The times they are a changin'

When I was growing up small town newspapers often carried small snippets of newsworthy information such as who was hosting a birthday party and who attended said birthday partiy. The articles would read something like this: Carol Joy Schipper celebrated her seventh birthday with a party attended by eight of her elementary school friends. Guests included Mary Wedeven, Twila TenCate, Sandy Heftje, Patricia Hoekje, Louise Grondin,Gwen Eding, Linda Lugten and Phyllis Stehower. The young ladies enjoyed cake and ice cream. A good time was had by all.
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While I am in California Mom is staying with my sister in Florida.  I don't believe a good time is being had by all.

Mom says she wants to go home. Now. My sister has explained to her I'm not at home so she would be alone in the house (Mom is terrified of being alone). Unfortunately Mom doesn't remember who I am, so when my sister tells her "Phyllis isn't home. You are going to stay with me until Phyllis comes home," it means absolutely nothing to Mom. We have a photo album with family members pictures in it, but I don't think Mom can make that connection any longer.

Change is very difficult for Mom. While some of us embrace change, Mom can not. It is just one more thing we are trying to learn to deal with in these uncharted waters.

Change is coming for all of us.

I'm sitting in my daughter's living room, surrounded by boxes as she readies for a move. Big changes are coming to her. No matter how much one thinks they are prepared, becoming a family is life altering.

When King and I were expecting our first child, we were students living in a one-bedroom apartment in university housing. The move to a two bedroom apartment was relatively painless. We loaded up the car with what we could and threw the skis and the remaining odds and ends in the crib and wheeled it down the sidewalk. The skis, we soon learned, could have stayed behind. The next time I skied was when our youngest of four children was in kindergarten. King never skied again. He did, however manage to continue to play golf. A lot. Golf seems to be a bone of contention with our sons and their wives as well.

I know his penchant for golf bothered me when the kids were small. It no longer does. In fact, I will load the car, find his golf shoes and go out and buy extra tees for a day of golf for him and a day of reading with a glass of wine in hand for me.

Ahhhh change. It will most certainly come, and a good time will be had by all.