|
|||||||
|
|
|
|||||
|
|
|||||||
|
The Back Way July 2007 | ||
|---|---|---|
| June 2007 | By Cathy Sullens | August 2007 |
|
07/04/07 Got to attend my first 4th of July picnic at the Dunedin-Clearwater Elks Lodge #1525. Thanks Bill for the invite. Took bowls of fruit to contribute and met so many new folks and visited with new friends. I got lots of great pictures to share with my dear brothers. The new lodge building is coming along nicely, they will be moving in soon. Glad I got to make a few memories at the older lodge before it is gone. Had great fun and headed home in the late afternoon to pick up GG and Jesse and Alexander and off we go to the Clearwater causeway to get a front row seat for the fireworks spectacular! We had our folding chairs and Alex had his stroller so we were good to go! They let us drive GG down to the water so she can use her walker to get to the best seating in town! Thanks Jesse for all that extra parking and walking! The fireworks show was wonderful, bright, beautiful and loud. We loved it and applauded often! So much smoke there was no mosquitos and we were happy campers! Happy 4th of July to ALL! 07/07/07 My dear sweet Momma has had 2 mini strokes in the last 2 weeks. I'm up day and night and don't know what to do. It's tearing me up inside. She always says she wants to go back to Georgia, I know that's her home, has been all her life except the year and a half she has lived here in Florida. This last one was so very scary. She didn't know who I was for many hours, I sat at her bedside and cried, angels please help me. I do believe in the angels and feel their presence. My Grandmother Eula, has been here since Momma moved in. My Aunt Modean, Uncle Ralph, my dear Darlin', they are all here to help in any way they can to soothe our souls. I sat all night at her bedside and watched and waited until I hoped she would know me again. It was so very scary, but as the sun was rising, I could feel all the love in that room and knew that the time had come. She slept for many hours after this last spell and when she woke up, she did know me. She did not remember the things that happened last night or that so much time had passed. So we had an honest talk, tears and decisions. Called her wonderful doctor in Georgia, we have an appointment for Thursday. We started going thru clothes, papers, photos, her favorite belongings, I will pack my little car as full as it will go with things she wants to take. The time for skilled nursing has arrived and the only thing I can do for her now is to grant her last wish and take her home. It was the hardest decision I have ever made, but besides love, that's all I can give her. She will not go home to Georgia in a box; she will go home to Georgia in a toyota! Talked to work and they are so wonderful and supportive and I will have a job to return home to, thanks to all, especially sweet Matthew and Cheryl, ya'll are the GREATEST! I must give my heartfelt thanks to my sweet long time friends for life, Betty Boop and Dawn in Missouri for keeping me sane in all this heartbreak, I have been keeping them busy emailing every day and night, Lordy, you saved me again, just like you did at Green Mountain, I love you both with all my heart. 07/10/07 GG's trip back to Georgia........Phoenix Joe named her GG for Great Grandma! A week will flow as one day...typing from my journal...Up early, so much to do, Jesse and Ben and Alex came over to help us load up stuff. We got it all packed and they played in the wheelchair before it got loaded on the bottom of the trunk. Alex is so fast and into everything! hahaha Thanks Ben, it was hot as Hades and you still haven't got your pie. Lordy, what a bunch of stuff. Had a good ride, but by 11pm we still hadn't made it to the state line and we were give out. So we stopped at Gainesville at Archer Road! PJ land! hahaha and stayed at the Marriott Springhill or something like that, oh yeah, on clothes bag Springhill Suites, Marriott, a real nice place, handicap so bars in the shower and all over. Worked great for Momma. The bed was so nice and soft and wonderful pillows. It was so high in the air; I had to sit on her bed so she could get up on it! hahaha We had great fun, no room service so I went to the Steak n Shake across the road, the folks were wonderfully nice but the chili was bad, the burger was good and the milk was a quart! haha But we had a fridge and microwave, coffee table, couch, even the pool was right out the door. Kicked myself in the butt for not bringing my swimsuit, sure would have helped relax to kick and swim, calms my ass down. Anyhow, up and out the door by 11am, down to Shoney's for breakfast and on down the road. We hit rain off and on all day. Nothing serious, love my new tires! Thanks Marty! Stopped for gas $2.97 the next was lower at 2.89, my map quest was quite accurate, it said 501.0 miles to Monroe. Stopped at the Georgia Welcome Center for a new map for exit 187, then on down to Hwy 83 to Hwy 11 to Monroe. Our first stop on Hwy 11 was a black store and gas station cause when you gotta go, you gotta go! What an experience. I would have bought gas, too, but we had just filled up not long before. Our next GA stop was the Butcher Block in Social Circle, not as good as I remembered; maybe I'm just too tired, hurting like crazy. Riding in a vehicle is the hardest thing on my left side, guess it will always be that way, years later, and same pain. On to Monroe and our first stop was at Aunt Juanita's house, Leeann and Juanita were thrilled to see my Momma. Her and Juanita have been best friends forever! She'll be in good hands, that I know, damn all I can do is what she wants to do and Georgia is it. Home is home, oh yeah, 2nd stop was at her old house on Etten Drive. Wow, that went over like a turd in a punchbowl, got a cussing for my efforts, I mean serious cussing! (editing notes!) Wow, that finally made up her mind that her home is hers no longer. So that asshole closed that chapter in her life, I guess that's good. We'll see what happens tomorrow at Dr Jao's office. It's all gonna be ok. It's 11:30 pm and I'm wide awake here at MaryAnn and Gene's house. Visited and made beds, then they all went to bed. I went out and sat on the back porch till the mosquitoes ran me in, feel much better now, called my dear friend, Terisa, she's calling Robin to let her know we made it ok. Yep Momma is still awake. Laid down and talked with her awhile, I keep telling her everything is gonna be ok, sure hope that's correct. Tomorrow is another day! Had a talk with MoeMoe, Uncle Ralph, Roy and Aunt Modean out on the back porch. I need their help and support as much as ever! YIPPEE, finally getting sleepy, I do so welcome sleep! I'm back in Georgia!!!!! AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH Goodnight.... 07/12/07 Thursday, woke up to Momma standing at the doorway all upset. Up and got her a biscuit and some coffee that sweet MaryAnn had made for us. Talked to Robin and her and PJ won't be able to come down after all, her car is acting up. Got Momma dressed and got her bed made and suitcase packed. Got my bed made and covers all folded up, opened up the back sliding door to talk some pictures of their beautiful garden, complete with silver queen sweet corn, my favorite, a sight for sore eyes. The sun catcher fell and got stuck between the glass doors, couldn't shut the door or get it out. How embarrassing! So Mary Ann and Gene got home and it didn't take him 5 minutes to get it out and repaired and back up. She made wonderful sandwiches with such FANTASTIC tomatoes, best I've had in years! Nothing in this world better than home grown. Got to have a real nice visit with Joyce and Jack, they came over for lunch too. Then all loaded up after a quick shower and we're here at Dr Jao's office. He's admitting her to the hospital here for 2 days and then transferring her to the nursing home, with or without me. Then I will get all her stuff unloaded at Juanita's house and we'll go thru her gowns and clothes and find out what's going on. Dr. Jao will take care of it. Terisa and Erin came to see Momma today. I'll be thankful to go out to her home to crash this evening. Almost dark when I left the hospital. Tired and hungry, so I stopped by Charlie's for some home cooked food, so tired, but meal was good. Gallon of ice tea, veggies and cornbread! Off to Terisa's house and got to visit with her and Erin and then even Shawn came over to visit. I was so happy to request, please, can we sit out back and build a fire in her fire pit, played around with the dogs, Trey loves to eat sticks, and we sat out just a swinging and jokin' for many hours. Such a nice visit, such good vibes here. Inside for more visits and Terisa freaked when I was brushing out my hair before my shower to realize that my hair was a foot shorter! Then all the trip clothes into the washer and dryer. Got a few photos and around 3am I finally fell down to sleep, got to sleep in her wonderful plant room, thanks Erin for letting me keep running thru your room, even when you had to get up early, I felt right at home. And sleep I did, best I've had in days, woke up around 10am all refreshed! 07/13/07 Friday the 13th, my lucky day! Had a good visit with Momma today, several of her Eastern Star friends stopped by. She seems happier than she's been in weeks, so this evening I went to Lorie and Musicman's home. So sorry to see musicman so very sick, he's a tough man, a Doke Brother! Have loved him for more than 30 years, have loved Lori, my sweet sister forever! They gave good directions to their Gratis home, such beautiful flowers and trees. Met Beverly and the crazy Cajon, Jimmy. Great visit and wonderful feast. Up talking to Lorie till past 2am. Snoozed on the couch and woke up a few times hearing musicman up and about. He woke me up at 9am with wonderful coffee for us all. He'd been a busy man. Lorie's ready for work and she's off. I got to email family and friends last night from his studio. He autographed his 2 cd's for me. I do love these guys so. As sick as they are, I don't know if I'll ever see my Momma or musicman again. So I tried to make every minute count and it was wonderful to visit. Shower and I'm off to drop off Momma's things at her friend Jackie's house. Off to Athens to see my other Momma, Liz. We got to visit for 3 hours and I went to the Varsity to bring lunch and we ate out on the patio. If you've ever been to GA and know the history of the two universities, one in Athens, the GA Bulldogs and Atlanta, with GA Tech and yet the Varsity unites them. They are only in these two towns. It's greasy onion rings, fantastic chili dogs and chocolate pc's. A Georgia tradition that you will remember again later! hahaha Hugs and kisses to Liz and away I go. Got to take some Varsity goodies to Momma, too, at the hospital. It's "good for what ails ya". 07/14/07 Saturday, Momma is very medicated today and not talking very much. Yesterday she was all smiles and sunshine and no headache. Today she's back to pain in head and neck and so sleepy. Had a little visit and hugs and kisses and down the road I went. About 30 miles away, I realized I didn't have Jesse's suitcase, the black one, I had not unloaded it at Jackie's, oh *#@^, it's at the hospital in the closet, so back I go. Joyce and Jack there when I got back. Momma still so sleepy, got her to drink some chocolate pc and got the suitcase unloaded and off I go again. Took forever to get thru Hwy 11 and Hwy 83 to I-75. Lots of local traffic as its Saturday, I forgot. Finally made it to 75 South and set the cruise at 80 and away I go. Pouring rain off and on, took lots of great pictures of the cool storm clouds. Would drive into the storms and crawl back out of them, do love my new tires! The ice tea did wonders, when I got tired, I would stop for gasoline and walk some. A nice black lady from Tampa and I made several stops together and took turns leading the way! hahaha Thought I could make it all the way home, but no longer. Stopped in Gainesville at Motel 6 and ate supper and watched a little tv. Turned off the lights around midnight, my happy feet shoes weigh 30 pounds as they are all full of water! Found a good radio station for jams and danced into the shower! Headed out around 11 am the next morning, 3 hours or less and I'll be home, Lordy, don't know how that's gonna be either. Different, that's for sure. Camera batteries charged and ready to go down the road, got many good photos along the way. Just like yesterday, storm clouds rolling, heavy rain, then back into the sun, what a great welcome home. Lordy, it's so very good to be home. Thanks for riding along.... 07/16/07 The Angels, yes when I returned home from Georgia, the Angels that have been helping me with my Momma were still here. When my Momma had 2 massive strokes 2 years ago, I went to my Grandmother Eula’s grave at Mountain Creek and told her I needed her help. So she helped me for months in Georgia helping my Momma recover and then here in Florida after my Momma moved in with me. As I went back to work this afternoon on my computer, I bet I looked over my shoulder at least a dozen times during the day. I would keep seeing reflections in my monitor, in my Darlin's etching and off the cover of Robin's hand drawn picture here on my desk. Always a glimpse, but nothing solid, then I heard noises at the front door. Not outside, but inside, like they had trouble with the door. Well, I say I saw nothing solid until I saw the tall white haired gentleman walking by outside my bedroom window. Nice white hair, looked like a corduroy jacket, you know, the ones with the patches on the elbows, it was 97 degrees out, who would have a winter jacket? He walked very, very slowly, only a profile, very nice and professional looking, but I didn't recognize him. I went running out the door, no car, no man, no one, when I looked all over the neighborhood. He was very tall, so not one of my uncles, they were short like me. Momma saw her brothers and sister and her Momma, that I called MoeMoe off and on all the time, I wished I could see them, I could only feel them. After the many glimpses into the future or the past, all is quiet here now. Thanks sweet Angels, I sure did appreciate all your help. I was so thankful to feel their arms around me. MoeMoe, Uncle Ralph, Aunt Modean, Aunt Clara, I love ya'll! |
| June 2007 | The Back Way | August 2007 |
|---|
| Microsoft® Internet Explorer |
Created by Cathy Sullens jcad@jcad.4t.com for Compost Copyright © 1998 - 2007 | You are visitor 264 to The Back Way. |
|---|