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| August 2013, still going strong at 89 |
The night before Thanksgiving I didn’t
know Mom was having a heart attack. She could not
tell me where she was hurting. I thought she was coming down with the flu.
Dementia is unkind in so many ways. Even in the ER they did not know right away
since nothing indicated massive trauma. What an incredibly strong woman to
endure so much pain while making silly faces to amuse the nurses. The doctors could
not explain how her heart could still be beating, but I knew. Even without
memories or a conscious connection to place and time Mom wanted to live. She
loved life. And she was so strong that it took six days before the other half
of her heart finally gave up. She was at home as the hospital had released her into
our care through Hospice. I won’t describe her time in the hospital or her end.
Over time hopefully those images will blur and become less disturbing.
My Mom was a funny woman with a quick wit, which is how I will remember her.
The violent and crude behavior as a result of advanced dementia I will forget
in time. I practice fast forwarding through the difficult memories until I land
on a good one, then I savor it and push the others aside.
Overall I wish
there had been less anger in our lives. None of us ever quite fulfilled each
others expectations. Mom would call me a pill and advised me to quit taking myself
so seriously. I suggested she attend AA meetings. I’m not resentful about the
time I spent caring for my parents. In a perfect world we would have been happier
and less irritated with each other before disease ruled our interactions.
Negative emotions certainly get in the way of having fun. I stayed present through
the last ten years choosing time in the gym and hiking for solace over liquor and denial, but no judgement. They served a purpose for awhile in my life also. I held Mom’s hand as she departed. She said “I love you” often,
before her heart failed rendering her silent. She could not remember my name,
but I chose to believe she loved me because it felt better that way. I miss the goofy fun
moments. I wish I had a photo of her buying a chocolate taco in her Tigger
slippers at the colorful ice cream truck in front of the house from the wizened
old guy with long white whiskers wearing a blue turban. She was never too proud
to laugh at herself. She shuffled around in those silly slippers, which were advantageous
as it hurt less when she kicked me. I hope she found Dad in heaven because the
last year that she spent looking for him in closets was as heartbreaking as it
was annoying. I love you Mom and hope you are at peace. I did my best. Feel
free to haunt me now and then, I know you’d laugh about scaring me. Damn, this
is one big empty house without you.
