Tag Archives: Love

The Decider

Posted on June 12, 2016 by

My mother has Alzheimer’s, diabetes, and as of three weeks ago, a broken hip. Shortly after my father died (coming up on three years ago), she made me her legal decision-maker in all things financial and medical. Taking care of … Continue reading →

Posted in Alzheimer's, Assisted Living, Dementia, Elderly Parents, Feeding Tube | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 254 Comments

Mom and Her (Damn) Cat

Posted on May 30, 2016 by

Last Sunday, May 22, mom fell again. This time, despite my attempts to avoid it, she was hospitalized. They ran the usual battery of tests. Not surprisingly, mom had another urinary tract infection. What was surprising is that it occurred … Continue reading →

Posted in Alzheimer's, Dementia, Elder Care, Elderly Parents, Long Distance Caregiving | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 49 Comments

Death by Chocolate

Posted on May 11, 2016 by

I drove to Houston Mother’s Day weekend for the second (and last) weekend of the estate sale. Mom’s been ill with another infection; one that has hit her especially hard. The new antibiotic, injectable Rocephin, was started on Friday before … Continue reading →

Posted in Alzheimer's, Dementia, Elderly Parents | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 34 Comments

In-Between Christmas

Posted on December 26, 2015 by

Yesterday was the first Christmas morning I have awakened in my own bed in sixteen years. I had planned to sleep in my parents’ bed in the home they lived in for nearly forty years. No one is living in … Continue reading →

Posted in Alcoholism, Alzheimer's, Dementia, Elderly Parents, Sobriety | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 30 Comments

The Problem

Posted on December 14, 2014 by

In her book, Writing Is My Drink–A Writer’s Story of Finding Her Voice (and a Guide to How You Can Too), Theo Nestor talks about the “resonant narrative.” Theo makes the important point that writers whom we admire are those … Continue reading →

Posted in Death and Grief, Death of a sibling, Elderly Parents, Forgiveness, Grief, Health, Memoir, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 13 Comments

Sophie the Strange

Posted on November 15, 2014 by

It’s been nearly two years since Sophie-the-formerly-stray cat entered my life, and twenty months since she entered my home. It’s official–she’s an odd little cat. Before I get to her oddities, here are three photos from today’s shoot. She’s quite … Continue reading →

Posted in Animal Rescue, Cats, Grief, Healing, Sophie | Tagged , , , , , , , | 17 Comments

Enjoy Spite

Posted on July 27, 2014 by

According to dictionary.com, “spiteful implies a mean or malicious desire for (often petty) revenge.” Recently, I had that desire. I’d been working in the garden in the morning, trying to dig up the bastard trumpet vine that would not die. The … Continue reading →

Posted in Breakup, Chemistry, Drama, Jealousy, Relationships | Tagged , , , , | 7 Comments

My Big Sister

Posted on July 6, 2014 by

This has been an emotional post to write. It’s been a long time coming, but I’ve only just now found the strength to write it. Maybe the mindfulness meditation is getting to me, breaking down barriers.   My sister and … Continue reading →

Posted in Forgiveness, Healing, Love, Sexual Abuse | Tagged , , , , , , | 22 Comments

Beach Houses and Dog Bowls

Posted on June 29, 2014 by

Being alive is weird. I’m sure being dead is weird, too. Or maybe not. Maybe your consciousness is dead along with your body and so there’s nothing left of you to witness whether being dead is weird, or not. But … Continue reading →

Posted in Alcoholism, Alzheimer's, Death and Grief, Death of a sibling, Dementia, Elderly Parents, Galveston, Grief, Grieving, Love, Mid-Life, Moving On | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 12 Comments

Girls’ Night “Out There”

Posted on January 5, 2014 by

I had dinner last night with the girls. Girls, as in two of us who are 50, and a third who will be 50 in May. There was lots of talk of dating mid-life, Match.com fiascos, and recent breakups (one … Continue reading →

Posted in Love, Marriage, Mid-Life, Relationships | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 12 Comments