The big day finally arrived. Emily’s children painstakingly planted the candles in the cake’s frosted icing. The telegram from the Queen and the presents sat on a table in the Nursing Home. The party would start at 11 so the residents would be at their best.
“She made it.” Jane her eldest said.
“What a milestone.” Daniel responded.
They fussed ensuring that everything would be just right for the photo that would go in the local paper.
Emily was wheeled into the room with a couple of nurses in attendance. “Happy birthday Mama.”
Emily’s vacant eyes stared. “Who are you?”
About Irene Waters 19 Writer Memoirist
I began my working career as a reluctant potato peeler whilst waiting to commence my training as a student nurse. On completion I worked mainly in intensive care/coronary care; finishing my hospital career as clinical nurse educator in intensive care. A life changing period as a resort owner/manager on the island of Tanna in Vanuatu was followed by recovery time as a farmer at Bucca Wauka. Having discovered I was no farmer and vowing never again to own an animal bigger than myself I took on the Barrington General Store. Here we also ran a five star restaurant. Working the shop of a day 7am - 6pm followed by the restaurant until late was surprisingly more stressful than Tanna. On the sale we decided to retire and renovate our house with the help of a builder friend. Now believing we knew everything about building we set to constructing our own house. Just finished a coal mine decided to set up in our backyard. Definitely time to retire we moved to Queensland. I had been writing a manuscript for some time. In the desire to complete this I enrolled in a post grad certificate in creative Industries which I completed 2013. I followed this by doing a Master of Arts by research graduating in 2017. Now I live to write and write to live.
Reflections and Nightmares- Irene A Waters (writer and memoirist) 
Ouch. But she made it. ??
So good to see you flashing again!
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Thanks D. She did but was it worth it?
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Exactly. (Classic leavemthinkin Irene (Still) Waters flash)
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Like it D. Still Waters run deep.
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Aww! So very sad, Irene. I hope you and hubby are doing okay.
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Thanks Robbie. All good. Hope same with you and your family
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Yes, thanks. The boys are restless with this lock down, but that is to be expected.
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A sad ending but one that’s common. This is well told, Irene. You did a great job.
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Thanks – I think we can both relate to this to an extent.
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I’m working at remembering the best of my mom.
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As we age, I think we go through a process of letting go, yet our younger loved ones try to hold on. I hope, despite the sadness, the family could still celebrate Emily’s lifelong defining moments and not be defined by her dementia. It’s a rough one. But love yet prevails. Thanks for the though-provoking flash! I loved the verb “planted” as it made me think of rows and rows of candles in a filed of frosting.
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I’m glad planted worked Charli. Yes dementia is a hard one especially for the children to watch their parent’s identity disappear. I’m sure the letter from the Queen will be kept to be handed down generations. I was interested to read that you can have a letter from Mr Trump at 80.
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