The Things We Just Do

It’s nice to be home.  I returned yesterday afternoon to heavy winds, low temperatures (in the low 30’s), light snow flakes falling, and a car packed with men’s clothing.  

I spent ten days at my Mom’s in Texas; taking care of her and helping with going through my Dad’s clothing while my sister traveled to Washington D.C. for work.  My sister lives less than 2 minutes from my Mom’s place, she’s the primary care taker, I’m the back up when I’m not already committed to work. 

My Dad was a retired military man, and an Aviation Consultant who traveled all over the world.  His closet and dresser held many pieces of clothing, really nice casual and business attire; from all over the world.  When my Mom asked me to help go through his clothing, I would have never thought he had more clothing than a woman………..but he did.  Mom and I spent hours going through Dad’s clothes in the closet and dresser.  While going through Dad’s clothes, Mom and I reminisced, telling old stories about Dad.  We both laughed and cried a little, realizing how much Dad will be missed.  Mom wanted me to take most of Dad’s clothes back home for my guys; to see if they would like to add any of these clothing items to their closets or dressers. 

I bagged 4 large black contractor garbage bags of clothing, and several brown grocery bags, into the trunk of my rental car to haul home. 

My visit with Mom was really nice. I was able to help her around the house with numerous chores she was not able to do herself; and take care of paperwork needing completed--for things like a permanent handicap placard and bills.  I took her out a couple of days, and pushed her around in her wheel chair, from one store to another, so she could find new clothes or items needed for the house.  We went from one store to another, Mom sitting, and me walking and pushing her.  My feet were killing me, ankles swollen, and I couldn’t wait to get back to Mom’s house to take my shoes off and relax. 

When we finally finished shopping, I pulled up to Mom’s house and started unloading the car, and got Mom situated inside the house.  That’s when I took off my shoes and thought, I would go outside in the back yard and sit down on the edge of the pool; and soak my feet in the pool for a while and just relax.   OMG……I will have you know the temperature in the water was 50 degrees or colder.  There was no way I could sit down and let my feet soak for 10 minutes or so.  I stood on the steps of the pool for 3 minutes, and then had to pull my feet out.   The cold water relaxed my painful feet, I thought of just jumping in the pool, but told myself there would be no one around to pull me out if I jumped in and went into shock.  I climbed up the step of the pool to dry my feet with a towel, and returned inside the house to find out what else Mom needed help with.

The dark stone bottom of the pool is just beautiful.

I guess the moral to my post is to cherish every minute possible with your parents; they’re not always going to be around.

Have you called your Mom or Dad lately or visited them?