...and back again

Paul and I drove up today to see Mom outside.  Waiting.  Waiting.  It WAS pleasant out--in the sun it was over 80 degrees, and though the leaves were falling and the air smelled like fall, the temps belied that. It's always fun to see Mom's face when she recognizes one of the grandkids.  Her entire visage changes--it's as if she can again see, and perhaps she can--she can see the kids in her mind.  But as PJ and I suggested we go inside and have coffee, Mom hesitated and said, "but Onee's here, isn't she?  Who's here?  Someone's here. Isn't she sleeping upstairs?"  Both Paul and I thought Mom had a screw loose, for we knew her sister Onee lived in Sioux City.

But eventually it came out.  Onee had called her sometime last week and had said her class reunion was meeting for lunch on Sat. (today) and that if she came, she'd like to stay overnight with Mom.  Mom of course forgot all about it and didn't relate any of that to me. Well, Onee drove up this morning, had lunch with her classmates, and stopped in--suitcase in hand--for an overnight.  She'd been tired from getting up early and she WAS, in fact, having a bit of a nap when PJ and I arrived.

But as we sat in the dining room, a fog descended over Mom.  She could barely hold a conversation, and she seemed to stare into the distance.  But then I went into Mom's apartment to grab her key for the postbox, and there was Onee.  She came to the dining room to share coffee and talk--and talk and talk.  Such a fun person to chat with and the comparison between Mom and her younger sister was quite startling.  Onee still drives, can see, can read, can embrace most of life's blessings.  They plan to go to Applebees for dinner.  I hope Onee knows what challenges await her and what patience is required!