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?