Mom Turns 86

Wordless Wednesday

Almost Time

We're getting ready for our road trip to Maryland!

It's actually not going to be a huge amount of getting ready, but I don't want to forget anything. I've started my list, and I've already been getting things organized to go these last couple of weeks. I need to have little Clara over soon to talk about the kitties, and of course visit Mom one more time before we take off. Last night Bruce and I went to the library, and checked out some audiobooks to listen to while on the road. I still need to pick up some car food. But, I think we'll just drive and figure out the hotel situations as we go! And, Katie said we could stay with them while we are there, which is wonderful.

I love road trips.

Book Club In The City

Oh, my, but I'm getting behind in this blogging business. 😂 I really have been spending less time on my laptop these days, a good thing because I'm actually spending more time in the real world with people!

And then I've been feeling motivated to do my Swedish Death Cleaning again, which is excellent.

Book Club was an adventure this month, though. Kat bought a condo in the city, and it was her turn to host. It's in the Stevens Square Neighborhood, an area that I had never actually been to before, which kind of surprised me because I had lived in Minneapolis for about ten years before marrying Bruce. And I had thought I was a city girl, driving throughout the city. Was I not a city girl?

Mona and I decided to meet at a shopping mall across the road from Bde Maka Ska (formerly called Lake Calhoun), and then drive the rest of the way together. That was also an adventure, with all the traffic, one ways, bike lanes, and people. We did find a place to park, by the park across the street from her building, though.

Kat's condo building has a rooftop patio, and we attempted to take a selfie with a view of the Minneapolis skyline behind us. But the sun was so bright that we got all squinty and teary from gazing into it, so we took some from a little different angle, and ended up with a bright blue sky behind us, which was very pretty, too.

Before we left, Cathy gifted us with veggies from her garden. I took a HUGE butternut squash home with me ...

And as I drove home, I decided that there's no place like home. As exciting as the city can be, I now love the quietness, and slower pace of where I live. You never know what the future will bring, and sometimes thinking about the future can be exhausting and confusing. It was comforting to realize that I like where I already am! No need to stress about the future. A former city girl can be a current suburb girl. It all works out.

Next book club will be at Mona's, and we're planning fondue. 😉

Remembering

It's been about a year since dad passed away. I can't say that I don't feel a little sad when I think about the last few years of his life, but I know that there probably wasn't anything more we could have done for him. Mom seems to be adjusting to her new life, too, maybe she's more at peace now that she doesn't have to watch him suffer. Life just seems so short these days. Watching people age and pass away can do that to you.

But, there are sweet memories, too. We had a little routine every time that we took mom to visit. We crossed off the calendar hanging on the wall of his room, and we wrote a little something in his notebook. We mostly talked about the day and the visit, sometimes about the grandkids and stuff that was happening in other people's lives, and sometimes little things that he said to us. Dad's mind could be clear at times, or not so clear other times. You never knew what you would get at the visit, but when you had a good visit, it was time to take notice and be glad.

I miss him.