Jack of Harts

Me and mom are settling in for the long haul now, looking for a hospice or nursing home to put her in, and otherwise taking things day by day at the hospital. I brought in a laptop loaded with family pictures acting as the screensaver, so she can watch them go by, and I asked if we could get a room with a better view at the hospital. The one she was admitted into has an awesome view of another building. They had one room available when I asked, and they took me to preview it. I took one look out the window and knew it was perfect. It faced to the northeast, looking out over the river and over the trees going all the way up the hills of northeast Rochester until they reach skyline. Mom’s sister worked at the Mayo Clinic for decades, and when she died she was buried across the river, under those trees, so she could see the Mayo Clinic from her grave. Now mom can look out the window and see her sister. She loves it.

My mother’s uncle flew planes over Europe in World War II and came home to marry the girl he exchanged letters with. He cared for her when illness robbed her of her mind and she lived at home until she died. Another of her uncles farmed during World War II and had an accident that caused his foot to get gangrene. His wife cared for him until he died of old age many decades later. Family cared for my mom’s brother and sister when they fought cancer, and I did my best to follow their example with mom. In the end, I had to ask her doctors for help, and now she is in the hospital. You see, I have allowed my body to become unfit over the years. Pound by pound, I have let it slip since I had other things to do, and when I called on it to give her the care she needed to stay at home, I ran it empty. So I tell you all, look after your fitness. You will never know when you will be called to use it for a loved one, and failing that test is not something I would wish on anyone.