I am writing some of the things that are happening just so my sister and I will have a record of them at some future time when we are sad and need something to cheer us up. You are welcome to read or just pass on by.
My Beloved Sister went by Mom's after work Tuesday and called me to find out "the number". Now I have been sleep deprived and thought perhaps there was some phone number I was supposed to commit to memory that I had forgotten, or maybe I forgot to record a check when writing one to the care giver, or maybe I was supposed to recall some year some memorable family event had occurred. Well, all those things would have been wrong.
Mom was/is convinced she was supposed to receive a phone call last night telling her to remember an important number, then wait for a second call so she could relay said number to the caller. Once she had done that her family would be safe from some unknown but obviously nefarious occurrence. Mom was in near hysterics because MBS wanted to leave Mom's house and go to her own home to do something sinister like make dinner and do a load of wash. She dared to plan on leaving before Mom had gotten and passed on the number. She was also scared for Son2 who was driving home from work without the benefit of her subterfuge.
It took me a while to convince her that she had probably dreamed the whole thing.
But just to be on the safe side I served her cranberry juice over ice _____ shaken, not stirred!
My Beloved Sister went by Mom's after work Tuesday and called me to find out "the number". Now I have been sleep deprived and thought perhaps there was some phone number I was supposed to commit to memory that I had forgotten, or maybe I forgot to record a check when writing one to the care giver, or maybe I was supposed to recall some year some memorable family event had occurred. Well, all those things would have been wrong.
Mom was/is convinced she was supposed to receive a phone call last night telling her to remember an important number, then wait for a second call so she could relay said number to the caller. Once she had done that her family would be safe from some unknown but obviously nefarious occurrence. Mom was in near hysterics because MBS wanted to leave Mom's house and go to her own home to do something sinister like make dinner and do a load of wash. She dared to plan on leaving before Mom had gotten and passed on the number. She was also scared for Son2 who was driving home from work without the benefit of her subterfuge.
It took me a while to convince her that she had probably dreamed the whole thing.
But just to be on the safe side I served her cranberry juice over ice _____ shaken, not stirred!
I think the best thing you can do is find the humor in all of this! I have been through it and it will help.
ReplyDeleteI agree Jan. My Beloved Sister (also a Jan) and I have mutually decided we are going to laugh through this as much as possible.
DeleteOh gosh, sometimes you can't even head her off at the pass can you. But it must have been very distressing for her all the same. Courage (as they say over here)!
ReplyDeleteWe are not even trying to head her off at the pass. We are just riding this wave whichever way it goes now
DeleteThe number is 42.
ReplyDeleteAlways.
Hooray for laughter - the very best lifebelt I know.
I actually told my sister to tell her it was 42, but Mom said that was wrong!
DeleteDid she maybe get some sort of phishing call? After reading One Family's recent experience with her mom, I worry about every senior-even the quirky ones that might be imagining things.
ReplyDeleteHer caregiver is answering all her calls and does not let the robo calls or anything other than a list of family and friends actually go to her. I am not worried about that now. She is just living on a totally different planet than the one my sister and I occupy.
DeleteSince she has Santa Claus looking at her from the ceiling, 3 pipers (unknown if they are Irish or Scottish) in the corner behind a chair, and a little girl knitting and driving her crazy we are not really worried about her grasp of reality.
Yep, you just got to ride the wave where ever it takes you. And you gotta laugh or your gonna cry. Which is okay to. There's a great relief from a good cry sometimes.
ReplyDeleteThe other day when she was so seriously bad she asked me to sing "He's got the Whole World in His Hands" I was fine until I got to the verse "He's got you and me Mother". Everyone thinks I am very stoic so I am saying nothing further that might dispel that myth
DeleteOh dear!
ReplyDeleteThere’s a funny side, but I know it must be so stressful for you and your sister.
Hugs xx
There is always something to laugh about, even in stressful times.
DeleteThese are the things you and your sister will remember and laugh (and cry) over in years to come; they will get passed down to your sons and become part of the family lore. (((HUGS)))
ReplyDeleteI hope so! Mom is a doodle!
DeleteI was going to suggest giving her a number but apparently she already knows what it is. It's good you can see the humour as I'm sure it can be frustrating. Sad, how it must feel from her perspective.
ReplyDeleteShe is so confused and confused about what is happening to her. All we can do really is be there, and be whatever comfort we can be. Which is not much since we don't know the number!
DeleteOh my friend this is tough. Is Jesus in the room with her?
ReplyDeleteNot yet!
DeleteMy grandmother thought there was a man with a big knife, that there was a gas leak. I wonder if the fears they faced as mothers are coming out in ways that are just an extension of their caregiving roles.
ReplyDelete