So I took a month off from the blog, as November was rough. My mother had been in and out of the hospital this year with various issues, but always bounced back rather quickly. This time seemed no different. She was being discharged and aspirated her medication. The doctor had to place her on a ventilator. That’s when I got the “you need to get here ASAP” phone call. Delta was extremely helpful in getting my son and I emergency medical tickets 659 miles north.
The following day she was completely unresponsive, and it became clear that we were doing things “to” her and not “for” her. We spent the day talking with hospice, assuring her that we would make her comfortable. The next day, her niece came to visit and say goodbye. Her amazing nurse said that she wasn’t expected to make it through the day. I had the doctors remove support, and they added anti-anxiety and different pain medication. She took her last breath 15 minutes later.
I was born in the same hospital, and delivered to her in the parking lot one week later by the adoption team. When I walked out on a similar winter night, I saw the largest giant arc of a shooting star over the river. She let me know that she arrived at her next destination.
So between the funeral, traveling to clean out her place, quite a bit of business travel in between, and getting ready for Christmas, I am getting ready to kick off the new year by weeding through this delicious, briny heap!
Stay tuned for more, invite your friends, and have a meaningful holiday season and purposeful new year.
Pickle Picker 