She folds towels like the mom I watched as a child — aligning corners, sweeping her fingers across the terry, smoothing before flipping for a final fold, her accomplishment culminating in a smile of satisfaction. Before dementia, her folds had purpose, a mother caring for her family. Now she folds while not knowing why. A … Continue reading A Practice Run to the Finish Line
The air was dreary and drizzly, family was visiting from out of town, and we sat inside talking, wishing for the weather to clear. Then, instinctively, because something out of order darted by, Jim jumped from the couch and bolted out the door while blurting he had seen a giant bird. Well, maybe not so … Continue reading Home Again
Curse or coincidence, who is to say? Friends and family know that when I travel, have out-of-town guests, or plan a party, a weather event occurs — often an apocalyptic weather event. This is not an exaggeration. A volcano eruption, several tropical storms, too many unexpected downpours, and a 500-year flood are example interruptions to my … Continue reading A Flood of Tears, But Not for the Flood
"The afternoon knows what the morning never suspected." — Robert Frost Like an alarm bell, the sprouting sedums announce the passage of time. Could it be more than a year since the first post on Take Comfort? I had three reasons to start this blog: To share stories with my kids; to challenge myself … Continue reading Take Comfort: A Year Flew Softly By
“Get out you damn fool,” she shouted. To her caregivers, Eleanor’s words were too easy to ignore, just another refusal from a memory care resident not wanting to be changed at the prescribed time. Her fingernails dug into their skin. “Stop it you damn shit.” Without pause, they pulled my mom into the restroom, her … Continue reading Noooo! Mom Did Not Say That!
The space looked like it did once before while looking like it never did. Gone is the agave, the “Green Giant,” attentively watched for months as the leaf, stalk, and flower put on their respective performances. The leaf, once standing tall and sturdy and razor sharp, flopped to the dirt in decline until stiff and … Continue reading Cry, Heart, But Never Break: Part 2
My favorite place to sit at the ranch is in my egg chair swing — hanging from a tree where the edge of our small patch of lawn meets the ungroomed expanse of the natural landscape. It is not the traditional swing from my childhood playground, where I would pump my legs propelling the swing … Continue reading Mom, It is Well With Your Soul
My typical walk at the ranch is more like an inquisitive meander. Picture this: I may start toward the lake until following the flight of an unfamiliar bird turns my heading into a thicket of cedar, where I traverse until the thicket is impenetrable, and I must turn and cross a canyon wall, where maiden ferns clinging … Continue reading Walking With Mom as She Forgets How to Walk
“Talk About the Day… It began like any other day, although, any other day at the ranch is a rather extraordinary day. However, this day was truly a ranch day to remember.” My first ranch story started with the above words. A detailing of the day’s events followed: a fire out of control a battle … Continue reading Take Comfort: My Blog Introduction