No Steam, 8/31/2015

My quiet knock didn't awaken Mom when I entered her apartment today at 4 pm.  I think she'd been sleeping nearly all afternoon and she looked tired, depressed?--different from yesterday's classy gal.  Today her sweater hung on her shoulders and her eyes revealed a tiredness beyond physical exhaustion.  I wonder about her emotional health. I looked over some clothes and laid them out for tomorrow--taking a damp cloth and rubbing out spots, little caked-on matter that could easily be cleaned off.  So want Mom to be fresh looking, free from stains and food on her clothes.  She can't see these and I'm hoping my vigilance is paying off.

At my suggestion of  coffee in the dining room, Mom was up for it--quite enthusiastic actually, but her gait, her speed has changed dramatically in the past month.  She shuffles and audibly pants as we walk down the hall, her right hand cupped around my left forearm.  She can't really chat and walk at the same time and her fragility is startling.

We called my cousin who was celebrating a birthday and Mom had a difficult time understanding what facetiming was--I told her it was like Skype and she understood. Shortly before Mom and I called, my cousin Cindy had been facetiming with her son and his new bride, now honeymooning in Paris.  Computers and such communication would have intrigued my Mom, were macular degeneration not an issue.  Had she had her sight, I can imagine her composing long emails to us kids (and grandkids), doing intricate internet searches, and basking in the information that would satisfy her nearly insatiable curiosity about things.

During our coffee time in the dining room, it was obvious Hazel has lacking the "steam" she so wished for.  No steam today.  No steam.  Hope tomorrow's better.