Special Delivery for Ma

Marty, I told you all I love Marty.  Yesterday he came through for me, he visited our mom.  Just like a Postal Worker moto, Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds.

It snowed and rained yesterday.  It was a nasty night, but Marty came to visit after work anyway, the weather didn't keep him away, just like a good Postal worker.  He came to the house to deliver Ma her present... it wasn't in the box that he brought her, it was the gift of himself. 

Marty called at 3pm to talk to Ma.  He told her that he was coming to see her after work.  Starting at about 3:20 pm my mom began pacing and looking for Marty. 

"Where is he?  Do you think he's OK?" She asked with her mothering tone of voice.  My mom, she has always been a worrier, especially where her kids are concerned.  The big bursts of snow didn't help stop her worry.

I assured her that Marty was OK, that he was coming, that he wouldn't be here until 6pm or a little after.  My mom, she wouldn't eat dinner, not until Marty got here.  She behaved like my little girl, not my mom, I'd give her choices as to what she could have for dinner and it was NO, NO, NO.  She wanted to wait for Marty just in case he was hungry, I could cook him dinner.  Oh, I love my mom.  Of course I would eagerly cook anyone dinner, if your eating, I'm cooking.

Marty arrived, we could hear him pull into the driveway.  My mom, she didn't hear him, she stopped looking out the window when it got dark. 

Opening the door, I saw my brother, my little brother, the brother I have always loved.  Something about Marty, you can't help but love him.  I thought I was going to cry, but I didn't.  I held in the happy tears, the tears of joy that he was bringing me.  The gift of his time is more precious and valuable than any present money could buy.  It was great giving my brother a hug at my door.

I showed him up to Ma's room.  We have moved her upstairs since he was here last.  Marty walked in to my mom's room and she was sleeping in her chair, waiting.  She saw him come through the door and she jumped up and gave him a big "HEY!!!!!!!!!!!!" with her arms spread open for a hug.  She was really happy to see Marty. 

Marty brought her a gift, a new robe, a smaller robe that fit her perfectly.  Good job picking out the robe Marty, you not only have a big heart, you have really good taste in clothing too.

Ma was tired so she started to hallucinate when Marty was here.  She asked me about the girl in the bathroom.  I asked her if she was bothering her.  She said, "No, I'm just afraid she's going to steal my stuff."  She is always worried about being robbed in her bedroom by her hallucinations which she believes are real.  I gave her some Helleborus to help chase the visions away.

I visited with Marty too.  I felt like I was going to bust out crying from happiness.  I even said, "Gee, I feel like I'm going to cry."  Marty looked at the clock and said, "7 o'clock, time for Susie to cry!"  Followed by a brief burst of laughter.  I don't think my mom got the old joke, but Marty and I did.  He made me laugh when I thought I was going to cry. 

On Marty's way out I overheard him say to my mom, "Do you want me to give that girl a ride and get her out of here?"   I walked away but didn't hear my mom's reply.  Ma walked Marty down the hall and as they walked by Rachel's room, my mom said to Rachel, "Here's my good looking son."  My mom, so proud, so happy that her son was here with her and she had someone to "show him off" to.  Again I felt like I was going to shed a few tears of joy, my mom was very excited and happy, I think Marty was too.

Christmas 2009 is the year I realized that I have family, lots of family.  Old, young and all ages in between, I have family.  My heart is full, I have an even bigger family than I thought, my family is coming back, they haven't forgotten Ma and me. 

I love my family, all of you.  Thank you for sharing your lives with me.

My Day of Respite

On Sunday, my sister Donna took my mom out for the day. The plan was to go to Bingo at the Catholic Church in Malden.

The day was crazy as far as weather is concerned, it snowed! October 18th and we had white flakes falling out of the sky and sticking to the grass. I never got my geraniums out of the ground. Oh well, is there still time? (yes, they all survived.)

When they arrived at the bingo hall there was NO BINGO. They had parked a distance away and walked up to the doors. A school aged boy greeted them. Donna asked about Bingo and the kid said, "no bingo today, it's open house for the school."

Donna and Ma trudged back to the car in the snow.

I had packed them a lunch using lettuce leaves in place of bread wraps. I tied the little bundles together with green onion. I even packed them some 70% cocoa chocolate bars for desert.

Donna took my mom to a Dunkin Donuts. They went through the drive thru and got a coffee. They sat in the front seat of Donna's pickup truck and ate the lunch that I had packed for them.

Next, Donna took Ma shopping for a hat. She came home with 2 hats, excited to have found a purple one to match her jacket.

My day began with a cheer as Donna and my mom drove off. Brian told me that he'd take me anywhere I wanted to go. My first choice was Mexican but it was snowing. I didn't want to travel that far on a crappy day. Instead, we went to our favorite Chinese Restaurant.

Rick the owner was happy to see us. His favorite line is, "Thank God for bad cooks." Then he laughs and tells me that he knows I'm a good cook.

We learned how to say thank you in Chinese and Goodbye.

After I had 3 Mai Tai's, I was thanking everyone and saying goodbye to everyone. Who knows if I was pronouncing them right, for all I know I could have been telling the wait staffers that they had hairy palms!

I was feeling good. I ate the hot pepper sauce. Oh, I love that hot pepper sauce. As I ate it, I knew it was a bad idea. I haven't been eating out at restaurants or doing take out. I've been making everything fresh and from scratch - the best. Tasty.

It must have been the Mai Tai's. I ate too much hot pepper sauce.

For the next 36 hours, I would suffer stomach pains that were so bad, I thought I needed an emergency room visit.

Last night sucked. I did my best to calm my mom before bed. I gave her Reiki and Hypnosis. The pain in my stomach was intense. It made it difficult to release all thoughts so that I could become a good conduit of healing energy for not only my mom, but me too.

I focused on my hands. I felt the heat. The tingling. The pain was in my fingers. The pain seemed to be draining it out of my mom. I forgot about my belly ache, my fingers were aching.

My mom was up 3 times last night. She had the Ashwagandha drops, 8 of them. I don't know why she got up but every time I walked her back to her bed. She thanked me for helping her to find it.

My day of respite was awesome, even if I did end up with gastrointestinal pains for about 36 hours from the food that I had eaten.

The buzz that I had from the drinks was welcomed. I didn't give my mom any thought, I knew she was with Donna. When we got home, I took a nap. It felt so good to sleep.

I was enjoying my nap when I heard the door open. It was Donna with my Mom. It was time to wake up. I tried to fake sleep, hoping that it was just a dream. But, Brian showed up before me as he said, "Sus-iiiieeee, Josie's home. Time to wake up."