A new day

My Calvinistic Sunday School teachers taught us God would not test us beyond our endurance.

To that I offer a raised eyebrow and say "really?" After yesterday's epic fail I would assume I had reached my level of endurance.

Not so.

If all this is true, then I imagine the creator of the Duck-billed platypus is laughing manically and setting me up for yet another day of failure.

Only this time I am resolved not to take the bait.

I got up early this morning to do some online banking.

Mistake one.

Mom was already up and dressed: Capri pants, brown socks, brown oxfords and a knit top.

I'm not quite certain why she insists on asking me questions before she puts her hearing aids in, but she does.
"Is this okay?"

Now to respond to her when she is hearing aid-less you have to cup your hand around her "good ear" and shout. Shout to the point of giving yourself a sore throat.

"Put on white socks and tennis shoes."

"Change my socks?"

I bookmarked my page and walked into her bedroom and placed her shoes and socks on her dresser.

Busy Day Ahead

I had been saving our schedule for the day until morning for fear she would obsess about it all night. It is easier to give her a list so she can hold it in her hands and read it. She can't remember from one moment to the next what someone has told her, so a list she can hold helps. She refers to it like a NASA itinerary.

Our list read:
1. Bloodwork at the labe in Grand Haven
2. Breakfast in Grand Haven
3.Visit Aunt Evelyn in Grand Rapids

She took one look at it and said,  "I need to change my clothes."

I was afraid of that. She went into her room for about 15 minutes and came out with a wool blend pant suit. The forecast was for 75 degree weather. Normally I would not care what she wears, but heat is heat.

We finally settled on a pair of slacks and knit top.

For the next hour we drove to Grand Haven and she read her list. The same questions came over and over again.

"What is my sister's name?"

"Evelyn Van Mannen."

"What is my name?"

"Christine Stehower."

I now see the disconnect, but didn't at the time.

We got to the lab for the blood work and while completing the forms the tech told me she needed a stool sample.

Are you kidding me? The woman can't remember her own name and the doctor wants her to poop in a bucket? Please.  The nice lady gave me a bag full of collection supplies. They are in my car where they will remain until I remember to dump them in the dumpster.

So we pass the blood test and move on a breakfast of pigs-in-a-blanket at Russ' in Grand Haven. They are one of Mom's favorite. Two things off our list.

We got back in the car and Mom indicated she was worried about going to visit her sister in Grand Rapids.

"Does she know we are coming?"

Aunt Evelyn lives in a nursing home. Although her family visits daily, new familiar faces are always welcome.

The discussion over whether or not to visit Aunt Evelyn continued for several minutes and finally I told Mom we'd visit on Monday and I would call Aunt Evelyn's son first to make sure she would be around.

"You are going to take your son with us?"

Big sigh.

By this time were were driving down US 31 heading for home. I pulled into a parking lot at a bank in Grand Haven and asked Mom, once again, if she wanted to go to Grand Rapids today or go home. It was a difficult decision but she finally decided she wanted to go home.

Mom and her sister Evelyn had a good visit. They are the
last of the Daling siblings.

We headed for Holland with her asking me over and over again if I would call to make sure it would be okay to visit on Monday.

We got to James Street in Holland and Mom asked, "Why do we have to wait until Monday?"

Seriously?

I turned around and headed back.

From Grand Haven we took country roads to Grand Rapids. We drove past the homes Mom's brother Harm built, past my cousin Robert's home and past the farm where Mom grew up. It was a good trip.

And the visit was equally nice. Neither Mom nor Aunt Evelyn hear very well and they conversed about different subjects at the same time, but the sisters were happy to be together. Aunt Evelyn will be 99 this summer. Mom will be 91 this fall. They are the last surviving Daling siblings.

King later told me I should never assume Mom knows what she is talking about because she can't make a decision. We've all figured out she usually tries to figure out what WE want and bases her decisions on that.

And I know he is right, but hope does spring eternal.