PureX
Veteran Member
My mom is laying in a hospital bed struggling to take her last breaths. Alzheimer's has destroyed her mind to the point where she would no longer eat or drink; perhaps she simply forgot how, or why. Her body will quit trying to hang on in a day or so.
But really, she's been gone for a while, now. Only little sparks of her consciousness flashing, here and there. I took her for a ride in the car last Friday. She enjoyed it. She didn't recognize anything, but it was a beautiful day and we drove along the lake shore, through vineyard country. She was at peace with her unknowing.
I miss her, already. She was a good mom, and a good woman. When my dad found someone else, and left her, she never once said anything bad about him to us kids. And later, as hard as it must have been for her, she would not shun or exclude him and his new wife from family events. She never made us choose between them. And she never scorned his second wife. She accepted, and forgave, because that's what love does.
She was not an educated woman. We were driving at night once, years ago, and when I made some remark about the moon, it became clear from our conversation that she had no idea that it was orbiting the Earth. Or what "orbiting" even meant, really. But she was wise, and kind, and generous, and good humored. Always willing to talk about anything, and always willing to listen.
I hope her body gives up the struggle, soon. It's time for her to be free of it. What a sad thing to have to say.
But really, she's been gone for a while, now. Only little sparks of her consciousness flashing, here and there. I took her for a ride in the car last Friday. She enjoyed it. She didn't recognize anything, but it was a beautiful day and we drove along the lake shore, through vineyard country. She was at peace with her unknowing.
I miss her, already. She was a good mom, and a good woman. When my dad found someone else, and left her, she never once said anything bad about him to us kids. And later, as hard as it must have been for her, she would not shun or exclude him and his new wife from family events. She never made us choose between them. And she never scorned his second wife. She accepted, and forgave, because that's what love does.
She was not an educated woman. We were driving at night once, years ago, and when I made some remark about the moon, it became clear from our conversation that she had no idea that it was orbiting the Earth. Or what "orbiting" even meant, really. But she was wise, and kind, and generous, and good humored. Always willing to talk about anything, and always willing to listen.
I hope her body gives up the struggle, soon. It's time for her to be free of it. What a sad thing to have to say.
