Come on in and have a cuppa. Coffee? Tea? Bonnox? or perhaps a cool drink?
© irene waters 2018
This week has seen the start of Christmas Parties and suddenly it seems Christmas is looming. The first party was the Chemist’s Christmas Party. My Mum looks forward to this each year. She won an ipad at one of these and that sense of possibility remains with her. They do a good job giving out party bags filled with gifts (usually samples of what you can buy instore but there is always something that could be useful. Mum got a week pill dispenser. I doubt that she will use it but one day it might come in handy. I won the first lucky door prize which was a vase and we ate from the wonderful spread they provided. Mum will now spend the next year looking forward to their next VIP event – a bit sad that at ninety that is one of the big thrills of the year.
© irene waters 2018
© irene waters 2018
The other party, held at Cotton Tree, was the breakup party for my dance class. We don’t return until the middle of January but as we have family with us I will not miss it as much as I normally do. My dance teacher still wants me to write his mother’s story and at 91 she sounds as though she has had a fascinating life that is worth recording. I’ll look at starting that in the New Year. I am well aware that once at that age, my Mum is 90, anything can happen.
In fact it did this week when I got a phone call telling me Mum had fallen. She was okay and although she had damaged her wrist they didn’t think anything was broken. I immediately went around to see her and I wasn’t so sure so we went straight to the emergency room at the local hospital where she had xrays. I was so impressed with the doctor. He spoke to her with respect and kindness and didn’t mind explaining everything several times. Luckily she didn’t break anything but she is badly battered and worse now than then as the bruising is coming out. She explained her fall as “I spun around quickly to get the telephone and my spin was too violent and I spun out of control.” I immediately thought of the whirling dervish I had seen.
© irene waters 2018
I dismissed that thought quickly – he had total control Mum had none injuring herself from he face down to her hips on both front and backsides. Luckily she is okay.
We are battling with our pool. It has sprung a leak. In fact we are convinced it was leaking before we bought the house. The garden that I loved is now a mess as we dig up pipes and drain water. Hopefully we can get it back to how it was before our family arrives. I know they are looking forward to coming from Germany and being able to swim in the pool.
All this has given me a rather busy week as we also went to yoga, had skylights and whilrygigs installed, promoted my book Nightmare in Paradise and finally put up Christmas decorations. I haven’t had a lot of time for reading or to see any films. Have you or are you busy with Chistmas activities also?
© irene waters 2018
Now I think I have taken enough of your time – over to you. Have you read any good books or seen any films that should be seen? Looking forward to seeing how your week has been. Thank you for dropping in for coffee, it is lovely to see you. Thanks to eclecticali who is our host of the weekend coffee share.
Reflections and Nightmares- Irene A Waters (writer and memoirist) 
It is refreshing to hear that mothers, like yours, can indeed get compassionate care especially in the midst of a crisis.
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Yes it is. The last time we visited the ER the doctor ignored her putting a drip in without telling her what he was about to do. She naturally reacted when the needle went in unexpectedly. The difference between the two doctors was marked.
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Irene, I’m so sorry your mom had a fall that left her bruised. Hopefully this will never happen again. Sounds like your holiday season is going to be rich with family and fun.
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I hope she takes more care in the future not to try and turn quickly. She is so used to doing what she wants when she wants to do it that it is going to be hard training her not to bend down to pick things up, also take the walker even if it is just behind you the item you want. This is going to be a work in progress.
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It’s frustrating for your mom also – she expects her body to obey but her limbs are no longer agile.
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I relate to that myself.
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It seems a long time since I had coffee with you. Put on a strong brew! Firstly, your mother sounds like a strong, resilient woman. When you say she might not need the ‘week’ pill dispenser, that suggests she doesn’t take many meds. If so, that is amazing! And surviving a fall without much damage attests to the strength of her body. And of course, she is well cared for by you, which makes a world of difference. Now for the Christmas round of parties. Bob and I have been to 3 already, and we have at least three more to go. Most of them involve family or our condo residents. Bob is the social one, and I do my best to enjoy them, while I wish I was home writing! There’s always lots of food to indulge in—although most of it wouldn’t make my ‘healthy’ list! Have a great Christmas, Irene, and continue to enjoy!
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Yes Mum is strong in some aspects but not so good in others. She takes a massive number of pills for heart failure but she doles them out herself and knows exactly what she is supposed to be taking. Sadly she often picks up mistakes in the medications the nurses give her when she is in hospital so she is lucky that she is so astute.
I can understand how you feel about parties Diane. We’re both introverts and although I go to more than Roger sometimes I too wish I was home writing. I hope you have a very Merry Christmas and lovely holiday season. Lovely to have a nice strong brew with you, Cheers Irene
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I’m glad your Mum’s okay. I also think it’s sweet that she looks forward to the neighborhood party at the chemist’s. I was invited to a similar party as a guest and was told that the big thrill is winning a door prize! I find it fitting that your mind would connect your Mum’s description of her fall with a whirling dervish. You have that sort of imagination. My great Aunt Louise turns 100 in January. She’s still getting around, and lives in her own home! If I could have coffee with you and your Mum, I’d bring her along, too. Happy holidays! Hope the pool gets sorted soon.
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It would be wonderful to have coffee with you and hopefully one day it will happen but probably not with Mum and Aunt Louise, who sounds as though she is doing really well.
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One of these days, Irene!
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We can both dream on – we can turn dreams into reality.
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