I've been thinking about when to stop posting to this blog.
I've decided.
Ten years ago this month I drove up to Oklahoma City from my apartment in the Dallas area. It was the Friday before Thanksgiving. That was Friday, November 20, 1998.
My mother was experiencing some swelling in her legs. She had an appointment on the following Monday to have an echocardiogram which is pretty much an ultrasound of the heart. Her primary doctor did not consider the swelling to be particularly serious. Probably it was another UTI and he had already prescribed and she had already begun taking an antibiotic. So the echocardiogram was cautionary.
So besides Thanksgiving I was returning home to take my parents to that appointment because my dad had asked me to do so. I always enjoyed coming home and staying with my parents after I was alone again. I think I enjoyed the visits more than they did but I think they liked me staying with them, too. And Thanksgiving was a family celebration I particularly enjoyed and appreciated.
Thanksgiving had always been a big family gathering ever since I could remember. When I was a kid it was my cousins and their parents coming to the farm. Where did we put everyone? I have no idea because the houses were so small. It must have been inconvenient but if it was I do not remember that.
I was not very concerned about my mother's condition. I was mindful of her age of course but she did not seem 85 to me really. I was a little puzzled that my dad had asked me to drive them to the appointment. I thought that was out of character for him but he was 81 himself after all and the place we were going was objectively confusing then and still is actually.
I was working on a big project at the time and it was inconvenient for me to lose the time. On the other hand it was Thanksgiving week anyway and there was going to be lost time regardless.
Surely I did not anticipate the drastic change my life journey was about to make. I am willing to bet that right now I have no more clue about the next phase of my present life than I did then.
The old house is far along now in being cleaned out and the demolition is well along. The porch is the last thing we will clean out and then close for the last time. That will be very soon now.
So my last post will be the 20th of November.
It is a Thursday this year.
Two weeks from today this porch will close for the last time.
Seven years ago today my mother died. I miss her still.
5 years ago
7 comments:
I will miss your blog but I truly understand. This was a journey we ended a year ago and I think we needed to hang on for awhile longer. As the old house is being torn down, even I have felt like that was a symbol of never being able to go back again. There is a sadness in closing this chapter of our lives.
At least we still get 2 weeks of your wonderful insite and stories. :)
I hate seeing all these blogs going away. I guess I'm not ready yet - doubt I will be for a long time.
I will keep your mom in my prayers today, Flinty. Seven years is a long time.
I will miss visiting here too. Thank you, Terry, for sharing such beautiful thoughts and feelings with us. I understand the need to go on but the understanding part comes secondary to the selfish part of me which still wishes you and Lori could still stick around.
Thinking of you today. No matter how we get on in years, we never quit missing our parents. :(
Flinty you are in my thoughts everyday but especially today.
Flinty,
I understand. Remembering your Mother, and closing the porch. My mother died on Nov 19th, 1986 and I miss her every day.
For the porch to be gone makes me very sad. And Lori's blog as well.
From those of us who read every day and didn't think we had anything worthy to say, let me say Thank-you to all you bloggers.
You made the last year tolerable. You wrote from your hearts, and helped the rest of us more than you know. You will be missed greatly, Susan
i too understand and will miss your posts. i look forward to your last posting.
you as the others will always remain in my heart and prayers.
God speed.
yes. still lurking from a distance. i will miss you, terry.
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