Resuming

by | Jan 6, 2015 | Family

Life goes on, even as we grieve.

I spent time today catching up with many aspects of my life that I’ve neglected over the past several weeks.  As I waded through my backlog of emails, I was surprised to discover that my senior womens’ tennis team has completely fallen apart in a deluge of attrition.  For the first time since I’ve qualified to play as a senior, I find myself teamless.   There are only three teams left in this particular league, and I have made inquiries… but thus far no one is breaking down my door to add me to their team.

On the plus side, I discovered a local venue for pickleball by reading through the Quarterly newsletter that our village publishes.  One of my husband’s (few) character flaws is that he doesn’t play tennis.  Last year, in search of a physical activity that we could do together, we took some pickleball lessons and played a few times at a local tennis club. Pickleball is a lot of fun and easy to learn.  On Sunday mornings, they would kick the tennis folks off a court and put up some pickleball nets. However, demand exceeded supply and the courts were usually quite crowded with lots of wait times; so over time we quit going.

So, I was really happy to discover an indoor venue mere blocks from our house with open play on Tuesday evenings (as well as many other times that are best suited to retirees).   Tonight we showed up, paddles in hand, and played several games.  We generally feel pretty spry among the Pickleball set and we more than hold our own among the more experienced players; although  I am prone to misjudging the paddle length, since a pickleball paddle is much shorter than a tennis racquet; resulting in the occasional whiff.

Sometime over the course of the last couple of weeks, my husband and son celebrated a birthday,  it was Christmas and then it was New Years. Football was played.   I am a month into a new job, but it doesn’t feel real yet.  The last month has been an absolute blur, as I am (once again) reminded that despite the best laid plans, life has a way of surprising and gobsmacking us.

We still have unopened presents under the tree.  I’m sure it will all get sorted out….. eventually.

 

The Vigil – Final Chapter

by | Jan 5, 2015 | Family

Thursday, Jan. 1st.  We did not think mom would live to see 2015.  Mom has been much the same for the past week– unresponsive and near death.  She has not had anything to eat or drink in  two weeks.  I hold her hand and gently sing to her.  Her breathing is shallow with many periods of apnea.  I spend an uneventful night in her room.

Friday,Saturday:  More of the same.   My brothers, dad and I all visit regularly – but no real change.    My oldest daughter expresses that it seems odd to be going about their family’s holiday schedule  even as grandma lay dying.   Life goes on, even as we grieve.

Sunday, January 4:  Family is with mom throughout the day. She slips away peacefully in the late evening.  My dad, husband, brothers,and  sisters-in-law all gather at Hospice.  While there is sadness, the prevailing sentiment is relief.  She is (finally) at peace and free of the suffering that has dominated her last years on earth.   Many of us believe she is in a better place, free of pain and suffering.  My brother conjectures that maybe she can lobby for the rest of us to join her in heaven some day.

We sing Amazing Grace as her body is ushered down the hall onto the funeral home vehicle, with our long-distance sister singing along via phone.

Rest in peace mom.

Pin It on Pinterest