Today was a good day, realitively speaking. Mom was, as always, so happy to see me. It seems to her that it takes hours and hours for me to get there. It's a one hour trip but for her, it is one of the longest hours of her day.

She wanted to go out. Not just outside-really out. She said let's go to lunch. I said OK but they won't be serving for another 40 minutes. No, I'm not eating here, I want to go to a restaurant.
I told her that I am not really familiar with the area and wouldn't know where to go or how to get there. No problem. We'll just go ask someone. OK. While out trying to find the area we were told about, I spot a little Italian place in a shopping center. When she finds out they don't serve beer, we're asking for another restaurant. The kids in this place are looking at us like we're nuts. Can you blame them? After I tell them we are looking for something like Red Lobster or Outback, one of them says "Let me take these rolls to my table and I can tell you how to get to Red Lobster." Mom lights up and says "That would be great!" She is happy. This sweet kid comes back and writes down step by step instructions on how to get to Red Lobster. His instructions were very precise so even I didn't get lost. Knowing that it would be about a 15 to 20 minute trip gave me pause but she was so bent on going that I just took her. At this point, she knows not to distract me while I am driving as we have been through that.

On the way there, she is chattering softly; incessantly. I hear her voice but can make out only about 15% of her words.

At Red Lobster we have the nicest waiter. He is very kind and does a great job. She orders shrimp cocktail. WHAT??. She has shrimp cocktial at home. She has been eating shrimp coctail for days and days. OK. I say nothing.

This is the best shrimp cocktail she has ever had. Why is it so much better she wants to know. All I can come up with is that mabey the shrimp here is fresh whereas the shrimp we get at Kroger is frozen. She agrees. I think.

Mike was Dick all day. I was Cindy her friend; for how much of day, I'm not sure. She talked about us moving in together and I have to tell her again that she can't move in with me. That at the first opportunity, I will be moving closer to her. She understands, as always, but seems to be so miserable where she is.

I think she thinks that when I do move closer that we can get an apartment together. I explain that it wouldn't work because I still have to work. I remind her of the previous six months how she would call me at work asking when I would be home and then her telling me that she just watches the clock until it reaches the Cindy is home hour. I remind her of how miserable she had been those last months here and although she agrees, she just doesn't feel like she is home anymore.

She said Dick told her that the neiborhood was not the best area for her and she agrees. But it was still her home for 20 + years and she is having a really hard time adjusting to her new surroundings. He understands.

We talked about the different stages of life and that the stage she is in should be fun and carefree, just like a little kids life is fun and carefree. She talked about getting a job. Nixed that idea pretty quick. I then talked with her about what she could do that would make her feel like a contributing member of society. I said it's easy, cheap, wouldn't have to leave your apt. and something she already knows how to do and in fact is very good at. She asked what that would be. I suggested (Thank Teresa for this idea) writing letters to soldiers serving overseas. She thought that sounded like a good idea but writing to a complete stranger apparently did not sit as well as I had hoped. Then I had one of those Lightbulb moments. I told her that Michael has some friends serving and I could get their names from him. That seemed like a much better idea. I don't know if this is something she will actually do but I'll try to get a few names and how to write to them. I will encourage her by letting her know that letters from home are precious to these guys (and girls) serving. I think I need to take my own advise to Mom and get involved too. Volunteer work is always a good thing.

Rest easy Mom.
I love you.

Cindy