are ahead?

From Whence Did These Lewy Bodies Come?

Recently, I've noticed that people figure that being afflicted with dementia is a crap shoot.  And, they're pretty much on target, so far as I can see.

Of course, there are the other things, like, FACTORS that may help stop the madness, but nothing is 100%.

Diet, exercise, clean living (meaning no smoking anything, being moderate in alcohol, etc), and keeping your brain active with learning, reading, etc. will help stave off mental degeneration, perhaps.

But it dawned on me at the same time as I was pondering my chances that we haven't really any clue as to from where these little buggers came from.  Well, we actually do, but it's nice to re-iterate it as none of us has much control over their appearance (or so they tell us thus far).

Well, it begins when the proteins in the brain begin misfolding.  It's just something that seems to occur.  And it's not just LBD, Parkinson's, Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia that are results, but diabetes, too, can be caused this way as well, and toss "old age" into the hat while you're at it.

How does it work?  Why does a misfold create such a nuisance?

With age comes little "misdemeanors" of processes.  When the proteins misfold it isn't only one or two, but many that may happen.  This sets off a reaction.    This cannot be undone, at this time.

According to Dr. David Ron, at the University of Cambridge:

Proteins are central to the function of all living beings and maintaining them in proper condition (known as their ‘folded state’) is important to health. It is now apparent that protein misfolding contributes to many diseases of ageing, such as dementia, diabetes and even the physical feebleness of old age. To delay these undesirable processes we need to better understand how cells and tissues (in which protein misfolding is played out) adapt to this problem and then we must seek ways to strengthen favourable adaptations and discourage unfavourable ones.  (Misfolded Proteins in Dementia and Ageing)

Which is somewhat disheartening as there is no way to reverse the process at this time;  I suppose there would be more hope would there be a way to catch the misfolds at their onset, but how would you know?

You don't. 

Next, we have the normal chemical reactions taking place in the brain all the time.  A-synucleins are a normal part of the brain's chemistry.  However, these too, seem to have a way of becoming a little wonky and can, therefore, become (from what I'm gathering in my reading) anomalies in themselves, which then create the new form known as Lewy Bodies.  

While the A-Synucleins help with the regulation and production of the dopamine and acetylcholine in the brain (which keep the brain healthy and working correctly), the secondary units of Lewy Bodies begin the war against such processes and block the productions and then begin to sever the neuro-connectors that are necessary for movement, thought, and other processes in the brain.  

Wow.  I do hope I sound as though I know what I'm saying.  It's pretty much technical for me.  But, it begins the thought that if they know this much, at this time, then the road might be brighter sometime soon.  

If only there were a way to make it like a children's picture book.  

Resources:

Misfolded Proteins in Dementia and Ageing  Cambridge University

Alpha-synuclein Biology in Lewy Body Diseases  Alzheimer's Research and Therapy

Dementia with Lewy Bodies   Johns Hopkins Medicine

A Resting Point On the Way Down....or The Week Ending 03/08/2015

A Bittersweet week.

Wednesday, the girls (Connie & Jean) came to see Mom.

She was wearing her blue capris which had torn on the seam, but she didn't seem to mind - however, the girls were able to convince Mom to change, so they could take them home and mend them (Mom told them I would be doing the mending - HA!).

They played a good game of Scrabble, with Mom being more agreeable than she used to be months ago.  She did make an inquiry about allowing her mother to play, but the ladies were able to tell her she was otherwise occupied.  Mom accepted this without complaint.

Tonight, my brother came and picked her up and took her for a jolly drive to Mount Angel.  This was very good for her spirits, just to get her out and to see the world.
When I arrived they were having a nice conversation on the patio with lemonade and iced tea.  Mom was happy looking at the plants and trees that surround his property.  At one point, she gazed at the two sugar maples and remarked, "They look like a man and a woman having fun."   Now, with the gnarled branches free from leaves it was difficult to say if that was the sort of fun that I would care to print....
She had troubles finding her words and thoughts.  As Connie stated earlier last month, Mom slipped from one thought to another seamlessly, and many times had troubles finding the words she was wanting to use.  She is aware of this and says she can't get the words.
At one point, she told us she had my oldest brother when she was 13, but that thought was quickly obliterated in the next thought.  Whew!
She was back to being her wonderful self when I tried to bring her to the table to eat.  She wanted to keep reading the book she had and stated that it was too early to eat (then my brother prompted her by telling her it was on the table - she acceded).
On the way home we had a very nice conversation - about what I have no idea - it was all so random, but it kept her content.
When we arrived back at St. Anthony's I asked her to try on some new clothes I had bought her earlier.  After much cajoling, she capitulated and tried on one blouse - it was too big.  The pants will have to wait until the girls come for a visit this week.
So, her memory has declined as have her speech and movement.  This is a slow train to ---??? I'm hoping it's slow and the hills doesn't suddenly show a decline on the way (at least not in the near future). 

Inside Mom's Lewy Body Affected Mind Part Two (What I Believe It Must Be Like and...Voilà!)

Have you ever had one of those dreams that truly seemed so real it was hard to shake off?  The vestiges of it stay with you for a great deal of time?

I recall a nightmare I had involving sound and people fighting "Andy Capp" style; they were in a large ball rolling through the house sawing through the walls getting closer and closer to me.  The sound of the water in the pipes, as my father took his shower in another part of the house, gave the dream the finishing touch.    I remember it vividly.

It came to me recently that this is similar to Mom's situation; except that she is living the dream.  She is neither asleep nor awake - but fluctuating between a sleepy and a dreamy reality - her wakefulness and her dreams are her realities, but unlike the majority of us, there is no strict partition which tells her on which side of the sandman she is.

Her speech is affected - think of what it's like to speak to someone who's in slumber; their speech is slurred, mushy, usually unintelligible, and typically non-linear.  It's difficult to make heads or tails of.  Much the same can be said of Mom.   And, yet, there are just as many times when she speaks clearly - but her thoughts are muddled and unintelligible.

She may as well be sleep-walking.  This can account for her delusions of performing tasks with my grandmother, having events with my brothers, and her siblings, She deludes that people are dead, and even if they're sitting directly across from her this is her reality.

There's truly no other way to put it.  While spending time with her it becomes obvious.

How then, can she walk?  With LBD, the body doesn't go into normal paralysis while sleeping.  This can be seen as typical of those who do sleepwalk.

She never did this before, but it helps to believe this.  It makes sense.

Dreams are also surrealistic, and non-linear.  This accounts for so much of her thinking.

You try to make sense of your dreams...

So, when people ask me "How's your mom?"   I may actually respond, "She's really sleeping well!"

Inside Mom's Lewy Body Affected Mind - Part One (the intro)

Because recent events have occurred, it dawned on me what it must be like inside Mom's mind.  Seriously, it means taking my imagination and delving into a dream world of reality (there's an oxymoron for you).

I'm not that sure anyone really understands what I tell them, and I shudder to consider filming it as that might seem a bit lurid and using her in a shameless and humiliating manner.  

Following is a clip of a trailer by a man whose father succumbed to LBD.  This may/may not be what we should expect, as Mom is still calm.  For some, the man in the clip may seem a little belligerent, but to me he seems playful.  

Although the subject following doesn't truly parallel the experience we have with Mom, he is in the late stages of Lewy Body.  I wanted something that would reflect her, but we must remember there are others out there dealing with this disease on their own terms.  I'm sure you'll appreciate this filmmaker's experience.

It's one thing to look on the surface, and understand that there are changes going on in the brain which aren't, exactly, positive.

If you go back and look at the man, himself, and realize he seemed normal and then LBD came and changed his entire world.   Luckily someone was there for him, but for many there is stark solitude and neglect.

I did try to locate a clip of a neuron affected by LBD, but no site seemed to have a short clip, and I didn't wish to subject anyone to a lengthy film which was to serve such a tiny purpose.

Then, I realized it might be better to write about her thinking as it presents, as it may be of more interest.

To be honest, I did want to keep this posting short, but after considering its length, it seemed best to put it into 2 parts.

Consider this the introduction and Thursday's post the actual post.

I hope you find this intriguing and useful.

Fear No More the Heat o' the Sun...or the Week Ending 03/01/2015

A rather normal week.

Some physical therapy.

A wonderful visit from Connie & Jean (aka the RLC - Retired Ladies Club).

The ladies played Scrabble and had a nice chat.

Jean took some of the clothes Mom has and separated those bought last August which she refuses to believe are hers (as they still have tags) into one bag, and the other for donations.

I had asked if she could possibly mend Mom's blue pants, and she had agreed - however, Mom decided to wear them that day....<sigh>

As Connie and Jean drove home, they discussed the differences in Mom.  Connie noted that Mom is able to change focus and topics in one sentence several times seamlessly - if you weren't paying attention you would be even more lost than, perhaps, you would be if you were listening intently.

This evening, Lawrence picked Mom up for dinner and took her for a tour down the Columbia to Ranier and then over to Vernonia.  Mom seemed to enjoy the ride,

She was tired when they arrived, which is par for the course, or so it seems.

We ate well, and Mother graced us with her insights on a variety of subjects - which varied throughout her sentences (seamlessly). My brother had just gone to New York to visit his daughter in the city, and he also was able to visit with some very close friends, which he mentioned.

Mom with her four sons June, 2009

As he went outside to grill the chops, Mom told me those very same friends had phoned her that morning for some help, which she was able to do.   She also mentioned her mother had come by and they had put together some different items for her.  The list could go on.

We left after dinner, Mother quite tired, but limber enough to get out of the car easily.

I gave her some travel magazines which she loves to go through for the pictures.  She stated that she would go through them and find a journey the two of us could, possibly, take when I had the time.  I smiled and kissed her goodnight.

She seems more content now, and there is a softness about her that never truly existed before.

I wonder which shoe will fall next, though.