I'm HERE! I'm HERE already!!!
Gooood grief! Okay... I know... it's SUNDAY! I went on the bus trip on Thursday - since then we've lived 4 days of life and you haven't heard a word about it... I'm ever so sorry! I don't have a Sunday Seven... and if I don't do it right this minute you'll never hear any stories!So... the bus trip to the Millennium Theatre was awesome/horrific! The trip up wasn't too bad - Everyone was excited and very chatty and Mom just sort of sat and listened - chimed in when asked a specific question - that's her normal. The play was SO FANTASTIC I can't even begin to TELL you! It was GLORIOUS! It was sO well done and because this theatre is "set up" for these performances all the time, the scenery is UNbelievable! It was sO authentic and just absolutely AWEsome! And the actors and actresses just did a fabulous job. God has sURely blessed that performance! Photography was not allowed under ANY circumstances -- and I did NOT want to risk being tossed out - so I have no pictures to share. I'm positive my camera could not have done them justice anyway. Soooooo... how was it horrific? Well... for starters Mom thought that several other people were wearing HER coat (and she must have had several different colors and styles along the way!) and kept putting her hands into peoples POCKETS to see what was IN them to find out if it WAS her coat! OY! This was something that no matter HOW I reprimanded her, she just LAUGHED at me and said "well I have to know if it's MY coat!" Dear me... Then, about 10 minutes down the road on the bus, I tried to talk to her about something in the play and THAT quick she forgot that she had been to a play! So all that GLORY, all that SPLENDOR, all that wonder and beauty and AWE was totally lost on her. I had so hoped that she would remember SOMEthing from it! And certainly for more than 10 minutes WHAT WAS I THINKING??? *knocks head against wall!* It didn't help that the ride home was dark and snowy/icy/drizzly and that the people were quiet and peaceful. It wasn't long before it suddenly struck Mom that she should have a suitcase. If she's on a bus trip, she must need a suitcase... so for the entire rest of the 3.5 hour trip home I explained about every 3.5 minutes that No, we didn't BRING her suitcase - that we didn't go visiting and that her suitcase was home safe and sound in her closet. In between bouts of suitcase I reminded her that I am Melli, she lives with me and Dennis. And that Dennis is her son. *knock knock knock* bang bang bang* You see? God BLESSED me with that play to make up for the ride! By the time we got back to my church, my fellow members - and even Pastor - were drawing up papers of Cannonization for me! I told them not to bother because while they THINK I'm a saint, God not only reads my mind - but also my heart - and he knOws I'm a SINNER!!! He knew I spent half my day in confession!!! However... I did come away with a couple of sweeeet souvenirs from the trip too! These two nativities....
Upon arriving home, Dennis took Mom off my hands and I chilled with a book before I killed somebody! Krysti got home just a little while later -- she had been driving home from Keuka in snowy/icy/drizzly conditions and was THRILLED to come in the door! I, of course, was thrilled to have her come in the door too! :) Rick came over to visit with her, and we all chatted and had a good time.Even though I don't babysit Luz on Fridays - Krysti had not had the pleasure of "meeting" her yet -- so Amanda said I could have her that day and that Krys and I could take her to the Mall. Dennis had planned to have Mom that day - but it fell through because we had not yet received George's death certificates - so he couldn't get the things taken care of that he needed to. Sooooooo Mom came along to the mall too! (which is fine - she loves the mall!) Krysti had an eye doctor appt, so we got that out of the way and then took Luz to see Santa! Hector AND Amanda had BOTH said we could. Well, it turned out the only reason Amanda agreed to it was because she was CERTAIN Luz wouldn't sit on his lap. Luz is very shy. Turns out she's not too shy with Santa! The minute it was her turn she went running to him and gave him a humongous hug!!!
more Luz News on her blog...After her visit with Santa we took her down to the Mall playground to play for a little while. When it was time to go, we walked out of the playground, and an elderly woman approached Mom. I was trying to keep track of Luz, and so I wasn't right "with" Mom... the next thing I know I turn around and the two women are talking and LAUGHING! I had my camera in my hand anyway, so I snapped a picture!
A second later, I heard Mom say, "well, I've gotta go now... those people are waiting for me" - and she and this woman embraced. I snapped another photo!
As Mom walked back over to us, I asked her who that was. She said "I don't have any idea! She just thought she knew me, so I played along!" ROFLMBO!!! Dennis and I decided it was probably one of the women Mom used to walk with over at another mall several years ago! I laughed though!On another note... So many funny things, or sometimes sad things happen during the course of the day -- and Dennis and I never have time alone to talk -- but I can't just "tell him" because, of course, it upsets her. So I've developed "my friend, Missy" and Dennis and the kids know that if I start to tell a story about my friend, Missy I'm talking about mom! So now I can share all of her escapades without her knowing that I'm talking about HER! And it is sooooooo funny - because Mom LOVES to hear about the antics of My Friend, Missy!!! She laughs her butt off everytime I tell a story! What a hoot!
So, ya wanna know what ELSE has been going on to keep me away from you bloggers? I bet you THINK I've been doing something sensible like Christmas SHOPPING, Christmas BAKING, or Christmas WRAPPING - right? Psssh! Guess again!!! No... No.... Not even close!!! Here is what we DO these days....
So, ya wanna know what ELSE has been going on to keep me away from you bloggers? I bet you THINK I've been doing something sensible like Christmas SHOPPING, Christmas BAKING, or Christmas WRAPPING - right? Psssh! Guess again!!! No... No.... Not even close!!! Here is what we DO these days....
Mom likes to 
Sometimes Dennis helps too! For the moment this seems to keep her happy ... so long as at least ONE of us does it with her! She doesn't really DO them... but she thinks she does... mostly it just gives us something to keep our sanity while we entertain her.So... shopping, baking, and wrapping still await me! HOW many more days until Christmas?
posted by Melli at
4:22 PM
6 comment(s):
Oh my goodness, where do I start? First of all, you are so dam intelligent! Making up a "Missy"...thats would have been so handy to do when my mom first started to go downhill. My mom thought we all were talking about her all of the time! I too think theres a special place in heaven for caregivers of Alzhiemers...you are such a patient, wonderful daughter in law Melli..I envy your creativness when you are "handling" mom...My mom was blind so we couldnt have thought of puzzles...its is a hideous disease isnt it? I think of you every day and your are always in my prayers my sweet friend! I love you and cherish our friendship. I loved seeing Luz with Santa...you are also so fortunate to be able to see her when you want...I havent seen my grandsons for 8 weeks now, I have the daughter in law from hell, and I keep asking God to show me how to "fix" this mess...so far, God inst hearing me...I'm depressed about my relationship with my family. I miss my mom so much with Christmas right around the corner...ok, well I really wanted to tell you how much I love and admire you dear friend!
By
PowersTwinB, at
12/16/2007 3:25 PM
Inventing "Missy" was a stroke of genius!!
Barbara H. @ Stray Thoughts
By
Anonymous, at
12/16/2007 5:21 PM
Hi Melli, You are doing so good my friend!!
I loved the picture of Luz with Santa how sweet!! I also loved the picture of Grandma with the other older lady! That was sweet,too.
I really understand how hard this is, as soon as Kelly and I finished helping Nancy wrap up her Christmas gifts she started talking about Easter and getting bunny's for this person and that person! No kidding!! on and on.
You are handling this with such good humor!!
I know what you mean about being called a Saint!! I am no Saint!! But that is what they tell me but I know my heart and what I think some times! But we both are trying!
A Big Hug from Me
By
Talk..to..Grams, at
12/16/2007 6:43 PM
Melli, you have been so busy these past few days. Your stamina is amazing me beyond what you know. I'm sure there ARE many "bang your head" on the wall moments...I'm continuing to pray for you.
You know I'm eyeing those nativities! I guess stealing them wouldn't be appropriate!!!! But you know I think they are PERFECT for starting your very own Nativity collection.
Luz's picture is absolutely adorable. I'll have to pop over to her place to visit. It's been a while since I've read over there.
We used to always do puzzles at home over the holidays. Now I don't have a place to put them that they won't get all over and/or messed up during the day.
I LOVE the code name that you're using. That's a great coping mechanism.
Shopping, baking, and wrapping are overrated...what you're doing and being, however, is priceless!!!!!!
Much Love,
:-) Susan
By
Susan, at
12/16/2007 10:52 PM
I think very soon you could write a book about the adventures with "Mom" lol ! There is only one solution to support this situation take it with humor and that's what you are doing or at least you are on the good way. Love the picture with Luz and Santa, I see how "shy" she is, lol !
BTW I never associated Santa (or father Christmas) with Christmas, we always had our Baby Jesus at Christmas I learned about him only in the 80th !! and it swapped over from the US.
By
Ingrid, at
12/16/2007 11:21 PM
Oh my! I find that stress is more bearable as long as I can keep my sense of humor. You seems to still have yours. Just keep looking for the blessings. They'll get you through.
By
Anonymous, at
12/17/2007 11:40 AM
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