Mexico, Round 2

I took another trip to Mexico. I know, life is rough. I went this time so I could help mom go. Jayne sent out an email inviting anyone who could get away the week after Mother's Day to come. She was somewhat surprised at the eager takers. I don't know why, for an opportunity for a week at the beach is never to be taken lightly. So Jayne, Dave, Stacey and Haley (who flew out from Delaware), Brett, Kerri, Mckenna (who just graduated from nursing school), Tailor and Liam, Shelley, mom and I were there the first of the week and Jane Ann and Weston, and Alison and Russell (who just announced she was pregnant, hooray!) came on Wednesday. 

We figured it was the last time mom might be able to go to Mexico because it is getting harder and harder for her to get around. She has developed neuropathy and a drop foot and gets so very tired. She really wanted to go and we thought if one of us flew with her and took care of travel details she would be ok. I was very impressed with the way Delta Airlines facilitated the disabled. They had wheelchairs ready for us when we checked in and wheelchairs at the door when we disembarked. They also let us pre board so mom didn't feel rushed and other travelers weren't held up by her slowness. An airline employee told me she wished all elderly would use the wheelchairs because it makes makes things go smoother for everyone. 

Jayne and Alison had a lovely Mother's Day dinner for us when we got there. Thomas, Annie and John had already made me a Mother's Day brunch of cholocate orange cinnamon rolls, baked bacon, strawberries, brown sugar and sour cream so I got a twofer.

Mexico was windy and not as warm as we would like but the old adage is still true: a week at the beach is better than a week anywhere else. We watched the huge wind generated waves and high tides a lot so we could catch every minute of calm warm beach time.

I enjoyed sister time and watching the little ones.  

Everyone loves Grandpa/Uncle Brett. We have all thoroughly enjoyed being a grand aunts and uncles. The nieces and nephews' children are a joy to be around. They are the next best thing to grandchildren. 

We took lots of walks and saw a lot of sea creatures and birds: terne eggs just laying on the dunes, a sick sea lion (poor thing, we could see a wound under its jaws and it just sat there while we got closer and closer,) blue cannon ball jelly fish, a live sand dollar, and a squadron of pelicans feeding in front of the beach house. They were diving into a school of fish just off shore, looking strangely like a flock of pterodactyl fossils with their wings out stretched before folding them in to slam into the water. 

Those are my blue toenails. Mom and I got pedicures before the trip.

I went so soon after my last trip because Stacey flew out from Delaware and so many of my family were going to be there. I wanted bring mom although any of my sibling would have been happy to take her as well. We even got a picture of her on the beach on one of the few times it was pleasant enough to linger.  I am just below Alison and those are Jayne's legs below Jane Ann. We were there, we just didn't make it in the picture.

Many of my friends whose mothers' have died tell me to enjoy the times I still have with my  mother because she will not always be with us. I appreciate the advice and feel blessed that I can still spend time with her and the amazing family she raised.

He is Sill Dad

Dad's slow decline has been worrisome and frustrating at the same time. He has a couple of spots of melanoma that should be agressive but are not as far as we can see. Sometimes I take mom to see him and there is hardly any response. Other times he sees us come in and a smile lights his face. He loves it when mom kisses him and often raises his head for more. But I don't think he could tell us her name, let alone mine. The other day I was there when some music people were playing the piano and singing songs from the 30s and 40s. They passed out papers with words to the songs on them and of course mom was singing and harmonizing like she always does. All of a sudden dad started singing "Yankee Doodle" with the group and was trying to read the words.  Mom and I looked at each other and wondered "where did that come from?" Unfortunately we both knew it didn't mean anything. He will not get better.

He has fallen three times in the past week. Twice, he was found by on the floor by the bed bleeding from a head wound and once while they were trying to get him to stand up. The CNAs said he seemed quite agitated. I wonder if something new is going on that we don't know about. He has quite the black eye. Poor guy. 

Seeing dad in his demented state is hard. At times I think he is is not dad I knew. But that is not true. He is still my dad. Lately I have felt more love and tenderness towards him than I have since he has been in the care center. It has been a privilege and blessing to take mom to see him every week and hold his strong warm hand while we sit.