The relentless rain delayed departures and caused crowded airports. My flight left Victoria an hour late in the midst of a huge storm. I got soaked just running from the terminal to the plane. The charade of taking off coats, scarves, belts and shoes, extracting my laptop from its bag, disposing of liquids and the bottle-neck on the other side of the security threshold with everyone trying to reclaim their possessions at the same time as they are trying to get dressed gets old. I had to do it three times today: once in Victoria and twice in Seattle. In Canadian airports you only need to take your shoes off if you are flying to a destination in the United States.
It wasn't so hard to say goodbye to Mary. I think one reason is that Bill was with us the whole morning. This made it seem more like just a visit. I couldn't say any real meaningful things to her that I would have had we been alone. Another reason is that she was so much better today. Bill and I took her out for breakfast, she walked more briskly, she had an appetite. She was not too out of breath. In fact, her kids have really noticed how much her appetite has improved since I came up.
The first day I visited Mary, she could hardly get up off her chair. I noticed how still her body was. She didn't fidget or change positions much. When she did get up, she walked extremely slowly. Everyday she improved. This morning she walked at a normal pace. She has no trouble getting up out of a chair by herself, nor did she have trouble today getting the leash on her little dog. All of her improvements have fooled me into thinking she is not as sick, that I will see her again. And maybe I will.
Mary, who will be 87 in 3 weeks, has not lost any hearing, any sense of smell nor any of her memory. She is amazing! She can smell just as well as me, and remembers everything. She doesn't need anyone to repeat things to her. I am amazed at how healthy in so many ways she is. But the prognosis is not good. She has cancer in her lungs, sternum and ribs.
I guess all we can do now is hope that she will not suffer. That was my hope for my mom, and as far as I know she did not suffer. She had a little pain, but nothing too strong that a Tylenol couldn't take care of. I am grateful for that.
More words of Mary's that need preserving:
What-not: The knick-knacks were diplayed nicely on the what-not. (A fancy display case)
Wigged it: I wigged it right away when my sister started to lose her memory. (To get it, to understand something)
Stepping out: The relationship was over when he started stepping out. (Having affairs)
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