Taking care of Mom

Taking care of Mom is not always the easiest thing in the world.
I moved my Mother from RI (where she has been living for over 20 something years) to Easthampton, Massachusetts, so she is living about 5 minutes from me. Can you say "mixed blessings"? :)
It is sooooooooooo much better to have her closer to me, I can just zip up the road and get to her in a flash if she needs me or needs me to get her something, on the flip side, she can also call 3 or 4 times a day and ask me the same things over and over again. Did I mention "short term memory"? She can't help it but it sure can pluck on my last nerve. *plucking*
I am sooooooooooooooo glad I don't have to drive to Rhode Island anymore, and don't have to worry that I can't get to her in a flash if she needs me.
My Mom and I are all of each other we have left, no one else.
I try to be patient and listen to her stories for about the bazillionth time, I know someday she won't be here and I will miss her. I just don't understand why she won't socialize more with people of her age. Where she is living now, they have a great community room, with books (she loves to read) and activities that are on a daily/weekly basis. From Bingo night (she hates Bingo, but hey go for the friendship and socialization) to Thursday exercise group (nada on that one too) to Friday night pizza and Saturday matinee. Hell I would go to all those if I lived there! The golden oldies have more of a social life than I do! When I go to visit my Mom, I always see a lady named Dot (Dorothy) who loves to sit in the community room and visit with anyone that comes by. She is a nice lady, I have learned that she is the only girl in a family with 4 brothers, she loves to talk (no problem here:) ) and she was so helpful when I moved my Mom in, she just chipped right in and started helping us with hauling stuff up to my Mom's apartment. I feel for her also, I never see anyone come visit with her.

My Mom loves her doctor that I have set her up with. Of course she is completely coherent when we go to her appointment, but with me she is like a 5 year old. Why? why? why?
Sympathy? attention? I really don't know, but I feel the *pluck* again.

I know I am ranting here, but hey, isn't that what a journal (Blog) is all about?

Wow!

Hello everyone! Well I haven't Blogged in forever! Since I have been on Facebook I have forgotten all about my Blog. That is not good!


Let me tell you what has been going on with me lately..............Well..........I quit smoking last year in December (again, but this time for GOOD!) and I have also been on a Healthy road, trying to eat better and get more exercise, after all I am not getting any younger ya know! I do feel better and have more energy. I try to get at least a half hour walk everyday during my lunch hour (weather permitting) and walk on the weekends with Bailey. Today Bailey and I walked into town and back, totally over 4 miles, that is pretty good for me, even though afterwards my hips and feet were hurting! :)
At work we are promoting Healthy Steps for a Healthy Life, and I am participating in the "Biggest Loser" group at work, with weigh in's every Monday, and meetings every week, promoting a healthier lifestyle.
In December I also went to Virginia to visit with my oldest son Joey and my wonderful daughter in law, Erin. We had a great time and it was great to be there again (although I do think it was colder and had more snow in VA than up here in Massachusetts!)

As you can see my picture is a Cruise Ship..........why you ask? Well I will tell you, next January 2011 I am going on a cruise! Yes! Finally! and I am so excited, it will be hard to wait another year! but I need that year to save up my $$$$ for the trip! I wanted to go on a cruise for my 50th birthday, but my son got married that year so the money I was saving for my cruise went to his wedding , so now (a few years later) I am saving to go again! This time it is with a group of friends to the Eastern Caribbean islands! I am going to read up on all the islands I will be visiting, so anyone if you have any good books or words of wisdom for this cruise novice, just let me know! I would love to hear from you.
Work is busy, which is good, with the economy the way it is and so many without work, I am just so thankful to have a job.

I cannot WAIT! for Spring! I am so tired of this cold, blustery, windy, snowy, icky winter weather! I have been looking at my garden catalogs that are arriving in the mail and can't wait to get my toes and fingers in the dirt again! I love planting and seeing all the beautiful flowers come to life!

Well that is all for now, as I think of things I will be posting again here on my Blog, and this time it won't be so long between Blogs!